Nr. 10567. noch bis zur Stunde Sklave verwilderter Sitten und wahnwitziger Gebräuche 20. Juni 1894. ist. Gehen wir daher alle mit gleichem Eifer ans Werk, dass die alte Ein Rom. tracht zur allgemeinen Wohlfahrt wiederhergestellt werde. Unsere Zeiten sind der Wiederherstellung der Eintracht und der weiteren Verbreitung der Wohlthat des christlichen Glaubens äusserst günstig; denn niemals hat das Gefühl allgemein menschlicher Brüderlichkeit die Geister so tief bewegt, und zu keiner Zeit sah man die Menschen sich eifriger aufsuchen, um sich gegenseitig kennen zu lernen und sich zu nützen. Schiffe und Wagen durcheilen mit unglaublicher Schnelligkeit ungeheure Strecken zu Wasser und zu Lande: ein Umstand, welcher die namhaftesten Vortheile mit sich bringt nicht bloss für den Handel und die Erforschung der Länder durch die Gelehrten, sondern ebensosehr für die Verkündigung des Evangeliums. Wir wissen wohl, dass eine lange und mühsame Arbeit erforderlich ist, um die Ordnung der Dinge herzustellen, die Wir so sehnlich wünschen. Möglich auch, dass dem einen oder anderen Unsere Hoffnungen allzu rosig erscheinen, da sie sich auf Dinge beziehen, die viel mehr zu wünschen als zu erwarten seien. Aber Wir setzen all' Unsere Hoffnung, all' Unser Vertrauen auf den Erlöser des Menschengeschlechtes, Jesus Christus, und ermuthigen Uns in dem Gedanken, wie vieles und wie Grosses einstmals vollbracht wurde durch die Thorheit des Kreuzes und die Predigt vom Kreuze zum Staunen der Welt und zur Beschämung ihrer Weisheit. - Dann bitten und beschwören Wir ganz besonders die Fürsten und Lenker der Staaten, Unsere Rathschläge gemäss ihrer einsichtsvollen Klugheit und ihrer treuen Sorge für die Unterthanen vorurtheilsfrei in Erwägung zu ziehen und sie mit ihrem Ansehen und Wohlwollen zu unterstützen. Wenn auch nur ein kleiner Theil der erhofften Früchte eingesammelt würde, so wäre das wahrlich schon eine grosse Wohlthat inmitten des allgemeinen Niederganges, der mit dem Gefühle der unerträglichen Last der Gegenwart die Furcht vor der Zukunft verbindet. Das Ende des vorigen Jahrhunderts liess Europa müde und erschöpft zurück von all' den erlittenen Drangsalen und in bebender Angst ob all der Erschütterungen. Warum sollte nicht umgekehrt das gegenwärtige, schon dem Ende zueilende Jahrhundert der Menschheit als Erbe heitere Aussichten auf Einheit und Frieden mit der Hoffnung auf die höchsten Güter hinterlassen, die mit der Einheit des Glaubens gegeben sind? || Gott, der reich ist an Erbarmungen und die Zeiten und die Stunden kennt, die er in seiner Macht festgestellt, wolle Unsere Wünsche und Hoffnungen gnädig anschauen und in seiner unendlichen Güte verleihen, dass sich die Verheissung Christi bald erfülle: Es wird nur ein Schafstall und ein Hirt sein.,,Fiet unum ovile et unus pastor" *). || Gegeben zu Rom bei Sanct Peter den 20. Juni des Jahres 1894, des siebzehnten Unseres Pontificates. Leo XIII., Papst. *) Joh. 10, 16. Verträge und Verhandlungen über Afrika. Der englisch-kongolesische Vertrag vom 12. Mai 1894 *). Nr. 10568. ENGLAND. Minister des Auswärtigen an Mr. Hardinge. Begründung des Vertrages mit dem Kongostaate. Foreign Office, May 23, 1894. England. 23. Mai 1894. Sir, When Her Majesty's Government decided upon assuming the Pro- Nr. 10568. tectorate of Uganda, it became incumbent on them to consider the position of Great Britain as regards that part of the British sphere described in the Anglo-German Agreement as the western watershed of the Nile. It was understood, that in 1890 arrangements were made between the Administrator of the Congo Free State and the late Sir W. Mackinnon, under which the East Africa Company agreed to waive in favour of the Free State any powers which it might acquire in the territory so described as a Chartered Company administering in the British sphere with the sanction of the Crown. The documents recording whatever arrangements may have been concluded were not officially communicated to, nor sanctioned by, Her Majesty's Government, and obviously could not have validity without that sanction. The Free State Administration, however, appears to have considered that, in virtue of these arrangements, it was justified in sending exploring parties into the territory affected by them. The expeditions are believed to have travelled over a considerable portion of the territory, and it appears that their leaders made Treaties and established posts. || Her Majesty's Minister at Brussels was, from time to time, directed to point out, that, though Her Majesty's Government had no accurate information as to the destination and proceedings of