19 October
Agreement between France and Great Britain relative to the Frontier between French and British Possessions from the Gulf of Guinea to the Niger (Southern Nigeria and Dahomey), singed at Paris
French /English texts-Brit. For., XCIX, 217
Also T.S. 5 (1907), Cd. 3303-Parly. 1907, XCIX, 241-Hertslet, XXIV, 152-M.A.T. (3rd. ed.), 849-De Martens, 3, 1, 502-Descamps, 1906, 901-Staatsarch., LXXVI, 94-Basdevant, 11, 44952
Sir F. Bertie to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs..
M. LE MINISTRE, Paris, October 19, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of to-day'8 date, in which you were so good as to inclose the text of a Memorandum recording the understanding arrived at by the Governments of Great Britain and of France in regard to the frontier between the British and French possessions from the Gulf of Guinea to the Niger, together with a map in two sheets showing the line of demarcation.
As a result of verbal communications exchanged between this Embassy and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, it has been ascertained that the English and French versions of the Memorandum defining the line of demarcation between the British and French possessions from the Gulf of. Guinea to the Niger are in complete agreement.
Since no further correction seems to be required, I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency herewith the text of the Memorandum in question recording the understanding arrived at by the two Governments with regard to the above-mentioned frontier. I also inclose a map in two sheets showing the line of demarcation.
I have, &c.,
FRANCIS BERTIE.
Annex 1. --Délimitation entre les possessions Françaises et Anglaises du Golfe de Guinée au Niger.
1. STARTING on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea at the point at which it is intersected by the meridian passing through the middle of the mouth of the Ajara River where it flows into the Porto Novo lagoon, the frontier runs north along this meridian until it reaches the middle of the mouth of the River Ajara.
2. Thence it runs in the shortest straight line to the thalweg of the River Ajara.
3. Thence it ascends the thalweg of the River Ajara, its upper course being called the Iguidi (Igouidi), as far as the ravine entering the river from the north immediately to the west of Idiroko, leaving the town of Idiroko to the Colony of Lagos.
4. Thence it follows the ravine to its northern end.
5. Thence it follows a line drawn to a point on the north side of the shortest road from Ilashe(Ilashé) to Ikpaboro on the right (west) bank of the River Igirawun (Iguiraoun).
6. Thence it runs 200 metres northward from the road, then westward parallel with the road at 200 metres distance until 200 metres east of the first road branching northward to Ikotun (Ikotoun), which road it then follows northward to Ikotun (Ikotoun) at a distance of 200 metres parallel to and eastward of it.
7. Thence it follows a road running through the following places, as far as the River Amidu(Amidou), keeping always on the same side of the road and at the same distance from it. Ikotun (Ikotoun), Idagbon (Ilagbo), Igbado (Bado), Modogan (Ogouissou), Agangan, continuing as far as the River Amidu(Amidou) along the road to Ibeyun (Ibayan). Ikotun (Ikotoun), Idagbon(Ilagbo), Ilore, Isagbano, Okoko, Ibbado (Bado), and Modogan (Ogouisou)are in French territory.
8. On reaching the thalweg of the river Amidu (Amidou), the frontier follows it up-stream to a point 200 metres from and on the west side of the road.
9. From this point it runs parallel to the road which passes throguh Ibeyun (Ibayan) and Majano, keeping always on the same side of it, as far as its interseciton by the River Ibu(Ibou). Ohumbe (Ohoumbe), Ibeyun(Ibayan), and Majano are in British territory.
10. Thence it follows the thaweg of the River Ibu (Ibou) down-stream to its junction with the River Buru(Bourou), leaving Isale (Issale) in French, and Isuku (Isouko) and Asa (Aso) in British territory.
11. Thence it follows the thalweg of the River Buru (Bourou), leaving Ilimon(Illemon) in French territory, to a point 200 metres beyond the bridge which spans that river on the road from Ilimon (Illemon).
12. From this point the frontier runs parallel to and at a distance of 200 metres from the road to a point at which, after passing Ishada (Ichada), Mokofi (Ibokofi), Ibeyan (Ibiyan)and Tabolo, all of which are in British territory, it cuts the River ibunu(Gauna)
13. Thence it runs due north to a point 200 metres south of the road from Ketu (Kétou) to Idofa by Alagbe (Itagbé), the latter being in French territory.
