GRANDE-BRETAGNE , BELGIQUE, ETAT INDEPEN- DANT DU CONGO
Arrangement destiné à délimiter les sphères d'influence respectives des deux Etats en Afrique de l'Est et en Afrique Centrale; signé à Bruxelles le 12 mai 1894.
Parliamentary Papers presented to bouth Homes of Parialment by command of Her Majesty. May 1894. [C. - 7558]
The Undersigned, the Honourable Sir Francis Richard Plunkett, a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of the Belgians, on behalf of the British Government , and M. van Eetvelde , Officer of the Order of Leopold , Grand Cross of the Orders of St. Gregory the Great, of Christ of Portugal, and of the African Rédemption , &c, Secretary of State of the Interior of the Independent State of the Congo, on behalf of the Government of the Independent State of the Congo, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have agreed as follows :
His Majesty the King of the Belgians , Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo, having recognized the British sphère of influence, as laid down in the Anglo-German Agreement of the lst July, Great Britain Britain undertakes to give to His Majesty a lease of territories in the western basin of the Nile, under the conditions specified in the following Articles: —
Article I.
(a.) It is agreed that the sphère of influence of the Independent Congo State shall be limited to the north of the German sphère in East Africa by a frontier following the 30th meridian east of Greenwich up to its intersection by the watershed between the Nile and the Congo, and thence following this watershed in a northerly and north-westerly direction.
(b.) The frontier between the Independent Congo State and the British sphère to the north of the Zambesi shall follow a line running direct from the extremity of Cape Akalunga on Lake Tanganika, situated at the northernmost point of Cameron Bay at about 8° 15' south latitude, to the right bank of the River Luapula, where this river issues from Lake Moero. The line shall then be drawn directly to the entrance of the river into the lake, being , however , deflected toward the south of the lake so as to give the Island of Kilwa to Great Britain. It shall then follow the «thalweg» of the Luapula up to its issue from Lake Bengweolo. Thence it shall run southwards along the meridian of longitude of the point where the river leaves the lake to the wathershed between the Congo and Zambesi, which it shall follow until it reaches the Portuguese frontier.
806 Grande-Bretagne, Belgique, État Indépendant du Congo.
Article II.
Great Britain grants a lease to His Majesty Ring Leopold II, Sovereign of the Indépendant Congo State, of the territories hereinafter defined , to be by him occupied and administered on the conditions and for tse period of time hereafter laid down.
The territories shall be boanded by a line starting from a point situated on the west shore of Lake Albert , immediately to the south of Mahagi, to the nearest point of the frontier defined in paragraph (a) of the preceding Article. Thence it shall follow the watershed between the Congo and the Nile up to the 25th meridian east of Greenwich, and that meridian up to its intersection by the lOth parallel north, whence it shall run along that parallel directly to a point to be determined to the north of Fashoda. Thence it shall follow the «thalweg» of the Nile south ward to Lake Albert, and the western shore- of Lake Albert to the point above indicated south of Mahagi.
This lease shall remain in force during the reign of His Majesty Leopold II, Sovereign of the Indépendant Congo State.
Nevertheless, at the expiration of His Majesty's reign, it shall remain fully in force as far as concerns ail the portion of the territories above mentioned situated to the west of the 30th meridian east of Greenwich, as weli as a strip of 25 kilom. in breadth, to be delimitated by common consent, stretching from the wathershed between the Nile and the Congo up to the western shore of Lake Albert, and including the port of Mahagi.
This extended lease shall be continued so long as the Congo territories as an Independent State or as a Belgian Colony remain under the sovereignty of His Majesty and His Majesty's successors.
Throughout the continuance of a lease there shall be used a spécial flag in the leased territories.
Article III.
The Independent Congo State grants under lease to Great Britain, to be administered when occupied , under the conditions and for the period hereafter determined, a strip of territory 25 kilom. in breadth, extending from the most northerly port on Lake Tanganika, which is included in it, to the most southerly point of Lake Albert Edward.
This lease will have similar duration to that which applies to the territories to the west of the 30th meridian east of Greenwich.
Article IV.
