510                          FOREIGN     RELATIONS.

and for the proper treatment of Polynesian and other immigrants, such-as
are con-
tained in the Queensland acts on this subject, and in the Imperial act (35
and 36 Viet.,
cap. 19) for the suppression of kidnapping. Her. Majesty's government would
also
expect that the Fijian government should enter into a stipulation secu-ring
to.British
subjects and British commerce in Fiji to the fullest extent the treatment
accorded to
the most favored nation, and that British ships in Fijian ports should receive
the same
treatment and enjoy the same privileges as national vessels.
  I may dismiss more briefly the third suggestion that has been made, namely,
that,
Her Majesty's government should establish a protectorate over Fiji. The objections
to a protectorate are obvious, inasmuch as it would impose upon the protecting
power undefined responsibilities, with limited power of discharging such
responsibil-
ities ; and it can scarcely be doubtdd that, in sUch a state of society as
must for a long
time prevail in Fiji, many things would be done or tolerated by the local
authorities
which this country could not as a protecting power pass over iu silence without
dis-
credit, and interference as to which would before long irresistibly tend
to the exer-
cise of direct control over the local government. At the same time it will
be desir-
able that you should ascertain whether a protectorate meets with favor in
the islands,
and, if so what are the conditions under which it is considered that it could
be ad-
-vantageously exercised.
  I now come to the fourth and last of the possible courses which I have
enumerated,
namely, the annexation of the islands to the territories of the British Crown.
   Before the adoption of so grave a measure could be seriously entertained,
it is neces-
 sary that full and satisfactory explanations should be given on some very
material
 points, on which hitherto no sufficient information has been furnished:
   1. Whether Thakobau and the other native chiefs, and the native population
gen-
 erally; as well as the white settlers, desire and wouid acquiesce in the
establishment
 of the authority of the British 'Crown over the islands. Full- inquiry should
be made
 as to the power and authority of the chiefs to make over the sovereignty.
2. What
 form of government is it proposed should be established in the islands in
the event of
 their becoming British ? 3. Is it supposed, having regard to the numbers
and nation-
 ality of the white residents and of the native population, that responsible
govern-
 ment, as it exists in the neighboring colonies, would be appropriate to
Fiji, and if so, is
 there among the settlers a sufficient number of persons qualified to supply
the materials
 for an elected legislature and for an-executive government composed of members
of that
 legislature ? 4. How, if at allp would the natives be represented in the
legislature?
 5. If, on the other hand, it is considered that the control of public affairs
should
 rest, as in a crown colony, with the governor,ý subject to the instructions
of the secre-
 tary of state, would it be proposed to admit the settlers to some voice
in the council
 of government, and would it-be necessary or expedient that the native element
of,
 the population should likewise berepresented in the council ? 6. What would
be the
 probable expenses of the government ? It would be desirable that upon this
point
 some general statement should be laid before Her Majesty's government of
the nature
 of the civil establishments which would have to be created, distinguishing
judicial
 from other officers, with an estimate of their salaries, and the other consequent
ex-
 penses. 7. What is the actual revenue now levied by the existing government
? What
 are the sources from which it is derived? To -what extent and in what manner
can
 it be increased, and what amount of revenue can reasonably be calculated
upon as
 permanent? 8. In what hands is the control over the revenue and expenditure
to be
 lodged; especially how far could such control, in any circumstances, be
exercised'
 from this country.?
   It has been reported that the existing government has contracted a considerable
 debt. Full particulars should be ascertained as to this debt, the amount
of the prin-
 cipal and interest, the circumstances under which it has been contracted,
the persons
 from whom it has been borrowed, the validity of the ,engagements entered
into with
 them. the manner in which the money so obtainedl has been expended, and
the precise
 extent of the obligations which would have to be assumed in respect of this
debt by
 the future government of Fiji, if the islands should he annexed to the British
Crown.
 It will, of course, be understood that Her M ,jesty's government could not
consent to
 make the revenues of this country liable in any way for this debt, or to
charge upon
 them any portion of the cost of the local government, or of maintaining
order within
 the islands.
 . Closely connected with the question of the expense of the government is
the ques-
 tion of the amount and character of the force which would have to be maintained
in
 the islands for the preservation of order and the protection of life and
property. If
 responsible government were established, this duty would, of course, devolve
entirely
 upon the local government, as Her Majesty's government could not be answerable
for
 the results of a policy which they did not directly control. But it would
not be suffi-
 cient for the settlers to express their readiness to Undertake the management
of their
 internal affairs and the maintenance of order, unless there were good reason
to believe
 that they would be able to :discharge such obligations effectively on principles
which