14. Thence it runs eastward parallel to that road as far as the River Yewa (Yéoua).
15. Thence it ascends the thalweg of the River Yewa (Yéoua) to a point 200 metres below the intersection of that river with the road running northward from Idanyin (Idanhim), leaving Idofa and Meko in British Territory, and Ilikimo (Likimon), Idanyin (Idanhim), Ijalu (Idjalou), and Iselu (Selou) in French territory.
16. Thence it runs northward parallel to that road and 200 metres distant from it, leaving the road in French territory, until it meets the thalweg of the River Okpara (Ocpara).
17. Thence it follows the thalweg of the River Okpara (Ocpara) up-stream to a point where the thalweg is cut by a line drawn on the north side of, parallel to, and 1 kilom. from, the more southerly of the two roads between Tabira and Weria (Ouoria).
18. Thence it follows this line eastwards to a point 5 kilom. from the wall or enceinte of the village of Tabira.
19. Thence it runs in a straight line to a point situated 5 kilom. from the wall of Tabira on the northern road from Tabira to Weria (Ouoria).
20. Thence in a straight line to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of Tabira on the road from Tabira to Tandu (Tandou).
21. Thence in a straight line to a point situated 5 kilom. from the wall of Tabira on the direct road from Tabira to Kabo.
22. Thence in a straight line to a point situated 5 kilom. from the wall of Tabira, and 1 kilom. from the road from Tabira to Kenn (Kénou), measured at right angles to, and on the north of this road.
22. The frontier then follows a line parallel to the direct road from Tabira to Kenn (Kénou), on the north of , and 1 kilom. from, this road, to a point situated 2,100 metres from the wall or enciente of the village of Kenu (Kénou).
23. Thence a straight line to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of Kenu (Kénou) on the road from Kenu (Kénou) to Kabo.
24. Thence a straight line to a point situated 8 ½ kilom. from the center of the town of Okuta (Okouta), on the road from Okuta (Okouta) to kabo.
25. Then it follows the circumference of a circle of 8 ½ kilom, radius, having for center the center of the town of Okuta (Okouta), to a point situated 1 kilom. from the direct road from Okuta (Okouta) to Boria, measured on the west of, and at right angles to this road.
26. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Okuta(Okouta) to Boria, at a distance of 1 kilom. from, and on the west of , this road , to a point situated 6 kilom. from the wall of the village of Boria.
27. Thence it follows a straight line to a point situated 4 kilom. from Boria on the road from Boria to Wandu (Ouandou).
28. Thence it follows a straight line to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of the village of Siia(Chuya) on the road from Siia (Chuya) to Sandiru (Sandilo) and Digiduru (Diguidourou).
29. Thence in a straight line to a point situated 4kilom. from Siia (Chuya) on the direct road from Siia(Chuya) to Tera (Tinra).
30. Thence in a straigt line to a point situated 1 kilom. form the intersection of the Big hira (Chira) River by the direct road from Siia (Chuya) to Guri(Goré), measured at right angles to, and on the west of , this road.
31. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Siia (Chuya) to Guri (Goré), on the west of , and at a distance of 1 kilom.from it, to a point situated 4 kilom. from the center of the village of Guri (Goré).
32. Thence it follows on the west side of Guri (Goré ) the circumference of a circle of 4 kilom.. radius, described round the center of that village as center to a point situated 1 kilom. from the road from Guri (Goré ) to Yashikira (Yassikéré ) measured at right angles to, and on the west of , this road.
33. Thence it runs parallel to and 1 kilom. to the west of ,the road from Guri (Goré ) to Yashikira (Yassikéré) to a point situated 8 kilom. from the center of Yashikira (Yassikéré).
34. 35. Thence it follows on the west side of Yashikira (Yassikéré) the circumference of a circle of 8 kilom. radius, described round the centre of Yashikira (Yassikéré) as centre, to a point situated 8 kilom. from the centre of Yashikira (Yassikéré) on the road from Yashikira (Yassikéré) to Nikki (Niki).
36. From this point the frontier follows a line which is a tangent to a circle of 4 kilom. radius, having Grand Bété as center, and on the north-west side, as far as the point where the tangent meets the circumference of that circle.
