TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 31

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for defence. The islanders had themselves expressed concern abou? this and in fact Germany did straightaway fortify Heligoland und considerable disturbance of the population and its property resul 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 continue

right of British fishermen to fish in the territorial waters of

the island was demanded in Parliament and supported by the FO and Ba of Trade. But the "crman Govt resisted it on the ground that i might only produce "another Newfoundland case" (which was still agitated with France at the time). One MP thought that the 'isher rights we had secured would only lead to friction with Germany. (I 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).

(iv)

The CO asked that the claims to compensation for loss of appoini 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

ког 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 cafeguards, certain of their

defects, as they later appeared, have been noted above, notably

·

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