GERMANY AND THE CONGO TREATY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7020, 17 May 1884, Page 5

GERMANY AND THE CONGO TREATY.

[redtes's telegrams.] Berlin, May 15. Prince Bismarck has formally notified the British and Portuguese Ministers that the German Government; cannot agree to recognise the treaty -which in February last was concluded between England and Portugal regarding the Congo districts on the West African coast as applying to German subjects who may, be residents on the territory referred to in the treaty. THE TREATY. The treaty to which Prince Bismarck takes exception was concluded between England and Portugal last February. It recognises and defines Portuguese jurisdiction over the Congo. Until the present Ministry came into office Portugal's claims to the Congo were steadily resisted by England. - These claims were based simply on the right of discovery. No ■ attempt had ever been made by Portugal to take possession cf the Congo district or to colonise it. It was only 'after British and Belgian capital had opened up the country and developed its trade that Portugal came forward with her pretensions. The treaty, however, does not go to tho length of recognisingJPortugal's claims in fall. It sets forth that "Her Majesty's Government has never receded and do tot now recede, from their contention that the claim of Portugal (to sovereignty over the Lower Congo) is not established. . . ■. They feel it absolutely incumbent on them to make their recognition dependent upon certain conditions. \Vhen> it is understood that what is proposed is'nofc. the recognition of the validity of an'old', claim, but an admission of sovereignty over a territory, .over, which, in. the. opinion of Her Majesty's Government, Portugal has not had any right, it will be seen that the position 'of Her Majesty's Government from their own point o£ view is not that of asking concessions as a favour, but ?of attaching them as a condition." Article . 9 provides that in the territory specified by the treaty "British ships shall not at any time hereafter be liable to tho payment of any higher or other duties and charges, or be subject to any other regtricI tions, than are there payable or imposed on I Portuguese ship's ; and goods, whether the property of British subjects or imported ire British vessels, or of British origin or manufacture, shall not at any time hereafter be subject to any differential .treatment whatever, but shall be on the same footing in every respect as goods the property of Portuguese subjects, or imported in-Portuguese vessels,, or the produce or manufacture of Portugal." The freedom of trade on the Congo is to be absolute, and involves exemption from all river dues and tolls. Equality and perfect freedom is secured to missionaries of all creeds, and " the high contracting parties binding themselves to use all possible means for the purpose of finally subjecting • slavery aud the slave trade on the eastern aud western coasts of Africa."