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Reichstagsakten 1884/1885, Attachment 41 Collection of Documents pertaining the placement of the Togo area and Biafra Bay, No.5: Proposals by Jantzen & Thormählen in Hamburg addressed at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
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Hamburg, February 5th 1884
We have the honour to hand over to the Chamber of Commerce in this city, concerning the Reich government plan to dispatch a German gunboat, with an Imperial commissionary on board, to the west coast of Africa, an expose with the request to recommend the suggestions made therein to the Reich government for their gracious consideration.
In advance we have to point out, that the expose only concerns those coastal stretches in Africa, which we have learned to know over many years, and which covers the coast of Kamerun and Gaboon. Until 25 years ago trade in this area was entirely in the hands of the English, and the house C. Woermann (here), for which we had the honour to conduct business in the region, was the first German merchant house which established itself in
Kamerun and Gaboon, and successfully competed with the English. Since 1874 we also established branch depots at the places in question. We certainly do not go wrong in the assumption, that German houses account for almost half of the products which reach the market in these districts, and this in the face of a competition of merchant houses from Liverpool, Bristol etc. by which it is outnumbered three- or fourfold.
We take the liberty to suggest the names of those persons which are suitable for the purpose of signing treaties with the chiefs, and we add a few remarks to their names.
For Kamerun, where German trade has gained an important position, King Bell and King Aqua, and on second thought, Lock Preso and Dido are the authoritative chiefs, and in would be of greatest importance and of
immeasurable advantage, if it could be accomplished that these chiefs would permit free navigation on the Kamerun River.
In regard to the political conditions in Kamerun, there has always been great rivalry between King Bell and King Aqua, and bloody wars frequently have been rather damaging to trade, yet no party succeeded in establishing sovereignty over the other. The Bell family, conscious of her free status since birth, looks down upon the Aqua family as inequals, because the latter descends from slaves; while the latter, conscious of his strength in numbers, successfully has fought King Bell and his temporary allies, the also free tribes of the Didos and Presos.
When it comes to signing trade treaties, the Kings Bell and Aqua thus have to be treated as equals, while Dido and Lock Preso find themselves in a more or less dependent position to the two parties aforementioned.
The name of the ruler of Malimba is King Passal, a man known for not being disinclined to violence and looting, and who takes to robbery and blackmail, as his area is difficult to access by sea and
(p.129) the Malimba river can only be accessed and navigated by extremely flat boats, in the infavourable season not even with these.
In regard to Eloby and Gaboon we have nothing to add, as these stretches are Spanish respectively French territory and thus treaties concluded with these nations apply.
respectfully
Jantzen & Thormählen
to the Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg
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Dokument
in deutscher Sprache: [S.128]
[S.129]
translation and English language table of contents: AG
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