37. Thence it runs in a straight line to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of Grand Bété, at a distance of 1 kilom. from, measured at right angles to, and to the north-west of, the direct road from Grand Bété to Karunzi (Garoussi).
38. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Grand Bété to Karunzi (Garoussi) on the west of, and at a distance of 1 kilom. from this road, to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of the village of Karunzi (Garoussi).
39. Thence, in a straight line to a point situated due west of Karunzi (Garoussi), 4 kilom. from the wall of that village.
40. Thence it runs direct to a point situated 4 kilom. from the wall of Karunzi (Garoussi), and 1 kilom. from the road from Karunzi (Garoussi) to Kenumbé (Kenombé), measured at right angles to and on the north-west of this road.
41. Thence it runs parallel to the direct road from Karunzi (Garoussi), to Kenumbé (Kenombé) on the west side of , and at a distance of 1 kilom. form that road to a point situated 4 kilom. from the center of the village of Kenumbé (Kenombé).
42. Thence it follows on the west side of Kenumbé (Kenombé), the circumference of a circle of 4 kilom. radius, described around the center of Kenumbé (Kenombé) as center, to a point situated 1 kilom. from and to the west of the road from Kenumbé (Kenombé) to Bési (Bessi) measured at right angles to this road.
43. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Kenumbé (Kenombé)to Bési (Bessi) on the west of and at a distance of 1 kilom. from this road to a point situated 8 kilom. from the centre of Bési (Bessi).
44. Thence it follows on the west aide of Bési (Bessi), the circumference of a circle of 8 kilom. radius described round the centre of as Centre of Bési (Bessi)as centre to the intersection of this circumference with the road from Bési (Bessi)to Sakamanji (Sakamandji).
45. Thence it runs in a straight line to a point situated 12 kilom. from the wall or enceinte of Dekala on the road from Dekala to Lu (Lou) and Daganzi.
46. Thence in a straight line to a point situated on the road from Dekala to Gauzhi (Gaodgi) at a distance of 3 ½ kilom. from the centre of Gauzhi (Gaodgi).
47, Thence it follows on the east side of Gauzhi (Gaodgi), the circumference of a circle, 3 ½ kilom. radius, described round the centre of Gauzhi (Gaodgi) as centre, to a point 1 kilom. from the road from Gauzhi (Gaodgi) to Basso, measured at right angles to, and to the south of, this road.
48. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Gauzhi (Gaodgi) to Basso, to the south-cast of, and at a distance of 1 kilom from, this road, to a point situated 5 kilom. form Basso.
49. Thence it follows a tangent drawn from this point, on the south-west of Lusi (Lousi) to a circle of 3 ½ kilom. radius, described round the centre of the village of Lusi (Lousi) as centre. It continues along this tangent to its intersection with a perpendicular to the road from Lusi (Lousi) to Babanna the perpendicular being drawn from the point half-way between Lusi (Lousi) and Babanna.
50. Thence it follows this perpendicular as far as the point half-way between Lusi (Lousi) and Babanna.
51. Thence it runs in a straight line to a point situated 5 kilom. from Lusi (Lousi), and I kilom. to the. east of the road from Lusi (Lousi) to Naganzi (Nagandgi).
52. Thence it runs parallel to the road from Lusi (Lousi) to Naganzi (Nagandgi), to the east of, and at a distance of 1 kilom. from this road, cuts the road from Babanna to Naganzi (Nagandgi), and runs parallel to, and at a distance of 1 kilom. to the east of, this last road, to a point situated 4 kilom. from the centre of the village of Naganzi (Nagandgi), and l kilom. to the east of the road from Babanna to Naganzi (Nagandgi).
53. Thence it follows to the east of Naganzi (Nagandgi), the circumference of a circle of 4 kilom. radius, described round the centre of Naganzi (Nagandgi) as centre, as far as the point on the south-east of Naganzi (Nagandgi), at which this circle is touched by the longest common tangent to it and to another circle of the same radius described round the centre of the village of Kudé (Kouré) as centre.
54. Thence it follows this tangent until it touches the circumference of the circle described round Kudé (Kouré).
55. Thence it follows this circle to a point situated to the east of, and 1 kilom. from, the road from Kudé (Kouré)to Kankali (Kankari), the distance being measured at right angles to the road.
