362 



GERMANY. 



at present to about 300,000 marks, distributed 

 among ten lines running between the Hanse 

 towns and American ports. England subsi- 

 dizes thirty-eight lines at a cost of about 650,- 

 000, besides the subsidies received from the 

 colonies. France expends about 25,000,000 

 francs a year on twenty-one lines in the postal 

 service and 7,460,000 francs in premiums to 

 other lines. The opponents of the bill argued 

 that there are already too many ships on the sea, 

 and that it is no detriment to German com- 

 merce to have the carrying-trade done by the 

 English cheaper than Germans could do it, 

 whereas it would be to lock up capital in 

 steamships that require a bonus from the 

 Government to keep them running. The bill 

 was brought in again at the beginning of the 

 next session and referred to a committee. 



Bismarck's Colonial Policy, When the post- 

 steamer project was before the committee, Bis- 

 marck unfolded his colonial policy, which had 

 nothing in common, he said, with the artifi- 

 cial methods of colonization pursued by other 

 states. He did not propose to take possession 

 of regions where there were no German in- 

 terests, and incite by artificial means a German 

 immigration after setting up an administra- 

 tive system and establishing German garrisons 

 there. His purpose was to extend the pro- 

 tection of the Empire to settlements that 

 grow out of the German nation by the spon- 

 taneous enterprise of German subjects and 

 exist in territories that do not stand under the 

 recognized sovereignty of any other power. 

 "When Bamberger spoke of dangers of a colonial 

 policy from the jealousy of the great naval 

 powers, the Chancellor declared that he over- 

 estimated Germany's impotence on the sea; 

 that a German alliance would be of great value 

 to England and still more to England's oppo- 

 nents. France lay before the gates of Metz, in 

 which region any injuries suffered at her hands 

 by German subjects in distant climes would be 

 requited. 



In connection with the diplomatic negotia- 

 tions with England relative to Angra Pequefla, 

 Bismarck explained his colonial policy and 

 offered to support England's interests nearer 

 home if the English Government would assist 

 Germany in the projects of colonial extension. 

 The dispatch proposing this alliance, dated 

 May 5th, indicated that if this arrangement 

 could not be made, Germany would be under 

 the necessity of seeking the support of France 

 on similar terms. When Count Minister failed 

 to secure this understanding, Prince Bismarck 

 sent his son to London ; but he also only ob- 

 tained general assurances of good-will. Sir 

 Edward Malet, Lord Ampthill's successor in 

 the Berlin embassy, when Prince Bismarck 

 gave the history of the negotiations, expressed 

 regret, declaring that England never had the 

 intention of thwarting Germany's colonial as- 

 pirations, and asked what Germany wanted. 

 Did she want New Guinea or Zululand ? Prince 

 Bismarck replied that he was unable to make 



further explanations, as an understanding Iiad 

 already been established with France. 



The main object of the colonial movement 

 in Germary is to divert from the United States 

 to regions under German rule and influences 

 the stream of emigrants who in nearly all cases 

 adopt American nationality and become lost 

 to Germany forever. The colonial agitation 

 has been in progress about five years. The 

 idea is exceedingly popular. The great expan- 

 sion of German industry and the constant 

 growth of the foreign trade furnished a more 

 practical reason for this policy which Bismarck 

 first adopted when he proposed to sustain with 

 Government credit the Samoan company. The 

 adoption of this policy by the Government 

 gave a fresh impetus to the colonizing move- 

 ment. New trading settlements were estab- 

 lished in the hope of Government protection 

 and encouragement. A colonial association 

 was founded, which counts 7,000 members. 

 In 1884 a colonial bank with a capital of 30,- 

 000,000 marks was established at Hamburg for 

 the promotion of direct dealings in money and 

 bills of exchange with transoceanic trading 

 centers. In August a meeting was held in 

 Berlin at which a large sum was subscribed 

 for the purpose of purchasing tracts in South 

 Africa for an agricultural and trading colony. 

 Subsequent to the West African annexations a 

 colonial bureau was created as a department 

 of the Imperial Government. 



The Anglo-Portuguese Congo treaty was 

 considered by the German Government as spe- 

 cially directed against German trading and 

 colonial interests and those of France. It was 

 the first ground for the coolness that arose be- 

 tween England and Germany. As Germany, 

 Franco, and other powers refused to sign such 

 a treaty, it was abandoned by Great Britain. 

 The Congo Conference in Berlin was called by 

 Germany in accordance with an understanding 

 with France. (See CONGO, INTERNATIONAL AS- 

 SOCIATION OF THE.) 



Angra Peqnefia. The district of Angra Pe- 

 quetta, which was the first territory in Africa to 

 be proclaimed a German protectorate, extends 

 from the Orange river, the northern boundary 

 of the British possessions, to latitude 26 38' 

 south, and inward eighty miles from the coast. 

 The harbor of Angra Pequefia, at the mouth 

 of the Little Fish river, is the best on the 

 southwest coast of Africa, except Walfish Bay. 

 The district contains large copper deposits, 

 besides iron, silver, and gold. Copper is still 

 more abundant in Hereroland, the back coun- 

 try of Walfish Bay, on the north. Within 

 three leagues of the coast are eleven guano- 

 islands. The climate is endurable, but water 

 can only be obtained from Cape Town, and 

 costs 33.9. a hogshead. Trading communica- 

 tions with the interior are difficult on account 

 of a strip of barren sand along the coast, twen- 

 ty miles broad. F. A. Luderitz, a Bremen 

 merchant, acquired the full sovereign and pri- 

 vate rights over the district by a cession from 



