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The Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium During the German Colonial Period in the Marshall Islands: Review and Evaluation of German Colonial Government Policies

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The Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium During the German Colonial Period in the Marshall Islands: Review and Evaluation of German Colonial Government Policies THE JOHNSTONE CENTRE REPORT Nº 144 The use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium during the German Colonial Period in the Marshall Islands: Review and Evaluation of German Colonial Government Policies by Dirk H.R. Spennemann ALBURY 2000 © The author 2000. All rights reserved. The contents of this study are copyright in all countries subscribing to the Berne Convention. No parts of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. CIP Spennemann, Dirk H.R. 1958— The use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium during the German Colonial Period in the Marshall Islands: Review and Evaluation of German Colonial Government Policies - by Dirk H.R. Spennemann Albury, NSW: Charles Sturt University, The Johnstone Centre, 2000. 1 v., - (Report / Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation & Heritage, no. 144) ISBN DDC LLC I. Charles Sturt University. Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation & Heritage. II. Title. III. Series. Embargoed until 30 June 2001 Contents List of Figures....................................................................... vi List of Tables.......................................................................viii Introduction ......................................................................1 The Sources.......................................................................... 3 1 • History of the German Marshall Islands ...................27 Administrative Structure ...................................................... 28 Economy ............................................................................. 53 German Research............................................................... 60 Summary............................................................................. 61 2 • Policies on Opium, Tobacco & Alcohol in the Marshall Islands......................................................79 Pre-existing conditions ........................................................ 79 General Policies .................................................................. 80 Policies on Tobacco ............................................................ 83 Policies on Alcohol .............................................................. 84 Policies on Opium ............................................................... 87 Summary............................................................................. 87 3 • Trade in Opium, Tobacco & Alcohol in the German Marshall Islands........................................95 Imports of Tobacco and Tobacco Products....................... 100 Imports of Alcohol ............................................................. 103 Inter-atoll Trade................................................................. 107 Local Tobacco Production................................................. 108 Summary........................................................................... 109 4 • Review and Evaluation...........................................119 5 • Appendix – Listing of German Regulations...........121 vi Contents List of Figures Figure 1-1 Flag flown by German naval vessels operating in Marshall Islands 1867- 1892. This flag, and not the Imperial Banner, was hoisted by the commander of the German warship S.M.S Nautilus on various atolls during the annexation of the Marshall Islands in 1885. ......................................... 29 Figure 1-2 The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in German Micronesia from 1889 to 1890.................................................................. 30 Figure 1-3 Military control over the area was maintained by irregular visits of German auxiliary cruisers, of a type similar to SMS Seeadler.............................. 33 Figure 1-4 The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in the German Micronesia from 1890 to 1895............................................................ 34 Figure 1-5 The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in the German Micronesia from 1895 to 1899............................................................ 35 Figure 1-6 Landeshauptmann Hans Georg Irmer ................................................................. 36 Figure 1-8 The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in Micronesia until 1905. ............................................................................................. 40 Figure 1-9 . The German postal steamer SS Germania in Jaluit lagoon. The sailing vessel at the left, flying the German flag in the topmast is most probably the Catholic mission schooner Regina................................................................... 42 Figure 1-10 German Colonial postage stamp for the Marshall Islands. The standard colonial design showing a German vessel replete with a plume of steam pouring out of its funnel was meant to signify that German naval might would arrive speedily if needed—that the design featured the Emperor’s Yacht ‘Hohenzollern’ signifies the Emperor’s personal engagement. .................. 43 Figure 1-10 The Neptune as an example of a common type of trading schooner............... 44 Figure 1-12. The impact of the typhoon of 30 June 1905 on Jaluit....................................... 47 Figure 1-13. The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in Micronesia after 1 April 1906. ................................................................................. 48 Figure 1-14. The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in Micronesia after 1 April 1907. ................................................................................. 49 Figure 1-15 Dividends paif by the Jaluit Geellschaft (expressed in % of the value of the original RMk 5000 stock certificate) ............................................................. 50 Figure 1-16. The administrative structure of the German Colonial administration in Micronesia after 1 April 1911. ................................................................................. 51 Figure 1-17 The National Service Flag in the Competence of the Foreign Office (‘Reichsdienstflagge im Bereiche des Auswärtigen Amtes’) formally flown in the Marshall Islands after the Imperial Colonial Office resumed direct control ...................................................................................................................... 52 Figure. 1-18: Total copra production of the Marshall Islands and Nauru 1883 to 1913 in long (metric) tons........................................................................................ 55 Figure 1-19. Copra prices at Hamburg (per 1000 kg)............................................................ 56 Figure 2-1 Marshallese and a trader enjoying a beer in front of Adolph Capelle's store on Jaluit. (Photo Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam) ...................................................................................................................... 85 Figure 2-2. Advertisement for Greek wines in the German colonial press........................... 86 vii Contents Figure 3-1. Trading Stations in the Marshall Islands in 1886................................................ 96 Figure 3-2 The Main trading station of the Pacific Islands Co. (previously Henderson & MacFarlane) on Ejit I., Majuro Atoll.................................................. 98 Figure 3-3. Overall volume of shipping arriving in Jaluit (number of vessels) from the beginning of the German consulate until the outbreak of World War I> No data in hand for 1887, 1888, 1898 and 1907-1908.......................................... 99 Figure 3-4 Advertisement for German cigars in the German colonial press. ..................... 100 Figure 3-5 Advertisement for Egyptian cigarettes in the German colonial press............... 101 Figure 3-6 Advertisement for German export beer in the German colonial press. ............ 104 Figure 3-7. Trading Stations in the Marshall Islands in 1900.............................................. 106 Figure 3-8. Trading Stations in the Marshall Islands in 1907.............................................. 107 viii Contents List of Tables Table 1-1 Locally owned ships registered in Jaluit in 1905...................................................29 Table 1-2 Write-off of the Jaluit Gesellschaft, based on the annual reports. ......................32 Table 1-3 The Resident non-indigenous population of the Marshall Islands and Nauru .......................................................................................................................35 Table 1-4: Demographic profile of the Marshall Islands Census 1912.................................47 Table 1-5 Annual copra production (in pounds) per taxation district. ...................................48 Table 1-6 Plantations run by the Jaluit Gesellschaft in 1908 ................................................49 Table 1-7 Taxation districts in the Marshall Islands and the annual tax levied ....................52 Table 1-8 Copra tax levy expressed in % of annual copra production per taxation district (for annual production data see table 1-15) ...............................................53 Table 1-9 Taxation rate per taxable individual 1912..............................................................53 Table 1-10 Funds paid by the Afrikafonds for scientific research in the Marshall Islands......................................................................................................................55
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