The Jarnac Convention was a bilateral agreement between the
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France ( fro, Reaume de France; frm, Royaulme de France; french: link=yes, Royaume de France) is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the medieval and early modern period ...
and the United Kingdom in 1847 at the end of the
Franco-Tahitian War
The Franco-Tahitian War (french: Guerre franco-tahitienne) or French–Tahitian War (1844–1847) was a conflict between the Kingdom of the French and the Kingdom of Tahiti and its allies in the South Pacific archipelago of the Society Islands ...
. Its purpose was to end Franco-British diplomatic tension by guaranteeing the independence of the
Leeward Islands in
Polynesia
Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...
. It was abrogated with the agreement of both parties in 1887.
Background
In 1839, a British Protestant missionary,
George Pritchard, was sent to Polynesia to convert its people. He became the British consul in
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austra ...
and persuaded the queen,
Pomare IV, to expel Catholic missionaries from the islands. This prompted France to take control of the islands and to establish a protectorate over them in 1843 leading to the
Franco-Tahitian War
The Franco-Tahitian War (french: Guerre franco-tahitienne) or French–Tahitian War (1844–1847) was a conflict between the Kingdom of the French and the Kingdom of Tahiti and its allies in the South Pacific archipelago of the Society Islands ...
. Pritchard was expelled, leading to diplomatic tension between France and Britain.
Agreement
To bring this tension to an end, King
Louis-Philippe
Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France.
As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary Wa ...
agreed to the Jarmac Convention, under which both countries recognised the independence of the Leeward Islands and agreed not to place them under a protectorate. It was signed in London on 19 June 1847 by
Lord Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, (20 October 1784 – 18 October 1865) was a British statesman who was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. Palmerston dominated British foreign policy during the period ...
, the British Foreign Secretary and the
comte de Jarnac, French Minister Plenipotentiary in London.
Abrogation
The convention was to have effect for forty years. However, in 1880 France placed the islands of
Raiatea
Raiatea or Ra'iatea ( Tahitian: ''Ra‘iātea'') is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the "centre" of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the ...
and
Tahaa
Taha’a (sometimes spelled as "Tahaa") is an island located among the western group, the Leeward Islands, of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The islands of Taha’a and neighboring ...
under a provisional protectorate at their own request, to prevent their being annexed by the
German Empire. In October 1887 Britain and France agreed to formally abrogate the convention.
This led to a rebellion on the islands that lasted for a decade
and their eventual annexation by military force. Together with all the remaining Leeward Islands, Raiatea and Tahaa became part of
French Polynesia on 19 March 1898.
References
See also
*
Kingdom of Bora Bora
The Kingdom of Bora Bora was established during the early 19th century with the unification of the island of Bora Bora and official recognition by France and the United Kingdom in 1847 through the Jarnac Convention. It was one of a number of inde ...
*
German Samoa
German Samoa (german: Deutsch-Samoa) was a German protectorate from 1900 to 1920, consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima and Manono, now wholly within the independent state of Samoa, formerly ''Western Samoa''. Samoa was the las ...
{{French Polynesia topics
1840s in the French colonial empire
History of French Polynesia
History of Tahiti
Military history of Oceania
1840s in Oceania
1847 treaties
Treaties of French Polynesia
Treaties of the Kingdom of Great Britain
Treaties of France