In 1878, the United Kingdom and France declared all of the New Hebrides to be neutral territory.[1] For the protection of the French and British citizens in New Hebrides, a joint naval commission was established under the Convention of 16 October 1887. However, the convention claimed no jurisdiction over internal native affairs.
The lack of a functional government led to rising discontent among the colonists. The French were especially inconvenienced because French law only recognized marriages when contracted under a civil authority (the nearest one being in New Caledonia), whereas British law recognized marriages conducted by local clergy.[2][3] On 9 August 1889, Franceville declared itself an independent commune under the leadership of elected mayor/president Ferdinand-Albert Chevillard,[4][5][6] and with its own red, white and blue flag with five stars.[7][8]
This community became one of the first self-governing nations in recorded history to practice universal suffrage without distinction of sex or race.[9] Although the district's population at the time consisted of about 500 natives and fewer than 50 whites, only white males were permitted to hold office. One of its elected presidents was R. D. Polk, a native of Tennessee and relative of James K. Polk.[10][11]
The new government was soon suppressed, and by June 1890, Franceville as a commune was reported to have been "practically broken up."[12] An 1891 census reported 29 adult Europeans, making it the largest European settlement in the New Hebrides.[13] In 1906, the naval commission was replaced by a more structured British-French Condominium.
^(PDF). Jan–Feb 1878. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
^Le Gouz de Saint-Seine, Jean (1897). "Notice sur les Nouvelles-Hébrides". Mémoires de la Société bourguignonne de geographie et d'histoire. 13: 413–414.
^Bourdiol, Julien (1908). Condition internationale des Nouvelles-Hebrides. p. 107.
^Pelatan, Louis (1889). Lettres calédoniennes. Impr. du Colon. p. 73.
franceville, hebrides, franceville, present, port, vila, municipality, located, efate, sandwich, island, established, 1889, order, gain, basic, legal, status, during, period, when, hebrides, neutral, territory, under, loose, jurisdiction, anglo, french, joint,. Franceville present day Port Vila was a municipality located on Efate or Sandwich Island It was established in 1889 in order to gain basic legal status during the period when the New Hebrides was a neutral territory under the loose jurisdiction of the Anglo French Joint Naval Commission Independent Commune of FrancevilleCommune Independante de Franceville French 1889 1890Flag1905 map of New Hebrides still showing Franceville as alternative name for Port VilaStatusUnrecognized stateCommon languagesFrench BislamaGovernmentRepublic 1889Ferdinand Chevillard 1890 R D PolkDeputy legislator 1889 1890Comte Maurice de NolhacHistorical eraNew Imperialism EstablishedAugust 9 1889 DisestablishedJune 1890Population 1889540Preceded by Succeeded byAnglo French Joint Naval Commission Anglo French Joint Naval CommissionIn 1878 the United Kingdom and France declared all of the New Hebrides to be neutral territory 1 For the protection of the French and British citizens in New Hebrides a joint naval commission was established under the Convention of 16 October 1887 However the convention claimed no jurisdiction over internal native affairs The lack of a functional government led to rising discontent among the colonists The French were especially inconvenienced because French law only recognized marriages when contracted under a civil authority the nearest one being in New Caledonia whereas British law recognized marriages conducted by local clergy 2 3 On 9 August 1889 Franceville declared itself an independent commune under the leadership of elected mayor president Ferdinand Albert Chevillard 4 5 6 and with its own red white and blue flag with five stars 7 8 This community became one of the first self governing nations in recorded history to practice universal suffrage without distinction of sex or race 9 Although the district s population at the time consisted of about 500 natives and fewer than 50 whites only white males were permitted to hold office One of its elected presidents was R D Polk a native of Tennessee and relative of James K Polk 10 11 The new government was soon suppressed and by June 1890 Franceville as a commune was reported to have been practically broken up 12 An 1891 census reported 29 adult Europeans making it the largest European settlement in the New Hebrides 13 In 1906 the naval commission was replaced by a more structured British French Condominium See also editHistory of Vanuatu Port Vila Timeline of women s suffrageReferences edit Arrangement between Great Britain and France respecting the Independence of the New Hebrides Group PDF Jan Feb 1878 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 02 29 Retrieved 2010 01 22 Le Gouz de Saint Seine Jean 1897 Notice sur les Nouvelles Hebrides Memoires de la Societe bourguignonne de geographie et d histoire 13 413 414 Bourdiol Julien 1908 Condition internationale des Nouvelles Hebrides p 107 Pelatan Louis 1889 Lettres caledoniennes Impr du Colon p 73 Sydney Morning Herald Aug 26 1889 The Commune of Franceville North Otago Times New Zealand Sep 5 1889 Imhaus E N 1890 Les Nouvelles Hebrides avec une carte et sept gravures pp 154 160 Simpson Colin 1955 Islands of Men A Six part Book about Life in Melanesia p 133 Wee Small Republics A Few Examples of Popular Government Hawaiian Gazette Nov 1 1895 p 1 Wee Small Republics A Few Examples of Popular Government Hawaiian Gazette Nov 1 1895 p 1 Some Little Republics New York Evangelist Feb 20 1896 Latest Cable News Australian News The West Coast Times New Zealand June 28 1890 p 2 VILA THE TOWN THAT JUST GREW Pacific Islands Monthly 40 6 95 1969 06 01 ISSN 0030 8722Further reading editBrunet Auguste 1908 Le regime international des Nouvelles Hebrides Le Condominium Anglo Francais pp 64 65 Cawsey Katherine Stirling Kerr 1998 The Making of a Rebel Captain Donald Macleod of the New Hebrides pp 391 403 ISBN 978 982 02 0140 8 Daville Ernest 1895 La colonisation francaise aux Nouvelles Hebrides O Reilly Patrick 1957 Hebridais repertoire bio bibliographique des Nouvelles Hebrides 17 44 15 S 168 18 50 E 17 73750 S 168 31389 E 17 73750 168 31389 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franceville New Hebrides amp oldid 1173612335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