these expeditions, the territory thus explored was well known to be included in the British sphere of influence. || Her Majesty's Government, in examining this situation in connection with the Protectorate of Uganda, desired, in order to put an end to all controversy as to these preceedings, to arrive at an arrangement which would be satisfactory to both parties. They could not fail to recognize the sacrifices which had been made in endeavouring to open up the country by His Majesty the King *) Englisches Blaubuch Afrika Nr. 4. (1894). England. Nr. 10568. of the Belgians, whose efforts to promote the civilization of Africa have com23. Mai 1894, manded their warm sympathy. On approaching His Majesty they found him fully disposed to enter into an arrangement which, while enabling him to continue the work he had commenced, would record his recognition of the position of Great Britain in her sphere, and of such claims as Egypt, and through her Turkey, may have to the Equatorial Provinces whose administration was abandoned owing to the evacuation of the Soudan. || I inclose copy of an Agreement by which His Majesty having recognized, on behalf of the Congo State, the British sphere of influence as laid down in the Anglo-German Agreement of 1890, receives from Great Britain leases of the territory specified in the Agreement under certain conditions. || Her Majesty's Government are satisfied, that, under the Agreement, this portion of the British sphere will be administered in a spirit in full accordance with the requirements of civilization, and of the Acts of Berlin and Brussels. || The Agreement also effects certain frontier rectifications with the Congo Free State, which remove causes of possible local friction, and adds to the delimitations already concluded with Italy on the north and Germany on the south, delimitation between the British sphere and the conterminous Power on the west. || Finally, Article 3 provides for the lease to Great Britain of a port at the northern end of Lake Tanganyika. As the southern end of the Lake is within the British sphere in Central Africa, this Concession will materially facilitate communication between the two British spheres. In order to secure access to this port, the lease has been obtained of a road passing through the Free State territory, connecting Lake Albert Edward, the eastern shore of which is in the British sphere, with the leased port. The navigation of Lake Tanganyika being declared to be free by the IInd Article of the Act of Berlin of 1885, this arrangement secures to British trade uninterrupted communication, the value of which is completed by the guarantees as to freedom of transit recorded in the IVth Article of the Berlin Act, and the VIIIth Article of the Anglo-German Agreement of 1890. || A map is annexed showing the effect of the Agreement. Kimberley. Nr. 10569. und der Nr. 10569. ENGLAND und der KONGOSTAAT. Vertrag über die Abgrenzung ihrer Interessensphären. Mai 12, 1894. The Undersigned, the Honourable Sir Francis Richard Plunkett, a Knight England Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Kongostaat. Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to 12. Mai 1894. the King of the Belgians, on behalf of the British Government, and M. van Eetvelde, Officer of the Order of Leopold, Grand Cross of the Orders of St. Gregory the Great, of Christ of Portugal, and of the African Redemption, &c., Secretary of State of the Interior of the Independent State of the Congo, on behalf of the Government of the Independent State of the Congo, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have agreed as follows: || His Nr. 10569. England Majesty the King of the Belgians, Sovereign of the Independent State of the und der Congo, having recognized the British sphere of influence, as laid down in the Kongostaat. Anglo-German Agreement of the 1st July, 1890, Great Britain undertakes to give to His Majesty a lease of territories in the western basin of the Nile, under the conditions specified in the following Articles: Article I. (a.) It is agreed, that the sphere of influence of the Independent Congo State shall be limited to the north of the German sphere in East Africa by a frontier following the 30th meridian east of Greenwich up to its intersection by the watershed between the Nile and the Congo, and thence following this watershed in a northerly and north-westerly direction. (b) The frontier between the Independent Congo State and the British sphere to the north of the Zambesi shall follow a line running direct from the extremity of Cape Akalunga on Lake Tanganika, situated