Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/292

 284] FOBEIGN HISTORY. [1899.

violently opposed by Herren Liebknecht, Bebel, and other Marxists. Herr Bebel proposed the following resolution on the subject : —

"The development of bourgeois society has hitherto given the party no occasion to abandon or to alter its fundamental views of that society. The party continues to take its stand on the principle of the war of classes, according to which the liberation of the working classes can be achieved by themselves alone. The party therefore regards it as the historical aim of the working classes to acquire political power in order to establish the greatest possible well-being of all by means of the conversion of the means of production into common property, and by the introduction of the Socialistic methods of production and exchange. To achieve this object the party employs every means which is consistent with its fundamental views, and which promises success. The Social Democracy does not decline to join forces with the bourgeois parties whenever the strengthening of the party at elections or the enlargement of the political rights and liberties of the people is in question. The party maintains its old ground in combating militarism on land and sea and a colonial policy. It also stands by its old international policy. There is accord- ingly no reason why the party should change its programme, its tactics or its name, and it strongly repudiates any attempt to veil or to alter its attitude towards the existing order of the State and of society and towards the bourgeois parties."

This resolution, which did not definitely pledge the party to the views of either Herr Bernstein or his opponents, was adopted by a majority of 261 to 21.

In the Colonial Estimates for the Budget year 1900 a sum of 9,839,500 marks was provided for the East African Protec- torate ; for the Cameroons, 2,379,700 marks ; for Togo, 750,000 marks; for South -West Africa, 8,474,300 marks; for New Guinea, 923,500 marks ; and for the Caroline, Pala'u and Marianne Islands, 370,000 marks. The Estimates contained a memorandum dealing with the projected East African Bailway from Dar-es-Salaam to Mrogoro, and a report on the construc- tion of the railway in South- West Africa between Swakopmund and Windhoek. A sum of 100,000 marks was assigned for the preliminary expenses in connection with the former under- taking, but the Colonial Council unanimously recommended that this sum should be raised to 2,000,000 marks. The South- West African Bailway was already in working order as far as Jackalswater — a distance of 98 kilomfetres — and carried on an average nearly 1,000 tons of goods per month. A vote of 8,500,000 marks was also asked for Kiao-Chau. The value of the imports from Samoa for the year 1898 amounted to 5,000 marks, including cocoa beans of the value of 4,000 marks. The goods exported from Germany to the islands were worth 95,000 marks, and consisted principally of umbrellas