ance with the legitimate desire of Australasia, it will certainly not be due to any display of energy or vigour upon the part of Lord Derby. But the very fact that it has been difficult to deal with France in her management of New Caledonia, should have opened the eyes of the British Government to the obvious impolicy of allowing another foreign Power to become possessed of territory adjacent to Australasia, with respect to which difficulties of a similar nature might hereafter arise. Our Australian colonies, alive to the danger, anxiously desired the annexation of New Guinea and the neighbouring islands. Again delay, again hesitation, again that lamentable want of sagacity to see, and courage to seize, the opportunity. Alarmed at the result of their blunders in Africa, the British Government, as usual "too late," have proclaimed a British protectorate over a part of the southern coast of New Guinea; but unless our information is incorrect, Germany has taken possession of the northern part of the island and of other adjacent isles, and that which might and would have been acquired by and for the British colonies of Australasia, if they had either been independent communities or had received that support which they had a right to expect from the mother country, must now be either lost to them altogether or become the subject of negotiations and diplomatic arrangements with the German Government, which a little foresight, a little sagacity, and a little courage, might easily have prevented. Let it not be supposed that we object to the colonisation of unoccupied territories by other nations, or that we are jealous of German colonists. On the contrary, we concur entirely with the welcome which Mr Forster declares himself ready to give to German colonisers; and we believe that there is no other people who are likely to do more good to the world than colonists of the Teutonic race. But we also agree heartily with Mr Forster in the opinion, that in cases where there is reason to believe that the founding of a foreign settlement would check the progress or endanger the interests of a British colony, it is the duty of our Government to anticipate such settlement by co-operating with the Ministers of the colony affected, and being ready, if necessary, to hoist the British flag and assert the sovereignty of Great Britain. Instead of this, her Majesty's present advisers, though long since made cognisant of the natural and patriotic wish of our colonies to secure to Great Britain the territories which appeared so important to the future interests of Australasia, have actually interposed obstacles and created delay, as if purposely to court the interference of some foreign Power.
Writing upon the desire of New Zealand to annex for the same reason the Samoa Islands, the 'Daily News,' one of the stanchest supporters of the Government, casually observes that "the Home Government would never have taken over any portion of New Guinea, had it not been for the somewhat precipitate action of the Queensland authorities." This is a candid admission, and shows how much need the Gladstone Cabinet has of pressure where decision and vigour are required. But instead of waiting until the natural impatience of colonists forces them to "precipitate action," surely the Home Government should have
