f the "Western Pacific," with
a high commissioner; France retorted by the so-called purchase of
all useful land by the "Societe Francaise des Nouvelles Hebrides,"
a private company, which spent great sums on the islands in a short
time. Several propositions of exchange failed to suit either of the
powers, but both feared the interference of a third, and conditions
in the islands called urgently for a government; so, in 1887, a
dual control was established, each power furnishing a warship and a
naval commissioner, who were to unite in keeping order. This was the
beginning of the present Condominium, which was signed in 1906 and
proclaimed in 1908 in Port Vila; quite a unique form of government
and at the same time a most interesting experiment in international
administration.

The Condominium puts every Englishman or Frenchman under the laws
of his own nation, as represented by its officials; so that these
two nationalities live as they would in any colony of their own,
while all others have to take their choice between these two.

Besides the national laws, the Condominium has a few ordinances to
regulate the intercourse between the two nations, the sale of liquor
and arms to natives, recruiting and treatment of labourers, etc. As
the highest instance in the islands and as a supreme tribunal, an
international court of six members has been appointed: two Spanish,
two Dutch, one English and one French. Thus the higher officials of
the Condominium are:

One English and one French resident commissioner,
One Spanish president of the Court,
One English and one French judge,
One Dutch registrar,
One Spanish prosecuting attorney,
One Dutch native advocate,
One English and one French police commissioner.

The Santa Cruz Islands were annexed by England in 1898 and belong to
the jurisdiction of the Solomon Islands.

Geography

The New Hebrides lie between 165 deg. and 170 deg. east longitude, and reach
from 13 deg. to 20 deg. south latitude. The Santa Cruz Islands lie 116 deg.
east and 11 deg. south.

The New Hebrides and Banks Islands consist of thirteen larger islands
and a great number of islets and rocks, covering an area of about
15,900 km. The largest island is Espiritu Santo, about 107 x 57
km., with 4900 km. surface. They are divided into the Torres group,
the Banks Islands, the Central and the Southern New Hebrides. The
Banks and Torres Islands and the Southern New Hebrides