Article II. Nr. 10298. Konferenz The import duties mentioned in the preceding Article shall not exceed Staaten. a rate equivalent to 10 per cent. on the value of goods at the port of importation. It is, moreover, understood: 14. Juni 1890. 1. That the rate of 10 per cent. is not applicable to alcohols, which remain subject to the special Regulations laid down in Capter VI of the present General Act: 2. That, with respect to the other goods, the rate of 10 per cent. shall not constitute a uniform and imperative rule, each of the Powers interested having the power to impose lower duties, or to admit certain products free; 3. That the import duties shall not be the subject of any differential treatment; 4. That, in applying the new Customs Regulations, each Power shall endeavour to simplify as much as possible all formalities, and to facilitate trading operations." The President points out, that, in drawing up the first Article, they were guided by the text of the Articles of the draft Treaty which authorize the establishment of a duty on spirituous liquors, and which the Conference has already adopted. This latter provision reserved full latitude to raise the taxes above the fixed minimum to the Powers where such a minimum is already in force. In the present case, the authority to levy import duties to the due amount of 10 per cent. is only necessary for the Powers who are bound by certain engagements, in so far as these engagements are applicable. Those who may have reservations to make in virtue of existing Treaties are confirmed in their rights, and all the Contracting Parties to the General Act could sign this Article. || Article II leaves each Power at liberty to settle its own system of Customs. It is probable, that in exercising this right the Powers will not tax all the products indifferently, and that one sort of goods. may escape any taxation. This prospect will certainly, in point of fact, lessen the inconveniences which it seems were apprehended in certain quarters. || The President reminds the Conference, that the original draft, when first presented, met almost unanimously with a most favourable reception from the Plenipotentiaries. This draft was again submitted to the meeting after most of the Plenipotentiaries had received their instructions. They ratified it then, not acting on their personal impressions, but in obedience to the orders of their Governments. It is the same draft which is submitted to them to-day, in a more precise and complete form. | The President adds, that Baron Gericke de Herwynen has just evinced, in his own name and in that of the Netherlands Government, sentiments of sympathy with the task of the King, and with the labours of the Conference, and he has assured us of the conciliatory feelings of his Government and of his own personal good-will. These sentiments cannot fail to be appreciated, and his Excellency will meet with complete reciprocity in this respect. | The President thinks he must here notice shortly some of Konferenz the remarks made by the Netherlands Minister which must suffice until the Nr. 10298. text has been distributed and a fuller reply can be given. || His Excellency, Staaten. he says, has pointed out, that it was proposed to augment the resources of 14. Juni 1890. the Congo Free State without defining the expenses which would have to be met. In this respect it is well to recall to mind the declaration made, at a recent sitting, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Free State. Animated by a sentiment to which the assembly has rendered homage, they thought it their duty to explain honestly, as indeed they said, and have moreover done, the situation which will result from the burdens imposed by the General Act, and the impossibility for their Government, in the present state of its resources, to help in the task on the accomplishment of which all the Powers are intent. The Conference will not fail to take into consideration this declaration and its accompanying explanations when the time comes to take a decision. || On the other hand, it must be borne in mind, that in the draft principles only are laid down. As regards fixing the duties and with the reservation of the maximum, it leaves the Powers interested a full latitude, and there can be no doubt that they will seek to observe the interests of trade and to reconcile them, as far as possible, with the object in view. | The Netherlands Government suggest an inquiry in common into measures which may allow of the Congo State fulfilling the requirements of the Treaty. There is here an essential distinction to be made. The members of the Conference have not forgotten, that, in the course of their deliberations, every time that there has been a question of a provision infringing on the prerogatives of any country in what concerns its internal jurisdiction, and when it is not restricted by international engagements, these prerogatives have been insisted on with never-failing care. It was a consequence of the principle of sovereignty, which has never been disputed by the Conference. This principle, apparently, could not be denied its application here. | Mention has already been made, on various occasions, and the Netherlands Minister did not call them in