the convention was to have effect for forty years. however, in 1880 france placed the islands of raiatea and tahaa 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.