56. Thence it follows a line parallel to, on the east side of, and at a distance of 1 kilom. from, the road from Kudé (Kouré)to Kankali (Kankari), to a point situated 5 kilom. from the centre of Kankali (Kankari).
57. Thence it follows on the east aide of Kankali (Kankari), the circumference of a circle of 5 kilom. radius, described round the centre of the village of Kankali (Kankari) as centre, until it meets, on the east side, the longest tangent common to the last-mentioned circle and to another circle of 4kilom.. radius described round Gusin- Sura (Gouri-Saré) as centre.
58. Thence it follows this common tangent to its intersection with the longest tangent common to this last-mentioned circle, and to another of 5 kilom. radius, described round Daku (Dako) as centre.
59. Thence it follows the last mentioned tangent as far as its intersection with the circumference of the circle of 5 kilom. radius described round Daku (Dako).
60. Thence it follows the circumference of this circle, always on the east side of the road from Segbana to Samia, to a point situated 1kilom. from, and on the east of, the road from Daku (Dako) to Samia.
61. Thence it follows a line parallel to, on the east of, and 1 kilom. from, the road from Daku (Dako) to Samia, to the intersection of the said parallel line with the thalweg of the River Wan (Oua).
62. Thence it follows the thalweg of the River Wan (Oua) up-stream to its intersection with a line passing through the following two points :-
(1.) A point situated 3 kilom.. true west of the intersection of the River Wan (Oua) and the road from Daku (Dako) to Samia.
(2.) A point situated on the road from Ilo to Lugu (Lougou) 37 kilom. from the enceinte or wall of Ilo, the distance being measured along the road.
63. Thence it follows this line to the above-mentioned point on the road from Ilo to Lugu (l,ougou).
64. Thence it runs in a straight lien to a point 8 kilom. south, 23° west (true), of the cairn situated at the junction of the roads from Madekale (Madikalé) to Tuandi and Madekale (Madikalé) to Lolo, which cairn is about 3,000 metres form, and south of, the River Niger.
65. Thence in a straight line to the cairn mentioned in paragraph 64, and thence in the same straight line produced until it terminates at its intersection with the median line of the River Niger.
II. The course of the frontier line is shown generally on the maps annexed to this Agreement, but in the event of any divergence being found between the line as described above and as indicated on the maps, the description shall be held to be authoritative.
III. The villages situated in proximity to the frontier shall retain the right to use the arable and pasture lands, springs and watering-places which they have heretofore used, even in cases in which such arable and pasture lands, springs and watering-places are situated within the territory of the one Power, and the village within the territory of the other.
Annex 2.
[Two Maps.]
[Not reproduced.]
19 October
Agreement between France and Great Britain relative to the Frontier between French and British Possessions from the Gulf of Guinea to the Niger (Southern Nigeria and Dahomey), signed at Paris
French/English texts- Brit, For., XCIX 217
Also T.S.5 (1907), Cd.3303-Parly.1907, XCIX,241- Hertslet, XXIV,152- M.A.T.(3rd. ed.), 849-De Martens,3,I, 502-Des-camps, 1906,901-Staatsarch., LXXVI,94-Basdevant,II,449
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs to Sir F.Bertie.
M. L’AMBASSADEUR, Paris, le 19 Octobre 1906.
A La suite des communications verbales échangées sntre mon Département et votre Ambassade, il a été reconnu que la version Française et la version Anglaise du memorandum définissant le trace de la frontiére entre les possessions Françaises et Anglaisesdu Golfe de Guinée au Niger présentaient une concordance abosolue.
Aucune correction ultérieutre ne paraissant désormais nécessare,j’ai l’honneur d’adresser, ci-joint, à votre Excellecne le texte du memorandum en question constatant l’entente à laquelle sont arrives les deux Gouvernements au sujet de la dite frontiére. Je joins au present envoi une carte en deux feuilles donnant le tracéde cette delimitation et je serais reconnaissant à votre Excellence de bien vouloir m’adresser une letter contenant un memorandum conçu en termes identiques et acoompagné d’un exemplaire de la même carte.
LÉON BOURGEOIS.