The British-German "Colonial Honeymoon": The Heligoland Treaty

This thesis is focused on the issues of establishment and the earliest historical development of German possessions in Africa in connection with common activities of Great Britain and the German Empire in international relations. I have aimed at the period since the very establishment of territories under German protection to signing the Heligoland Treaty. During the investigation of the latter I supposed that the intentions of both states had been different. While Great Britain in the 19th century supported primarily its colonial domains, the interest of German Empire's foreign policy was focused on the problems of Europe. British Prime minister Lord Salisbury aimed to maintain Uganda to stay aloof from German influence. On the other hand, German Foreign Office tried to gain Heligoland. These two facts influenced totally form and results of mutual cooperation. This thesis aims to analyse diplomatic British-German colonial relationships and explains origin, wording and meaning of the Heligoland Treaty. I have mentioned the view of leading political representatives of Great Britain and the German Empire of colonial issues in this context as well. The Heligoland Treaty is an important document for understanding international relations in the 1880s and early 1890s. Its conclusion had far-reaching..