The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-29
ZANZIBA
How Prince Bismarck Succeeded In q Great
Commercial Enterprise.

Commercial Enterprise.
The conference of Berlin has dealt
great blow to British interests in East
Africa. France, in connection with
the unfortunate De Brazza-Stanley
Congo affair. played part altogether
hostile to her own interests. The rival
~ of De Brazza and Stanley, in which
ambition plays such an important part
shows once more that explorers are not
always guided Dy patriotic or humanl-
tartan motives, and that charlatanism
sometimes has had share in their
schemes or combinations. Here we
have seen some fifty of these pioneers,
very meritorious men in many respects,
If for no other reason than the prlya-
tons they have undergone and the dan
gers they have had to encounter, but
all in a ferment with the leaven of am
bition and all ready with the phrase:
go and see if you like" The sigma
tory powers of the conference of Berlin
have been skillfully dealt with by its
promoter. While De Brazza and STAN
ley were engaged in furnishing materi-
ais for the press a German mission was
ascending the Congo, traversing the
approaches to Lake Tanganyika. a part
of the Ouni-Mouizi and all the countries
tributary to Sevyid Burgash. and thus
disembarking on the coast of Baga-
moyo. This done, Germany caused
a first step to be taken by
approaching the powers through Bel
GUM. The move ended in the
famous conference, and while Germany
displayed great solicitude for her inter-
ests on the Congo and affected to have
no views beyond or elsewhere she raised
the question of Angra Pequena and of
the Cameroons. All eyes were fixed on
the Congo. and nobody thought of the
eastern coast. While at Berlin the
banks of the Congo were under dis
| cussion, the mission which had traversed
Africa and had disembarked at Baga-
moyo had furnished the most valuable
| information regarding the resources of
the Congo. Germany in this way had
| ascertained that the countries bordering
on the stream were very poor, and that,
with the exception of Arachides and
Batatas, the soil produced almost
nothing, and that, besides, Europeans
| could not become acclimatiZe1 there.
Germany learned. it is true, at the same
| time that in the country watered by
the Congo there was dead ivory to be
! had, but in too small a quantity to
furnish supplies which would last above
a few years. This information. of
| course, was not of kind to encourage
her in an enterprise which implied
sacrifices in men and money, and might
seriously involve the German flag. 1t
was otherwise. however. with the re-
ports brought by the mission from the
| eastern coast. The Germans had known
for a long time from the mercantile
houses settled there that this eastern
coast had a relatively good climate,
was healthy, and was frequented by
vessels which placed it in communica
ton with India. and that caravans
were formed and recruited there to
penetrate into Africa and to return with
the products. They found that the
eastern coast of Africa was that
part of the continent most worthy of a
serious effort. Accordingly, instead Of
sending a diplomatist. they dispatched
NJ. Karl Peters on mission which had
for its object to obtain information from
the German houses established there,
and to secure the possession of a terri
tory situated on one of the caravan
routes of which L have just spoken.
This work was soon done. Thirty days
after his arrival on the coast Karl Peters
had annexed Ousagara, and in this way
created the question of Zanzibar, which
will have the following consequences:
First. to compel the Sultan to declare
transit free; second. to send to Tan
ganyika. NyanZa and Mayemna, Ger
mans whose mission it will be to divert
! the ivory trade from the Congo and to
| secure the monopoly of it for Germany;
third, to induce the Arabs to pass be-
yond the limits laid down by the con-
| ference. and TO hand over all the ivory
trade to the Germans; fourth, to secure
| the possession for the Germans of a
| healthy country in the heart of Africa,
where a commercial colony may be
established; fifth. to enable the Ger
mans to form metalled road going as
| far as the lakes. and thus become
! masters of the territory without having
to pay any indemnity or sum to the
! Sultan i'll recognition of this protector
ate. But to be Just it must be added
that the liberty OF settling in Africa
may be opened to all. Germany will
thus benefit from importation, exporta-
ton, colonial establishments, possible
alliances with the great pOtentates of
| the interior of the continent: in short,
from having central position which
will enable her to control commercially
the Congo. Tripoli and the Nile, and in
this way to have greater hold over
the internal commerce of Africa than
any of the other European powers
| Cor. London Times.