23

A.—4.

the Imperial Consul-General in Zanzibar, to that effect, and a protest was raised against any interference he might propose with the German protectorate. In consequence of this the Sultan Seygid Bargasch initiated hostile measures against the territory; but after a German squadron had, on the 7th August, appeared before Zanzibar, he acknowledged the protectorship of His Majesty over the German territory. Occasion was taken of the negotiations for the conclusion of an alliance, with a navigation and trade convention, between this country and Zanzibar, to which a favourable issue is expected, to obtain from the Sultan a free use of the harbour of Dar-es-Salam. The German East African Company has since given notice to the Imperial Chancellor of new acquisitions on the East African mainland, and has asked that the Imperial letters of protection may be so extended as to include these. This proposal has not up to the present time been accepted, as the proofs of ownership are not complete, and especially as negotiations for the settling of the boundaries of the Sultanate of Zanzibar are being carried on in conjunction with England and France. In order to avoid future disputes as to boundaries with the two last-named Powers, we have agreed to refer the claims of the Sultan Seygid Bargasch to territory on the mainland of Africa to a mixed Commission for decision. This Commission will meet at Zanzibar. lll. — South-west Africa. The information contained in the papers laid before the Eeichstag on the 11th December, 1884, on the subject of territory in the south-west of Africa placed under German protection was acquired partly by the firm F. A. E. Liideritz, of Bremen, partly by an association the direction of which is headed by the Berlin Disconto Bank, and partly by Government officials Hasenclever and Scheidweiler. The last-named subsequently joined the above-mentioned association, and resigned their rights to it. The firm F. A. E. Liideritz had, by commercial treaty, on the Ist May and 25th August, 1883, acquired the coast from the Orange Eiver northwards to the 26th degree south, with an inland extension of twenty geographical miles, from Captain Joseph Fredericks, the independent ruler of Bethaine, in Great Namaqualand, and had obtained the exclusive right to open mines, make roads, construct and work railways, and generally carry out all public works in the rest of his dominions. With the same Joseph Fredericks the Consul-General, Dr. Nachtigal, on the 28th October, 1884, concluded, in the name of the German Empire, a treaty of protection and friendship, whereby His Majesty the Emperor took over the protectorate of the captain's territory. This treaty was not to interfere with the collection of his revenue, or with his administration of justice over his subjects. In return he bound himself to make no treaties without the German Emperor's consent with other nations or other nations' subjects, to secure full protection and freedom of trade in his dominions to German subjects, to grant to the subjects of other nations no privileges not given to the Germans, and in quarrels with other chieftains to leave the decision with the German Government. Jurisdiction over the Germans in Bethany is taken over by the German Government. No agreement has as yet been come to regarding the adjustment of disputes between Germans and natives: the decision for the present rests with the German Commissioner in common with a member of the Bethany Council. On the 19th August, 1884, the Topnaar chief, Piet Haibib, of Scheppmannsdorf, sold to the firm of F. A. E. Liideritz suzerainty over his territory from the 26th to the 22nd degree of south latitude, with the exception of the English settlement at Walfish Bay. On the 23rd November, 1884, the Consul-General (Dr. Nachtigal) recognized this cession in the name of the German Empire; and, reserving any properly-established claim on the part of other persons, placed the territory acquired by F. A. E. Liideritz under German protection. The territory of Piet Haibib stretches, according to his statement, from Sandwich Harbour across Hudoab to Kinsib Eiver, Goagas, Onanis, the dry mouth of the Tsoasnoub Eiver, and Ameib; from there the north boundary runs to the mouth of the Omaruru Eiver; on the west it is bounded by the sea. From Piet Haibib Messrs. Hasenclever and Scheidweiler had acquired land and mines. They also had obtained a cession of land and mines from the chief of the Zoaartbooi Hottentots, in his territory from Tsoa-Xaub Eiver to Kaskoveld; and from the chieftain Jan Jonker Afrikander in his territory, which extends from Walfish Bay and the south bank of the Tsoa-Xaub Eiver, below Sandwich Bay, on the west coast, to the east of Windhook. On the 11th October, 1884, Dr. Hoepfner, on behalf of the firm F. A. E. Liideritz, concluded a treaty with Hermanus von Wyk, the chief of the Bastards of Eetroboth, respecting the country lying to the east of Walfish Bay, between the 23rd and 24th degrees of south latitude. Captain Hermanus von Wyk and also Manassa Naresib, chief of the Eed Men, in Houchanas, whose territory extends in the south to the Chambo Eiver, in the east to Bechuanaland, in the north-east to the Mojami Lake, in the north to Okawango, and in the north-west to Owanboland, and who had already, in November, 1884, granted mining rights in his country to the firm F. A. E. Liideritz, applied to His Majesty the Emperor to be put under German protection. This request was acceded to on the 19th April, 1885. In addition to Manassa Naresib, of Houchanas, chief of the Eed Men, the chiefs Jacobus Izaak, of Berseba, Cornelius Zuaart-booi, of Otyitambi, and Jan 'Ui Xamab, of the Topnaar, in Zesfontein, also agreed in writing, in January and March, 1885, to conclude a protective and friendly treaty with the German Empire. From them also, and from Jan Jonker Afrikander and Abraham Zvaartbooi, the firm F. A. E. Liideritz and their successor had obtained land and mining concessions. On the 28th July, 1885, a treaty of protection and friendship was concluded with Jacobus Izaak, of Berseba, and his territory was placed under German protection. According to his statement the southern boundary of his territory is the Xamob (Lion Eiver), the eastern border lies between Khons and Daberas, the northern boundary between Kavieis and Gibeon, and the western limit towards Bethany is undefined,