[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

6 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

group under the jurisdiction of the “ Western Pacific,”
with a high commissioner; France retorted by the
so-called purchase of all useful land by the “ Société
Frangaise 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 I887, a dual control was
established, each power furnishing a warship and a
naval commissioner, who were to unite in keeping i
order. This was the beginning of the present Condo-
minium, which was signed in 1906 and proclaimed in
1908 in Port Vila; quite a unique form of govern-
ment and at the same time a most interesting experi-
ment 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 : '