No. 309.
Mr. von Alvensleben
to Mr. Bayard.
[Translation.]
Imperial German Legation,
Washington, March 16, 1885.
(Received March 18.)
Sir: The undersigned, Imperial German envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, has the honor to communicate
the following to the Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State of the
United States:
An association of German subjects, under the name of the “German
Colonization Society,” has purchased certain territories, together with
sovereign rights, by means of treaties with the native chiefs. The said
territories are situated in the eastern part of Africa, to the west of
the dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar. The association has requested
His Majesty the Emperor to assume the sovereignty over these
territories, which request has been complied with by His Majesty, who
has caused the accompanying imperial letter of protection, bearing date
of the 27th ultimo, to be issued to the association. The territories in
question are situated within the extended zone of the conventional basin
of the Congo, provided for in Chapter I, Article I, sub. 3, of the “Acte
général de la Conférence de Berlin,” to which zone the signatory powers
have pledged themselves to apply the provisions of that instrument.
The Government of His Majesty the Emperor, in consequence hereof, assumes
the obligation to see that the provisions of the Acte général are
executed within the German possessions lying in the said zone, and it
claims, at the same time, the advantages for said possessions which are
guaranteed in Chapter III of the Acte général in respect to the
neutrality of the territories lying within the conventional basin of the
Congo.
In obedience to instructions received the undersigned has the honor to
bring the foregoing to the knowledge of the United States Government,
and he avails himself of this occasion, &c.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Letter of protection issued to the German
Colonization Society.
We, William, by the grace of God German Emperor, King of Prussia,
hereby give notice:
The presiding officers of the German Colonization Society, viz, Dr.
Karl Peters and our chamberlain, Felix, Count Behr-Bandelin, have
solicited our protection for the territory purchased by the said
association in East Africa, to the west of the dominions of the
Sultan of Zanzibar and outside of the sovereignty of other powers;
and having laid before us the treaties concluded by the said Dr.
Karl Peters with the rulers of Usagara, Nguru, Useguha, and Ukami,
in the months of November and December last, whereby the said
territories were ceded to the German Colonization Society;
[Page 442]
and having, at the same
time, requested us to take these territories under our sovereignty,
we hereby declare that we have assumed the said sovereignty, and
have taken the said territories under our imperial protection,
reserving our future decisions with regard to other acquisitions of
territory that may be made by treaty by the society or its
successors in that region.
We authorize the said society, on condition of its remaining a German
association, and on condition of the members of the board of
directors, or other body controlling the said society, being
subjects of the German Empire; and we also authorize the successors
to the rights of said society, on the same conditions, to exercise
all the rights accruing from the treaties which have been laid
before us, including jurisdiction over the natives and over subjects
of the Empire, or of other nations who may settle in those regions
for commercial or other purposes, under the surveillance of our
Government, and with the proviso that such ordinances as we may
hereafter issue, and such regulations supplementary to this letter
of protection as may hereafter be adopted by us, shall be
obeyed.
In testimony whereof, we have signed this letter of protection with
our own hand, and have caused our Imperial seal to be affixed
thereto.
Done at Berlin,
February 27,
1885.
