evidence: The MHIs, known as Umaenupne and Umaenea (or Leka) Islands in the indigenous Vanuatu languages of Aneityum and Futuna, are two volcanic islets located about 162 nm southeast of Vanuatu and 241 nm east of New Caledonia, a French territory. Matthew Island covers an area of 70 ha and rises to 177 m above sea level.Footnote 13 Hunter Island, some 75 km to the east, covers just 65 ha, with an elevation of 242 m above sea level. They belong to the New Hebrides chain and are therefore geologically linked to the Vanuatu archipelago, while they are separated from New Caledonia by the New Hebrides submarine trench.Footnote 14 [...] The Islands of Matthew and Hunter are considered by the French Administrative authorities as being attached to New Caledonia. The British Government was content with this view.