PBEFAGE. xi 



the nation, and that is the necessity of pressing the Govern- 

 ment to make itself a vigilant and efficient representative of 

 justice and humanity in these seas. 



Into the question of incorporating into the empire any 

 one of the chief groups, as for instance, the Fiji Islands, I 

 do not pretend to enter. No doubt the bringing tliem into 

 official connection with the supremacy of the Crown, would 

 fiuniish us a status in this region that would enable us to do 

 incalculable good. Perhaps the semblance of a reason for 

 such an annexation may be derived from what has recently 

 occurred in JSTcav Caledonia. Commanding, as we are told 

 on good authority this island does, the communication 

 of Australia with India, Cliina, Panama and California, it is 

 clear that were its colonial resources to be considerably 

 developed, it might be necessary to have some countei-poise 

 to its influence in these seas. Now the late extensive 

 deportation of the Communists and their families might 

 very well constitute the germ of a vigorous colonisation. 

 For whatever may be thought of the political and social 

 views of these men, there cannot be a doubt that very 

 many of them must efficiently represent the mechanical and 

 industrial skill of their native country. But, on the other 

 hand, such are the vicissitudes of French politics that it is 

 quite possible they may one day hear the signal of recall, to 

 which every man of them would respond, hearing it, 

 perhaps, under circumstances leading them to expect that 

 their re-entrance into the capital from which they had been 

 expelled, would be graced with all the triumphal pomp that 