question, of the charges which would be imposed on the Free State by the General Act, in excess of its resources. Among the measures to which recourse should be had to procure for it the resources in question, the fiscal measures to be taken in the interior of the State have been mentioned in the first instance. || But on this point it must be allowed, that the independence of the Congo State is not restricted, and that therefore the necessity for a deliberation on the part of the Powers, and its postponement to a later date before it can be authorized to exercise those powers which belong to every independent State, would be hard to explain. It is, however, only in view of this right, and without deeming it indispensable to press it, that the President makes this reservation. In point of fact, either the taxes in question would be moderate and would not furnish the resources required, or, if raised to a rate which would render them productive, they would deal trade a much heavier blow than there is any fear of import duties doing. The same would apply to export duties. Konferenz Nr. 10298. The Treaties in operation authorize their collection; they have been in existence Staaten. some years. There is good ground for believing, that the financial resources 14. Juni 1890. which are required could not, without committing an economical error, be supplied from raising the duties in question; but, as in the case of the internal taxes, one does not see how any further deliberation on the part of the Powers can be necessary to legalize the alteration. || The above considerations point to the fact that, among the most suitable measures for supplying the Congo State with the resources it lacks, the only one which can become the subject of a discussion of the Conference is the establishment of an import duty. The President here reminds the Conference, that he has always defended the principle of free trade, and that he is not prepared to disavow it. He thinks that in now supporting the proposal with regard to the establishment of an import duty, he is consistent. Under existing circumstances, it may be convenient, it may even be of use to trade, to withdraw the prohibition recorded in the Berlin Treaty. | The Netherlands Minister has represented the state of commercial affairs on the Congo as less favourable than it has been depicted; he added, that we could look forward to the moment when certain undertakings, such, for example, as the railway, being finished, a better era will unfold itself; from this he argued the necessity of refraining from laying fresh burdens on trade. Without wishing at this moment to discuss the picture drawn by the Netherlands Minister, the President thinks it possible to deduce from it a very different result. It is, in fact, with a view to meeting the financial requirements of the period of transition, and the urgent requirements for the suppression of the Slave Trade, that the Congo State is in want of immediate financial assistance. If, as all must agree with the Netherlands Minister in hoping, trade should later on develop, as one may expect it will, it will be more than compensated for the sacrifices imposed on it, by the general progress and by the security and facilities which will be assured to it. Were the General Act concluded, there could be no question of the desire of the Powers interested to consult, as far as possible, in fixing the import duties, the interests of trade, which moreover are identical with their own. The President asks leave of the Conference to read certain passages of a Report quite recently published, which defines the position of the Congo State from the point of view of the suppression of the Slave Trade, and of the obligations which will be imposed on it in this respect by the General Act. They are from an official letter from Major Wissmann, who, previous to his present appointment, was in a position to be well acquainted with the territory of the Congo:- || "When we have made sufficient progress in all directions to allow of the natives asking for our protection, and when we are strong enough to grant it, no one will venture any longer to capture or transport We can only suppress slave-hunting when we make it impossible for them to be transported to the coast, and, consequently, put a stop to the Trade itself. Slave-hunting is only carried on in those unhappy countries . Konferenz where the natives have nothing but spears and bows for defence against their Nr. 10298. cruel enemies. To protect the natives in those countries we should establish. Staaten. communications with these distant regions by a line of stations. These terri- 14. Juni 1890. tories are almost exclusively situated in the interior within the boundaries of the Congo State;' but the exportation of captive slaves takes place almost entirely through German East Africa, and by certain fixed routes where the slave-merchants have contrived rallying points, such as Tabora and Ujidji. || Tabora is the principal junction of these routes. The slaves collected in the north-west of Lake Victoria, those who come from the interior of 'the Congo State (by far the most numerous),' and many who are captured on the west of Lake Nyassa, meet at Tabora on their way to the coast; that