GERMANY AND COLONISATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1278, 16 December 1884, Page 3

GERMANY AND COLONISATION.

The utterances of Prince Bismarck in regard to German colonisation abroad have attracted ranch attention, and Mr Murray Smith thought it would be interesting to the Victorian Government to have a report of the Imperial Chancellor’s speech in the Reichstag on the 24th June. Accoidingly, he had a translation prepared, which reached Mr Service by the last mail. The speech deals with the negotiations which pro ceeded between Germany and England in connection with the annexation of Angra Pequena, and concludes as follows :

It has always been our aim to enter uron no exclusive colonial policy, as unfortunately other States less powerful than England do, and thereby hinder the welfare and commerce of their colonies Such is not oar intention, but we believe that whatever colonial policy we may carry out will meet with the approval of all parlies in our country. Meanwhile this belongs to the future, and to time we leave if. It was poin'ed nut by xMr Richert that our colonial enterprises would involve immense expenditure, and would bring our treasury into a worse state than it is at the present moment. That mfght be the case if we were to begin, as we have done with former undertakings, by sending out a number of officials and subordinates, by placing garrisons, and by erecting forts and barracks. But such is not their intention—at least, it is not mine. My purpose, which is approved by His Majesty the Emperor, is to leave the responsibility of the development of the colony as well as its establishment to the enterprise and activity of our maritime and commercial fellow-citizens, and to proceed not so much by annexing provinces beyond the seas, as by making free grants, after the manner of English Royal charters, treading in the footsteps of the famous English merchants who founded the East India Company.' We shall leave to those fellow citizens the interests and the good of the colony, only granting them the possibility of European jurisdiction for Europeans, promising them such protection as we can give them without placing a permanent garrison. I think that complaints would have to be made to either a representative of the empire there or a consul, and that one of ohr maritime or commercial courts at Bremen, Hamb trg, or elsewhere might decide cases arising out of commercial undertakings. Our aim is, not to found provinces, but to further commercial enterprise, and to protect those who acquire sovereignity end still remain attached \o German interests against attacks resulting from unavoidable proximity, and against oppression and injury from other European powers. In short, we hope the tree will flourish by the diligence of the gardeners who planted it. If it does not, the plant is a failure, but the Government is not so much affected by the loss as those who have undertaken the enterprise. The difference is this : In the system which I called the French, the Government would have to decide on several occasions whether the undertaking was good and likely to be successful, whereas under the system which it advocates we leave the choice to the merchants, to the persons who undertake private enterprises, and when we see that the tree has struck roots, grows, spreads, and calls for protection, we strengthen it, and I cannot see how we can refuse to do so.