His Majesty King Leopold II, Sovereign of the Independent Congo State , recognizes that he neither has nor seeks to acquire any political rights in the territories ceded to him under lease in the Nile Basin other than those which are in conformity with the présent Agreement.
Similarly, Great Britain recognizes that she neither has, nor seeks to acquire , any political rights in the strip of territory granted to her on lease between Lake Tanganika and Lake Albert Edward other than those which are in conformity with the présent Agreement.
Sphères d'influence.
Article V.
The Independent Congo State authorizes the construction through its territories by Great Britain , or by any Company duly authorized by the British Government, of a line of telegraph Connecting the British territories in South Africa with the British sphère of influence on the Nile. The Government of the Congo State shall have facilities for Connecting this line with its own télégraphie System.
This authorization shall not confer on Great Britain or any Company, person or persons, delegated to construct the telegraph line, any rights of police or administration within the territory of the Congo State.
Article VI.
In the territories under lease in this Agreement the subjects of each of the Contracting Parties shall reciprocally enjoy equal rights and immunities, and shall not be subjected to any differential treatment of any kind.
In witness whereof the Undersigned have signed the présent Agreement, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.
Done in duplicate at Brussels, this 12th day of May, 1894.
(L. S.) Francis Richard Plunkett.
(L. S.) Edm. van Eetvelde.
No. 1.
Sir F. Plunkett to M. van Eetvelde.
British Légation, Brussels, M. le Secrétaire d'État, May 12, 1894.
The Earl of Kimberly , in authorizing me to sign the Agreement of this day's date for a lease of certain territories in the British sphère of influence in East Africa to His Majesty King Leopold II, has directed me to record the assurance that the parties to the Agreement do not ignore the claims of Turkey and Egypt in the basin of the Upper Nile.
I avail, &c.
(Signed) F. R. Plunkett.
No. 2.
M. van Eetevelde to Sir F. Plunkett.
Sir, Brussels, May 12, 1894.
In signing , on behalf of His Majesty Léopold II , the Agreement of this day's date, for a lease of certain territories in the British sphère of influence in East Africa I reciprocate the assurance that the parties to the Agreement do not ignore the claims of Turkey and Egypt in the basin of the upper Nile.
I avail, &c.
(Signed) Edm. van Eetvelde.
808 Grande-Bretagne, Belgique, État Indépendant du Congo»
M. van Eetvelde to Sir F. Plunkett.
M. le Ministre, Bruxelles, le 12 Mai, 1894.
Au cours des pourparlers auxquels a donné lieu la Convention de ce jour entre l'État Indépendant du Congo et la Grande-Bretagne, j'ai eu l'occasion de déclarer à votre Excellence que l'Etat du Congo s'engage à autoriser, le cas échéant, les recrutements de soldats que les Agents dûment commissionnés à cet effet par les autorités Britanniques désireraient effectuer dans les territoires situés entre le 30e méridien et le Lac Albert.
J'ai l'honneur de confirmer cet engagement, et je saisis, &c.
(Signé) Edm. van Eetveld.
(Translation.)
M. le Ministre Brussels, May 12, 1894.
In the course of the discussions to which the Convention of to-day between the Independent State of the Congo and Great Britain has given rise, I have had occasion to déclare to you that the State of the Congo engages to authorize, in case of need, such recruitement of soldiers as the Agents duly commissioned for that purpose by the British authorities may wish to effect in the territories situated between the 30th meridian and Lake Albert.
I have the hour to confirm this engagement , and I seize, &c.
(Signed) Fdm. van Eelevelde.
No. 4.
Sir F. Plunkett to M. van Eetvelde.
British Légation, Brussels, M. le Secrétaire d'État, May 12, 1894.
In accordance with the wish which you have expressed , I have to convey to your Excellency the assurance, on the part of the Earl of Kimberly , that his Lordship will be ready to recommend to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies that facilities shall be given, so far as it may be found to be practicable , for recruitment , under suitable conditions , in the British Colonies on the West Coast of Africa , to facilitate the prompt and complète occupation by His Majesty King Leopold II of the territories in the western basin of the Mile comprised in the lease contained in the Agreement of this day's date.
I avail, &c.
(Signed) F. R. Plm\keit.
Sphères d'influence , Commerce.
