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(b) All existing laws and customs of Heligoland "as far as
possible to remain undisturbed" (XII, 4).
(c) Undertaking by German Government not to increase the
existing customs tariff of Heligoland for next 20 years. (XII,5).
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(d) A provision guaranteeing respect for all rights to
property "which private persons or corporations have acquired in Heligoland in connection with the British Government" and the German Government's acceptance of the obligations resulting
therefrom. (This was to cover the special cases of Lloyd's
signalling station on the island and more particularly Trinity
House's lighthouse and related buildings and buoys there..
Foreign Office wanted the latter taken over by German Government at
a valuation, but Germany claimed that Governmental assets were
included in the cession. HMG replied that Trinity House was
neither a wholly governmental nor wholly private institution -
the wording of the clause.)
NOTES
The
hence
(i) No safeguards were requested for the constitutional and
political rights of the Heligolanders as their old
constitution had been abrogated in 1868 and they had
since been under the Governor's rule as a Crown Colony.
But some vigorous pleas were made in the Lords for fuller
safeguards for the civil rights and liberties of a
people who had hitherto enjoyed those of Britain and were
now faced with their loss under "the very different form
of government of the German Empire" (in respect not only of conscription but also taxation etc.) and especially
in regard to their descendants. But HMG would not go
beyond the immunities they had secured.
(ii)
A substantial objection about safeguards against the
inhabitants' dispossession by the proposed German
fortification of Heligoland was raised first in PQs and
then by the Opposition on the second reading, but could
not be met by HMG on the ground that they could not
control what measures the Germans thought necessary
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