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3. Deputy Eichhoff (Progressive People's party) praised administration and working of the colony. Thought personal allowance for the governor must cease with departure of Admiral Truppel. Considered population of Tsingtan ripe for self- government. Praised German high school as being useful in interest of language and civilisation.
4. Admiral Tirpitz confirmed above two speakers as to progress in development of Kiao-chao in trade and organisation of the colony.
Advocated the establishment of regular colonial professorships in Berlin and other places.
Government were watching the progress of the plague in China, aad hoped to overcome the difficulties caused by its outbreak.
(The last telegram from the Governor of Tsingtau concerning the plague was read by Admiral von Tirpitz in the Reichstag, and is attached to this letter; also the steps which Admiral Tirpitz stated have been adopted in the colony for combating the plague.)
5. Deputy Noske (Socialist) made attack on Government and Admiral Tirpitz. Said Social Democrats were never given same advantages as members of other parties. Attacked administration of the colony.
6. Deputy Göreke (National Liberal), who had visited the colony, considered administration and development good and satisfactory; discussing the various problems to be worked out, alluded to Hong Kong, and stated that about fifteen to twenty years after occupation it was a question of whether British Government should retain it. Remarked that Kiao-chao compared favourably in that respect.
7. Herr Ledebour (Socialist) considered possession of a post which was practically taken possession of by force of arms, is, and will remain, a source of international complications. Stated German imports in Tsingtau are declining. Urged colony should be given back to China.
8. Admiral von Tirpitz stated that self-government in Tsingtau is difficult. That they had already offered the citizens a limited self-government, namely a representation based upon general and secret election, but this proposal has not been accepted.
In reply to a remark by Socialists that the colony was a step to further annexation and was a source of international complications, stated Chinese had completely convinced themselves that the Germans, in particular, as compared with other nations, had no intention to make conquests.
"We
When asked what would happen if Germany gave up this colony, stated: should not only lose Tsingtau, but we should have to abandon altogether our whole political position in China. We should be compelled, among other things, also to withdraw our ships, and should have to have them docked and repaired elsewhere. will mention no names. What effect the withdrawal of our ships would have in many respects, I do not need to explain to you."
Spoke generally of the favourable development of trade of the colony.
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9. Dr. Arendt (Imperial party) attacked the Socialist (Deputy Ledebour), and urged loss of prestige to the German Empire if Kiao-chao were abandoned.
Remarked: "When Deputy Ledebour speaks of the magnanimity with which the English abandon similar possessions, this shows a lack of far-sighted observation of the English policy. When the English took possession of the Ionian Islands they had a strategic value, but lost it because they afforded no anchorage for modern vessels, therefore they were given to the Greeks as a present." Remarked that the Germans in China had not been so short-sighted.
10. Deputy Ledebour (Socialist), in reply to remarks, said: "I am said to have praised the magnanimity of the English, who abandoned the Ionian Islands. The English are not magnanimous and will never be so. I know them well enough. I have lived six years in England. But they were too wise and reasonable to retain Corfu, &c.; they had no strategic value for them. That Kiao-chao has for us a strategic value, was, in the speech of the State Secretary, only an echo from former times; the facts have, since the Russo-Japanese war, fundamentally changed."
Urged that in Tsingtau, Chinese trade is promoted-not German trade. "That German goods arrive in Shanghai, Hong Kong, &c., in China, is the best proof that Tsingtau has no importance."
11. The vote was agreed fo without further discussion.
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Telegram from the Governor of Tsingtau regarding the Plague in China.
IN places remote from the railway, news of the plague is difficult to obtain. Only in Layang are deaths reported. Along the railroad the plague is spreading. In Tsinanfu there are deaths from plague among the Vth Chinese division. The settle- ment is closed; 45 kilom. south of the railroad, from Tsin-tsin to Pukin, a new plague centre; probably also in the Chinese town of Kiao-chao. 250 deaths are reported by Europeans from Chantung; also in Chifu, 200. Mines of Hungschau are working; Fangtse has stopped work (on account of Chinese New Year). Protectorate free; want of labourers in consequence of panic and war rumours; wages have risen, and they demand preventative measures, including free board in quarantine, to which the merchants contribute. The weather raw; the isolation promises success, but is hard. Therefore, with new men, without injury to health and discipline, isolation is only possible if for the present two officers and 358 men kept back.
Admiral Tirpitz then said: "We have also in other respects taken every precautionary measure which science affords. We have, in the first place, retained two medical men, including the navy surgeon, Dr. Martini, one of the best pupils of the late Robert Koch, who in this connection rendered good service on account of his valuable experience in foreign countries. We have also a medical advanced post in Tsinanfu, which has to transmit the reports regarding the spread of the plague. We have also taken measures for obtaining lymph, establishment of quarantine hospitals, &c. Further, a hermetic isolation is carried out, namely, the whole length of our land defence position. The details have been given in the committee. The extraordinary advantage of such a land defence position is shown also in time of peace against the plague. Such a hermetic isolation is rather difficult, for it is always a question of from 5 to 6 kilom. of our land fortifications. We have also extended the isolation to the rest of the protectorate, and have also called in the aid of the Chinese country population. The latter has taken part with great activity in this voluntary work. It results that from this, in any case, our personnel has great influence with the Chinese in our protectorate, and that the Chinese population regards our administrative and sanitary activity with great confidence. The Chinese have now voluntary offered to carry out the isolation. It will be of interest to inspect some plague masks, which I have laid upon the table of the House, which are intended as a protection against dangerous inhalations." (Applause.)
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