[P|S|M]

The text of an Anglo-French convention regarding the demarkation of the future extension of both countries' possessions in West Africa, to the north of Sierra Leone, signed on June 28th in the previous year in Paris has been published in the Documents Parlamentaires of March this year.
Among the motives for the ratification law, which in the meantime has been passed, in addition to the necessity of geographical delimitation of both sides' possessions respective areas to be taken under their protection, reference is made to the practice in the British colony of placing higher financial burdens on foreign merchants than on British.
According to articles 5 and 6 of the convention, the citizens of the treaty partners shall be given equal treatment along the entire west coast of Africa.
This convention and other arrangements between various colonial powers still in the stage of negotiation cause us to desire to secure the interests of the German trade against being placed at a disadvantage by signing additional convcentions, inasfar the existing ones do not suffice, with those nations which own colonies on the west coast of Africa.
Therefore I humbly ask your excellency to inform the Senates of the Hanseatic cities of this and to ask them to inform us of complaints to be raised in such negotiations and of the wishes of the merchant houses engaged in the trade and traffic of West Africa.
Looking forward to receiving a report on the results these measures produce, with the attachment of possible assessments of interested circles,

The Minister of Foreign Affairs
in representation
Count Hatzfeldt

to
the Royal Emissary Herr von Wentzel,
Hamburg

posted on the web for psm-data by: GM; Dokument in deutscher Sprache
translation and English language table of contents: AG