is, therefore, the point it is most necessary to watch. || Next to it in importance. comes Einja, situated near the three great lakes. By watching this spot, a task which would be extraordinarily facilitated by a small steamer, Germany would have done all that is possible against the African plague, and her efforts would certainly be crowned with success." It will be noticed, that Major Wissmann twice indicates the Congo as the principal centre of the Trade. || By that can be estimated the importance of the mission of the Congo State, as regards the suppression of the Trade, the urgent character of the measures she will have to adopt, and the imperative necessity, from the same point of view, of supplying it as soon as possible with the requisite resources to carry out this mission. In conclusion, the President says, that the proposal of Baron Gericke de Herwynen shall, like all submitted to the Conference, be immediately distributed amongst all the Plenipotentiaries. Baron Gericke de Herwynen, for his part, will examine with the most serious attention the proposal made by the President; he still thinks, however, that export duties would be preferable to the import duties which it is wished to establish. The President replies, that the Plenipotentiaries of the Congo Free State will offer explanations at the next sitting on this as well as on the other issues discussed by his Excellency. Nr. 10299. FRANKREICH. Bericht des franz. Gesandten in Brüssel an den franz. Minister des Auswärtigen über Bruxelles, le 24 juin 1890. Frankreich. 24. Juni 1890. Je remercie Votre Excellence d'avoir bien voulu me faire parvenir les Nr. 10299. pleins pouvoirs que je lui avais demandés et que M. Baudin m'a apportés ce matin. Presque en même temps, le docteur Ballay me remettait la lettre du Département du 23 juin qui a trait aux derniers arrangements arrêtés par la Conférence au sujet de l'établissement de droits d'importation dans le bassin conventionnel du Congo. En ce qui concerne le projet d'Acte additionnel qui, Frankreich. Nr. 10299. sous la forme d'une déclaration „doit être joint à l'Acte général" et être signé 24. Juni 1890. en même temps que lui, Votre Excellence paraît attacher à cette disposition un caractère et un sens transactionnels qu'il n'était nullement dans notre intention de lui donner, pour ce qui touche tout au moins les conditions dans lesquelles devrait être établi, dans la zone délimitée par l'Acte de Berlin, le régime douanier se rapportant aux nouveaux droits. J'ai déjà eu l'honneur d'expliquer à Votre Excellence que l'idée de recourir à cette convention séparée était née du désir de nous assurer le concours des États-Unis et leur participation à l'Acte général", en écartant de ce traité tout ce qui aurait pu en rattacher les clauses aux stipulations, non ratifiées par eux, de „l'Acte de Berlin". Dès que l'on adoptait cette façon de procéder, il devenait indispensable de modifier la forme du chapitre additionnel *) dont je vous avais précédemment soumis les termes. On en a profité pour insérer dans la nouvelle rédaction un paragraphe destiné à donner, dans une certaine mesure, satisfaction au vou manifesté par les Plénipotentiaires Hollandais de voir réunir une Commission internationale à laquelle serait confié le soin d'étudier la question des nouveaux tarifs projetés, afin de rendre aussi peu onéreux que possible les sacrifices que le commerce aurait, de ce chef, à supporter. || Rien de tout cela n'était de nature à éveiller à aucun degré nos inquiétudes. Mais il n'en était pas de même du membre de phrase final où il était dit que la Commission serait chargée d'arrêter, dans la limite maximum de 10 p. 100 de la valeur, les bases d'un tarif commun des droits d'entrée, applicable dans toute l'étendue du Bassin conventionnel du Congo." Ceci par contre, introduisait, au point de vue de la doctrine que nous soutenons, un changement capital et inacceptable dans le projet qui avait été précédemment soumis à la Conférence et que pour notre compte nous avions accepté. En modifiant cette disposition essentielle de la sorte, avant que le texte se rapportant à cette matière eût été l'objet d'une discussion générale, le Baron Lambermont s'était préoccupé des objections que les Anglais et les Allemands, appuyés par les Autrichiens et les Italiens, avaient manifesté l'intention d'opposer à une clause qui eût laissé chaque État possessionné dans la zone, libre d'établir à son gré les tarifs qui lui conviendraient sur toute l'étendue des territoires placés sous sa juridiction. Nous nous trouvions, par suite, mis en présence d'un système dont la discussion, vraisemblablement très vive, eût divisé profondément la Conférence en deux, et rejeté à une époque incertaine, peut-être éloignée, la possibilité d'un accord définitif sur l'ensemble des matières visées dans l'Acte général, et cela, au moment même où l'on s'occupait de désigner le jour de la signature. | Il m'a paru, quant à moi, qu'il était infiniment désirable d'ajourner un débat aussi intempestif et c'est ce qui m'a engagé à substituer à la phrase du projet Belge une rédaction qui avait pour objet d'ajourner et de déférer à l'examen de la Commission projetée le règlement de la question de *) Siehe die vorige Nr. S. 7 und 8. |