Treaty between Great Britain and Germany relating to the Demarcation of the Spheres of Influence

Treaty between Great Britain and Germany relating to the Demarcation of the Spheres of Influence (April 6, 1886)

The Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Government of His Majesty the German Emperor, having resolved to define the limits of the British and German spheres of influence in the Western Pacific;

The Undersigned, duly empowered for that purpose, viz.:

1. Sir Edward Baldwin Malet, Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary;

2. Count Herbert Bismarck, His Imperial Majesty's Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;

having agreed, on behalf of their respective Governments, to make the following Declaration:-

Article I. For the purpose of this Declaration the expression "Western Pacific" means that part of the Pacific Ocean lying between the 15th parallel of north latitude and the 30th parallel of south latitude, and between the 165th meridian of longitude west and the 130th meridian of longitude east of Greenwich.

Article II. A Conventional line of demarcation in the Western Pacific is agreed to, starting from the north-east coast of New Guinea, at a point near Mitre Rock, on the 8th parallel of south latitude, being the boundary between the British and German Possessions on that coast, and following that parallel to point A, and thence continuing to points B, C, D, E, F, and G, as indicated in the accompanying Charts, which points are situated as follows:

A.  8 deg. south latitude, 154 deg. longitude east of Greenwich.

B.  7 deg.10' south latitude, 155 deg. 25' east longitude.

C.  7 deg.15' south latitude, 155 deg. 35' east longitude.

D.  7 deg.25' south latitude, 156 deg. 40' east longitude.

E.  8 deg. 50' south latitude, 159 deg. 50' east longitude.

F.  6 deg. north latitude, 173 deg. 30' east longitude.

G.  15 deg. north latitude, 173 deg. 30' east longitude.

The point A is indicated on the British Admiralty Chart 780, Pacific Ocean (South-west sheet); the points B,C,D, and E are indicated on the British Admiralty Chart 214 (South Pacific Solomon Islands); and the points F and G on the British Admiralty Chart 781, Pacific Ocean (North-west sheet).

Article III. Germany engages not to make acquisitions of territory, accept Protectorates, or interfere with the extension of British influence, and to give up any acquisitions already established in that part of the Western Pacific lying to the east, south-east or south of the said Conventional line.

Article IV. Great Britain engages not to make acquisitions of territory, accept Protectorates, or interfere with the extension of German influence, and to give up any acquisitions of territory or Protectorates already established in that part of the Western Pacific lying to the west, north-west or north of the said Conventional line.

Article V. Should further surveys show that any islands, now indicated on the said on one side of the said are in reality on the said line shall be such islands shall same side of the line as a p on the said Charts.

Article VI. This Declaration does not apply to the Navigator Islands (Samoa), which are affected by Treaties with Great Britain, Germany, and the United States; nor to the Friendly Islands (Tonga), which are affected by Treaties with Great Britain and Germany; nor to the Island of Niue (Savage Island), which groups of islands shall continue to form a neutral region; nor to any islands or places in the Western Pacific which are now under the sovereign protection of any other civilized Power than Great Britain or Germany. Declared and signed in duplicate at Berlin, this sixth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six.

[Seal] Edward B. Malet

[Seal] Graf Bismarck

[Seal] Edward B. Malet

[Seal] Graf Bismarck

Traité entre la Grande-Bretagne et l’Allemagne relatif à la démarcation des sphères d’influence