Англо-німецькі відносини на рубежі ХІХ-ХХ століть: проблеми колоніального поділу Африки

It was proved, that English and German colonial policy in Africa was accompanied by powerful ideological support of means of official propaganda. It essentially influenced formation of public opinion in both countries. As aconsequence, manipulation of public opinion when accepting decisions in international policy by governments started.

It is marked, that mutual attempt to resist French colonial activity in Africa has caused signing of the British-German convention in November 15, 1893 about the delimitation of colonial possession in Nigeria and Cameroon. Diplomatic struggle, which developed around the British-Belgian convention, 1894, about delimitation between British East Africa and Belgian Congo acquired extreme sweep and put back prospects of British-German mutual understanding in this region of Africa. The negotiation process which resulted in signing the British-German convention about the separation of the Portuguese colonies (by August 30, 1898) is investigated. German struggle for mastering in Angola reveal their strategy on the African continent - to construct the bridge between German Southwest Africa and Cameroon. The existence of the grandiose plan of the Englishmen - to connect the possession from Cape Town up to Cairo - convincingly specified that cruel struggle for colonies in Africa between Great Britain and Germany was developing.

The British-German convention about separation of the Portuguese colonies guaranteed for the certain time German non-interference in Anglo-Boer war. German large capital investments into the gold-mining companies of Transvaal were the essential basis for non-interference of Berlin to war too. Germany considered, that the Englishmen will speed up economic development of the region, whereas the policy of the Boer officials in this industry was obviously unsuccessful. The German investors hoped for reception of significant profits in case of an establishment of the British control in Transvaal. Proboer sympathy of the Germans will come into the keen conflict with their material interests. Understanding the necessity for the London government of German friendship during the war in the south of Africa, German Foreign Department, contrary to public opinion, selected a cautious and loyal line as for the English aggression against Boers. Failure of the British-German negotiation in 1901 pushed governmental leaders of Berlin to the critical attitude in the estimation of Anglo-Boer war, and its successful end stopped all German claims on southern Africa.

The English and German statesmen aspired to take into account their potential influence on the situation in Europe on the whole when realizing any projects in Africa. However activity of governments of Great Britain and Germany aimed at realization of colonial rushes on the African continent repeatedly resulted in an exacerbation of mutual relation between the states. Interested colonial spheres, private enterprises and dealers, numerous missionaries and the adventurers frequently carried out activity in Africa at their own risk, without looking back neither on their national interests, nor on a possible international resonance of their activity.

Despite signing separate agreements, England and Germany remained uncompromising rivals on "black" continent.

Key words: colonial separation of Africa, Helgoland convention, Transvaal crisis, Anglo-Boer war, British-German negotiation process.

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