at the northernmost point of Cameron Bay at about 8o 15' south latitude, to the right bank of the River Luapula, where this river issues from Lake Moero. The line shall then be drawn directly to the entrance of the river into the lake, being, however, deflected towards the south of the lake so as to give the Island of Kilwa to Great Britain. It shall then follow the "thalweg" of the Luapula up to its issue from Lake Bangweolo. Thence it shall run southwards along the meridian of longitude of the point where the river leaves the lake to the watershed between the Congo and Zambesi, which it shall follow until it reaches the Portuguese frontier. Article II. Great Britain grants a lease to His Majesty King Leopold II, Sovereign. of the Independent Congo State, of the territories hereinafter defined, to be by him occupied and administered on the conditions and for the period of time hereafter laid down. || The territories shall be bounded by a line starting from a point situated on the west shore of Lake Albert, immediately to the south of Mahagi, to the nearest point of the frontier defined in paragraph (a) of the preceding Article. Thence it shall follow the watershed between the Congo and the Nile up to the 25th meridian east of Greenwich, and that meridian up to its intersection by the 10th parallel north, whence it shall run along that parallel directly to a point to be determined to the north of Fashoda. Thence it shall follow the "thalweg" of the Nile southward to Lake Albert, and the western shore of Lake Albert to the point above indicated south of Mahagi. This lease shall remain in force during the reign of His Majesty Leopold II, Sovereign of the Independent Congo State. || Nevertheless, at the expiration of His Majesty's reign, it shall remain fully in force as far concerns all the portion of the territories above mentioned situated to the west of the 30th meridian east of Greenwich, as well as a strip of 25 kilom. in breadth, to be delimitated by common consent, stretching from the watershed as 12. Mai 1894. England Nr. 10569. between the Nile and the Congo up to the western shore of Lake Albert, und der and including the port of Mahagi. || This extended lease shall be continued so Kongostaat. long as the Congo territories as an Independent State or as a Belgian Colony 12. Mai 1894. remain under the sovereignty of His Majesty and His Majesty's successors. || Throughout the continuance of a lease there shall be used a special flag in the leased territories. Article III. The Independent Congo State grants under lease to Great Britain, to be administered when occupied, under the conditions and for the period hereafter determined, a strip of territory 25 kilom, in breadth, extending from the most northerly port on Lake Tanganika, which is included in it, to the most southerly point of Lake Albert Edward. || This lease will have similar duration to that which applies to the territories to the west of the 30th meridian east of Greenwich. Article IV. His Majesty King Leopold II, Sovereign of the Independent Congo State, recognizes, that he neither has nor seeks to acquire any political rights in the territories ceded to him under lease in the Nile Basin other than those which are in conformity with the present Agreement. Similarly, Great Britain recognizes, that she neither has nor seeks to acquire any political rights in the strip of territory granted to her on lease between Lake Tanganika and Lake Albert Edward other than those which are in confirmity with the present Agreement. Article V. The Independent Congo State authorizes the construction through its territories by Great Britain, or by any Company duly authorized by the British Government, of a line of telegraph connecting the British territories in South Africa with the British sphere of influence on the Nile. The Government of the Congo State shall have facilities for connecting this line with its own telegraphic system. || This authorization shall not confer on Great Britain or any Company, person or persons, delegated to construct the telegraph line, any rights of police or administration within the territory of the Congo State. Article VI. In the territories under lease in this Agreement the subjects of each of the Contracting Parties shall reciprocally enjoy equal rights and immunities, and shall not be subjected to any differential treatment of any kind. || In witness whereof the Undersigned have signed the present Agreement, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done in duplicate at Brussels, this 12th day of May, 1894. Francis Richard Plunkett. |