TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 38

some

M

even in the CO Memorandum for ministers of 2 June 1890 which originated

the proposal of cession as part of the negotiations with "ermany.

Secondly, though the facts the feelings and loyalty of the lleligo-

landers are now very hard to determine, partly fades POOLNESS

Cambiar

bar because they were not effectively elicited, the expectation

of/opposition seems to have been well-founded, for immediately the proposal was announced (17 June) the British Plenipotentiary (Sir. H. P.

Anderson) suggested to the German Foreign Minister that Germany should

try to forestall Heligoland agitation and conciliate certain influent

ial islanders by sending a "confidential agent" there immediately

(which was accordingly done on 19 or 20 June),

+

A week later when, as the PQs suggest, Heligoland's reactions

began to be expressed, the CO advised the FO that it would "tend to.

disarm opposition to the cession both in Heligoland and in this country

if the German govt would give assurances that there would be no

unnecessary interference with the laws and customs of the Island". (The

British negotiator was accordingly instructed and such assurances were

in due course included in the Agreement). At the same time (28 June)

the CO sent to the Governor of Heligoland a despatch for local public-

ation which explained the cession and its safeguards to the inhabitants

This would not have been published there until about the 30 June and

so, from 17 to 30 June the lslanders were presumably left in the air

and any agitation that went on there was only diminished by what the

German confidential agent could achieve. It was during this period

that most of the Pas here were asked.

Thirdly, HMG were very pressed for time in the negotiations as the

German Govt wanted to get them completed by the 1st July, partly to

avoid intervention (especially on financial grounds) by the Reichstag.

The following is a brief summary of the arguments concerning

consultation in both P2s and the debates and of the principles (or

dicta) enunciated by Salisbury in justification of his refusal of

formal consultation of Heligoland opinion.

4

to Germany on 17

The formal proposal for cession was made

June and published here on the 18th, 3 weeks before the Bill was

submitted to Parliament and numbers of Pas instantly followed. On the

19th a PO in the Lords asked the Foreign Secretary "Whether the

(CH