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The justice and humanity of the High Government is our security that the above be the foundation of the administration of the government of the island.

If stated that we need not serve in the army or navy, this is only a privilege which England has guaranteed us in the terms of surrender, a privilege that all the Schleswig Islands on the West Coast enjoy with us, and whose inhabitants have not been required to serve in the army during the late wars, and to whom the Royal Prussian Government has given, by an enactment, the right to reserve this privilege, which excludes them from serving in the army and navy.

We cannot think that our most gracious Government would denude us of our rights, and that Great Britain would break her given word.

That the Heligoland Bürger feels that it is his duty to contribute towards his own wants according to his means we have sufficiently pointed out in our first memorial.

The balancing of the colonial accounts show how the citizen voluntarily contributed a considerable amount towards the improvement of the public streets.

We have proved our loyalty sufficiently by collecting the unpaid taxes of last year, after we had been kept in prison, but now we also want satisfaction and decision regarding the several points in question; this request the justice of the High Government cannot refuse us.

If the Government asserts neither service nor money is required, it only fulfils an act of justice, partly as exemption from service has been guaranteed, and partly because it would not be humane to require money from the people of an island that does not produce anything itself, and whose inhabitants earn their daily bread in trouble and care, and not even for one hour are their own affairs to be kept up without the kind support of England.

It is the wish of the Government that the inhabitants pursue their course of business, and by that, improve their lot in the land where they have been born.

We certainly acknowledge this with gratitude; but must add, that as unfortunately neither new sources of industry nor aid have arrived from England, this favour has not as yet sufficed to support the island and its inhabitants, and that the Treasury has annually contributed considerably to keep the existence of the island and its inhabitants

from ruin.

Finally, the High Ministry remarks that it is the wish of the Government that we are governed just and mild, and whilst obeying the law improve our lot.

However great the consolation contained in this good assurance, we take the liberty to point the fact of an illegal state of things in the administration of justice and ecclesiastical affairs, and that whilst the public money has been badly administered, the public debt, according to the ministry's own words, has increased to such a height as not to be consonant with the island resources.

The citizens have complained of all these things, especially the bad administration of finances which existed particularly under the direction of the Secretary of Governor Maxse, Mr. Gatke, a man whose character is not exactly to be praised, and with whom all sense of honour is lost.

But all these complaints have not even met with a satisfactory reply.

The old lawless state of things exists now as before, uninterrupted; the citizen cannot obtain a hearing.

Where is the justice?

Leniently we are to be governed.

If the elected representatives are punished and the citizens imprisoned, and a man-of- war sent against unarmed citizens;

Is this perhaps leniency?

We are to improve our lot by obedience to the laws; it is just this which we have long been praying for, that a state of justice be reinstated in Heligoland.

Certainly the Heligoland citizens do not cause useless agitations, but the way in which they are treated has caused a great deal of bad blood.

They ask, therefore, What is justice in Heligoland? They want to become happy whilst obeying the law.

They also ask now—

Is the old Landesbeliebung, the old land and church right, yet valid on Heligoland?

Is the Landescassen Ordinance of the 24th November 1779 yet valid ?

Does the old Schleswig-Holstein right still exist on Heligoland, and have the citizens

yet their old rights and privileges ?

We certainly do not cause agitations.

have excited the quiet citizen.

We beg now for a decisive answer.

May they answer for it to Government who

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What is justice and law in Heligoland ?

With faith we look towards the Throne and our most gracious Government. We must be the most ungrateful people if we did not acknowledge the kindness of England with gratitude.

We therefore hope with confidence that this paper may suffice to attain those objects which we then mentioned in our memorial as Bürger Committee, but now as elected representatives, viz.:—

Istly. That the High Government order the Constitution of the 7th of January 1864, and all the ordinances enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council, to be abolished. 2ndly. That the citizens be given back their old rights that England has guaranteed them, and that the old justice and law be valid again.

3rdly. That all the superfluous officials be dismissed, lawful officials reinstated, and the administration be given to the direction of able men who deserve the confidence of the people.

4thly. On carefully going over the new Constitution we might ask the High Govern- ment that the free election of all the Landesvorteher (meaning all and every official) be granted for the future, for then the inhabitants cannot complain of their officials. Most obediently,

(Signed)

て

Heligoland, 15th April 1867.

THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES,

P. R. LASSEN. HANS FRIEDRICHS,

PETER PAY HANSEN.

H. R. FRIEDRICKS.

HANS LORENZEN. ROHR M. RÔHRS.

Appendix.

P. A. HEIKENS. H. O. RICKMERS. HEINR. FRANZ. H. R, OHLSSEN. OELRICH PAYENS.

As the High Ministry may perhaps know already, we are 11 persons who have been elected from the Bürger Cornmittee as representatives, and consequently the well-being of the island lays in our hands, as indeed his Excellency Governor Maxse informed us in an Assembly. We, as citizens and representatives of the island, are therefore of opinion that through indulgence we shall be enabled to reinstate our rightful Constitution, guaranteed to us by the most gracious Government, according to the section 4 of the Terms of Surrender, 1807.

The leave of absence of the Governor for five weeks prevented us from sending a communication to the High Colonial Office earlier.

With regret we must remark that latterly the most contradictory answers have been sent to us; so that our confidence in our Governor has been entirely shaken.

It appears as if the counsellors of the Governor intended to compel us to act against our conviction, and in case we refuse to overheap us with threats; amongst others, that the mighty Government would take its hand from us and leave us to misery.

For, when the resources of a land are exhausted, and the Government inclined to draw away from us its mighty care, if we insist upon our rights, we must at last become puzzled regarding justice, unity, peace, and happiness of a small community whom circumstances have brought to this state.

Although we representatives have assured the Governor that we would collect volun- tary contributions from every citizen, if such be required or necessary, without interrupting the order and peace.

The citizens of Heligoland are ready at any time to support the island with contri- butions of money, that is, when we have given back to us our old rights and laws.

A committee of the so-called Combined Court have summoned the inhabitants before the court, and threatened if they relused to pay voluntary contributions the Governor would, by order of the Colonial Ministry, deprive us of a certain rent from the Conversa- tions House, without which this small island is impossible to maintain itself; the Governor further would take away from us 110% granted to us by the Crown.

As representative, one is almost forced by such threats to act against one's own con. viction, as in this way one is only looked upon as a doll.

But, putting our faith in the Government, we hope that these matters will be smoothed soon, and that one as representative can come forward unhindered.

Most obediently,

THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

N.B. The above-mentioned 110 has been, however, accorded to the island by Governor Maxse in the last assembly.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

EPER CO. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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