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Reichstagsakten 1884/1885, Attachment 41 Collection of Documents pertaining the placement of the Togo area and Biafra Bay, No.2: Report by the Royal Emissary in Hamburg
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Hamburg, July 11th 1883
Concerning the intended provision of security for the German trade on the West African coast, I have, in accordance with the directive of April 14th of this year, informed the Senates of the Hanseatic cities, and asked them for reports on possible complaints and wishes from the side of the involved Hanseatic merchant houses.
The Senate of Lübeck has not reported any complaints or wishes, according to a report of the city's Chamber of Commerce due to the fact of lacking trade relations to the West African coast. I have the honour to attach the
response of the Bremen Senate commission for Reich and foreign affairs. No response has arrived yet from Hamburg. As I am informed, the matter is handed over to the Deputation for Trade and Navigation, and this is hearing the assessment of the local Chamber of Commerce.
signed Wenzel
to his excellence the Prince of Bismarck
Excerpt attached to No.2
Bremen, July 9th 1883
We have the honour to respond the following to your Excellency's letter from the 27th of last month, pertaining to the trade conditions at the west coast of Africa :
As far as the German, especially Bremian factories are located in territories which, such as Lagos, are occupied by Great Britain, conditions do
not provide the occasion for any special wishes.
Along the stretch between Little Popo and Grand Popo, which has not been claimed by any civilized power, Bremian and other German factories exist which for years conduct export and import trade. These try to come to terms with the negro chiefs as good as possible. In the past the relation was tolerable; lately complaints are raised that chiefs molest trade and charge higher and higher customs fees, so that export trade currently is almost at
a standstill. It is believed the negroes are incited by French merchants against their German competitors, and it is desired that the chiefs are to be taught to respect the German flag by dispatching a German gunboat, and
that on that occasion an attempt should be made to enter a kind of treaty relation with the natives, to free the trade from any distrubance.
We are glad to repeat our esteem
The Senate Commission for Reich and Foreign Affairs
signed Gildemeister
His Excellency, the Royal Prussian Extraordinary Emissary,
Herrn von Wentzel, Hamburg
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