་་
7.
for defence. The islanders had themselves expressed concern about
this and in fact Germany did straightaway fortify Heligoland and
considerable disturbance of the population and its property result
ed (though presumably with compensation).
(iii). The fishery clause preserving the existing rights of British
fishermen to anchorage off Heligoland, provisioning, repairing of
nets etc were not strictly safeguards for Heligolanders but for
· British fishermen. But it may be usefully noted that the continued!
right of British fishermen to fish in the territorial waters of
the island was demanded in Parliament and supported by the FO and
Bd of Trade. But the German Govt resisted it on the ground that it
might only produce "another Newfoundland case" (which was still
agitated with France at the time). One MP thought that the 'ishery
rights we had secured would only lead to friction with Germany. (It
has not been possible to find out if he was right, but in view of
the fortification of the island it would not be surprising).
1
(iv) The CO asked that the claims to compensation for loss of appoint
ment of English-born officers in Govt service in Heligoland and also those of local and German officers (unless the German Govt retained their services) should be charged to the German Govt and
stipulated for in the treaty. (There were only two British
officers, the Governor and Magistrate, but there were also several
men in the British coastguard ́service). The point was not pressed
by the FO, partly because it was expected that the officers
could and world be re-employed elsewhere in the colonies and the
coastguard men by the Admiralty. It may be additionally noted
нег that the re-employment of the Govt officers did prove so easy,
or (thanks to the Treasury) their compensation either, and in
consequence it was at one point later suggested that as we had, on
revenue, the cession, handed over to Germany all the balance of Heligoland/
we might claim in equity some part of this to assist this compen-
sation, in view of the annual subsidies we had in the past made
to that revenue. (The point was not however carried into effect). (v)
As to the sufficiency of the safeguards, certain of their
defects, as they later appeared, have been noted above, notably
---