Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-11
HELIGOLAND'S VALUE
Discussed by Lord Salisbury, Who
Considers the Island
ALMOST WORTHLESS TO ENGLAND.
Benefits of British Protectorate in Africa
Ably Set Forth.
THE BILL PASSES SECOND READING

LONDON, July 10.-Lord Salisbury
moved the seconding of the Heligoland bill
in the House of Lords to-day. He said the
island had been of some service to England
during the struggle with Napoleon. Since
then 1t had been neither fortified nor de-
Tended, and England never had any iuten-
tion to fortify 1t. For strategic purposes 1t
was worthless. There was no harbor there,
and the roadstead was untenable in north
west winds. Commercially itwas OF small
value. In the event OF war it would be
distinct disadvantage to England, having
to defend widely scattered empire, to be
obliged to keep o naval force to guard
place of no value.
There was no reason why the inhabitants
of Heligoland should oppose the cession Of
the island to Germany. They were related
by the closest bonds Of language, race and
religion to the Germans.
ENGLAND's POWER IN AFRICA.
Referring to the African clauses Of the
convention, he contended that as long as
With was in the hands Of another power
English interests northward could be In
terfered with, but under the convention
there was not chance of interference until
the confines of Egypt were reached. Re-
garding Zanzibar, he urged that an ex-
elusive English protectorate would assist In
the suppression OF the slave trade and de-
velop the commerce of England and India.
There was no ground for apprehending a
difficulty over the convention with any
European power.
1t was erroneous to allege that E ngland
had IL L
after the conclusion of the agreement. The
mere command of the sea or the initiative
in dealing with the races in the interior did
not give any international right of control.
1t was impossible for England to affect to
lock up the whole of Africa. There was only
ONE STRONG CRITICISM
adverse to the agreement, arising from the
curious idea that special advantage per-
tanned to having strip of territory extend
ing from the Cape of Good Hope to the
sources of the. Nile. He denied that this
would be of any advantage, commercial or
strategic. Germany naturally objected to
being thus hemmed in from all possible con-
tact with the Congo State. The agreement
was a necessity, f only to prevent the dangers
OF a conflict between the English and the
Germans.
The agreement was gain to both sides,
each obtaining what suited its own purpose,
and neither having an absolute advantage
over the other. 1t would remove all dan
ger of disunion and conflict, cementing the
good feeling between those who by SYM
pathy, interests and descent ought always
to be friends.
Lord Roseberry said it was no part of the
duty of the House to pick small holes in
the agreement. What would have been
said if such proposals had come from the
Gladstone Government? ["Hear! Hearp'J
He would not carp over arrangements that
tended to cement England's friendship
with Germany, but he could not help point
ing out that in exchange for Heligoland
England got responsibilities of protection
rather than of dominion. The bill passed
Ehe second reading without division.