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| Imperialism |
Colonial Policy | [P|S|M] |
Reichstagsakten 1888/89, 7. Lp., Vol. 121, Attachment 41: Collection of Documents pertaining the Uprising in East Africa, No. 28: Directive to the Imperial ambassador in London
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Friedrichsruh, October 28th 1888
It is to be desired that our agreement with England on fighting the slave trade
and the import of weapons to East Africa will have the shape of an international
agreement. Such a document would establish limits for the expansion of the
continued expansion of the Muslim and slave trading movement, by the moral
impression by the accord of the two European powers so far engaged there, and
also, more propably, will lead to the cooperation of the other European states
engaged. I propose the exchange of notifications between us and Britain, in
which we take upon ourselves the obligation, under the condition (p.412)
on an equal participation of Britain for the same purpose, to fight the
anti-Christian and anti-civilizatoric movement which has emerged over the last
years on the African continent, and to recognize the prohibition of the export
of slaves and the import of arms and ammunition as the most effective means, as
it is only the possession of superior arms ans ammunitions which enables the
Arab and Muslim minority to undertake slave hunts and wars necessary to obtain
slaves, and to keep up the superiority of their race in Africa's interior.
The slave trade and the initiative Britain has taken to combat it, have been
origin and incentive to the union of all elements interested in the matter, and
which have made it possible to use Muslim fanaticism in the interest of this
over one thousand years old tradition of African slave trade and to call on them
for war. The effects of this movement, large and small, can be seen in the
positions of the Mahdi, of Tippu Tip and in the rising number of murders of
Europeans in Africa's interior. To transfer christianity and European
civilization to Africa by armed force is not feasible because of the width of
the country and of the climate. The indigenous population would be susceptible
to the European efforts if it was not suppressed by the force of arms, the
higher intelligence and the
cohesion of the Arab Muslims. We could outmatch the latter only, if we strike at
the source of their superiority, superior armament and the realisation of their
profits, by the suppression of the import of arms and the export of slaves.
Therefore I regard it a task no Christian nation should exclude itself from, to
interrupt as far as possible the import of weapons and ammunition to Africa's
interior and the export of slaves. This task shall be mainly taken care of by
the two powers most interested in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Germany and
Britain; but to its complete solution it is recommended, to, soon, gain the
cooperation of the neighbouring Portuguese government and of His Majesty the
King of Belgium for the Congo Free State. It is also recommended to kindly ask
the French government for their cooperation, in order to prevent arms import
into the Congo area and in order to end the abuse of the French flag in East
Africa by Arab dhows.
Your Excellency will request Lord Salisbury to confirm his approval with these
opinions by a note to Sir Edward Malet, in order to cause the British navy to
join in a concerted blockade of the Zanzibar coast, and, like us, but operating
separately, to ask the previously mentioned governments to decree respective
instructions.
signed von Bismarck
Your Excellency the Imperial Ambassador
Count von Hatzfeldt
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Originaldokument [1]
[2]
translation and English language table of contents: AG
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