A.—4

20

Cameroons and Togo, (2) the Bast African Protectorate, (3) South-west Africa, (4) Swaheliland, and (5) New Guinea. The notable points are that in the Cameroon district, in addition to an export duty on palm oil and kernels, a license tax, producing 2,000 marks, has been imposed on dealers in spirituous liquors, and that, with regard to Eastern Africa, the letters of protection for the latest acquisitions of territory by the East African Company have hitherto been withheld, because the examination into the titles is not completed. Moreover, the negotiations carried on in common with England and France with regard to the boundaries of the Sultanate of Zanzibar are still proceeding. Eelative to South-west Africa, the memorandum states that England has undertaken not to extend her influence towards the west beyond the 20th degree of eastern longitude, nor to work against the growth of the German protectorate as far as that line. Furthermore, the British Government has instructed its officials in the Cape Colony to abstain from any interference with the chiefs of Great Namaqualand and Hereroland, a fact which is taken to indicate that England does not desire to extend her protectorate beyond the Walfish Bay territory.

[Extract from the Pall Mall Gazette.} Germany's Colonial Empire. An Imperial memorandum of considerable importance on the subject of the colonies was presented to the German Eeichstag last week. The full text of this document is now before us. Particular stress is laid by the Government —as by Prince Bismarck in his speech before the Eeichstag a few days ago—on the fact that Germany does not intend to colonize in the usual way of European countries. It is not proposed to set up an administrative system of the character of a bureaucracy. As Bismarck plainly pointed out, he does not intend that the new colonies shall be a happy huntingground for office-seekers at home. The colonies are to be commercial colonies, administered as much as possible by the trading companies which undertake to develop their resources ; yet at the same time the Empire will retain an unrestricted right of surveillance, and will afford all the protection requisite. This is a new departure in the history of colonization, and it will be interesting to observe how it succeeds. It is clear that the plan Bismarck has in view is the best for Germany, for it will exempt the country from the heavy expenditure necessarily incidental to colonization on the English principle —namely, that of calling into existence a maximum of officials for the discharge of a minimum of duties. The memorandum is divided into five parts, dealing in turn with (1) the Cameroons and Togoland, (2) the German East African Company, (3) Southwest Africa, (4) Vitu, or Suaheliland, and (5) the New Guinea Company. The Cameroons and Togoland. It is pointed out that a Governor (Baron von Soden) has been sent out to the Cameroons, and two Commissioners to Togo and Angra Pequena. The Governor of the Cameroons is assisted in his administration of the colony by a board consisting of three members —men settled in the colony and chosen annually. Membership is obligatory, and where necessary the Governor can call in the offices of one or more native chiefs. As far as possible local usages are to be observed in administering justice, but the German common law is valid in the colony. As to the commercial aspect of the question, traders will do well to note that houses dealing in spirits of any kind are bound to pay 2,000 marks yearly for the necessary license. An export duty of 5 marks is levied on every tun of palm-oil sent from the Cameroons, and one of 2-50 marks on every ton of palmkernels, frauds on the Customs authorities being punishable by penalties five times the amount of the duties leviable. Pilotage is compulsory, and tonnage dues are payable by all vessels. The German East African Company. The memorandum states that the first acquisitions of land in East Africa were made by agents of the Association for German Colonization, who, in 1884, secured by treaty with the chiefs the territories of Usuguha, Nguru, Usagara, and Ukami, together from 2,500 to 3,000 German square miles in extent. The German East African Company then came into existence, and in February last received Imperial letters of protection. Further acquisitions of land have been made ; but the boundaries of the respective dependencies of Germany and the Sultan of Zanzibar have not yet been determined, though a Commission has been appointed for the purpose. South-west Africa. The lands here which, in December, 1884, were taken under protection were partly acquired by the firm of F. A. E. Liideritz, of Bremen, and part by an association at whose head was the Disconto Bank of Berlin. The first Liideritz acquisitions, secured by treaty, included the coast from the Orange Eiver northward to the 26th degree lat. S., extending twenty geographical miles inland, this being part of Great Namaqualand. Dr. Nachtigal concluded a further treaty in October, 1884, extending the protectorate. Liideritz followed by securing from the Topnaar chief Piet Haibib suzerainty over his territory from the 26th to the 22nd degree lat. S., with the exception of the English possession of Walfish Bay. Further additions of smaller extent have since been made to the protected area, and the German Colonial Company for South-west Africa has been established for the development of this region. The memorandum refers to the negotiations with England respecting Angra Pequena, the result of which was the abandonment of that territory, together with the adjacent Shark Island, by England on the ground of non-appropriation. It is pointed out that the English Government has declared the boundaries of Bechuanaland—now under British sovereignty—to be on the west the 20th degree long. E., and on the north the 22nd degree lat. S., and that it has also undertaken not to extend its influence west beyond the 20th degree long. E., or to interfere with German movements towards that limit, moreover giving the assurance that England does not intend to extend her protectorate at Walfish Bay. Vitu (Suaheliland). —Negotiations were going on between the Prussian Government and the Sultan of the Suahelis so long ago as 1867, though no definite treaty was concluded. The African