Madrid Protocol of 1885

Signed in 1885, the Madrid Protocol is an agreement between Great Britain, Germany and Spain, which recognized both the Spain's sovereignty over the Sulu archipelago and the limits of the Spanish sphere of influence in the region and the signatory parties free trade and shipping traffic within the Sulu archipelago and North Borneo guaranteed.

History

The signing of the agreement were negotiations in London and Berlin preceded that had been conducted in 1881 and 1882 by the Spanish king's emissaries at the courts of England and Germany.

The signing of the contract took place on March 7, 1885 at the Spanish court in Madrid. Were signatories to the Treaty

• Sir Robert Morier DB, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister for plénipotentiaire the British Queen,
• Don Jose Elduayen, Marquis del Pazo de la Merced, State Minister of the Spanish king and
• Count Eberhard zu Solms - Sonnenwalde, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister for plénipotentiaire of the German Emperor.

Key points of the agreement

In Article I of Great Britain and Germany recognize Spain's sovereignty over the already occupied by Spain areas of the region as well as the Sulu Archipelago. The exact definition of the Sulu Archipelago is included in Article II by reference to the Sultan of Sulu between the Spanish Government and the agreement concluded on 23 September 1836.

Article III of the Agreement, Spain renounced in favor of Great Britain all claims to North Borneo, which were attributable to the Sultanate in the past:

"The Spanish Government renounces, as far as regards the British Government, all claims of sovereignty over the territories of the continent of Borneo, Which belong, or Which have belonged in the past to the Sultan of Sulu ( Jolo ), and Which Comprise the Neighbouring islands of Balambangan, Banguey, and Malawali, as well as all Those Comprised within a zone of three maritime leagues from the coast, and Which form part of the territories administered by the Company styled the " British North Borneo Company. "

" The Spanish Government renounces, so far it relates to the British Government, to all territorial claims on the territories on Borneo belonging to the Sultan of Sulu ( Jolo ) or have heard in the past and enclose the neighboring islands Balambang, Banguey and Malawali and the form part of the territory, which was administered by the Company designated as " British North Borneo Company '. "

In Article IV of the Agreement, the Spanish government guarantees the signatory parties free trade and shipping traffic within the Sulu Archipelago.

In Article V of the Agreement, Great Britain guarantees the signatory parties free trade and shipping traffic within managed by the North Borneo Chartered Company Territories North Borneo.

Article VI provides that the Agreement shall enter into force 15 days after its signing into force, if none of the signatory parties withdraws from the contract.