An Investigation to find out how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in Pondweed Essays

An Investigation to find out how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in Pondweed Essays An Investigation to find out how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in Pondweed Essay An Investigation to find out how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in Pondweed Essay Essay Topic: Synthesis We Real Cool The investigation is intended to demonstrate the way in which photosynthesis in pondweed is affected by light intensity. I have read about photosynthesis in Illustrated Biology by B.S. Becket, as well as Biology, a fictional approach by M.B.V. Roberts, and this is my summery:Most plants are neither carnivores nor herbivores, they do not feed on complex organic molecules and can instead synthesis organic compounds from inorganic raw materials, this is called Autotrophic Nutrition. There are two different types of Autotrophic Nutrition: Chemosynthesis and Photosynthesis. The method used by all green plants is Photosynthesis. Photosynthesis can be summarised by:Light energyChlorophyll6CO2+6H2O?C6H12O6+6O2Carbon DioxideWaterGlucoseOxygenEnergy from sunlight is trapped by chlorophyll contained in chloroplasts found mostly in the leaves of plants, and is used to combine carbon dioxide with water. Carbon dioxide is absorbed through pores called stomata which are usua lly located on the under surface of the leaves, and water is absorbed from the soil by the roots. The main product generated by photosynthesis is monosaccharide sugar (glucose). This can be converted into proteins for growth, broken down into carbon dioxide and water for energy production, or built up into starch for storage. A waste product of oxygen is also released.The structure of a leafPlanOxygen is the only gas released during photosynthesis. Therefore, to find out how light affects photosynthesis in pondweed, I will measure the volume of gas released from some Canadian pondweed (Elodea). I will record the volume of gas releases every minute, for six minutes, before changing the intensity of light the pondweed is exposed to, and repeating the procedure.The range of equipment available for me to use in school is limited, so this is what I shall be using:a. Lampb. Clamp standc. Meter ruler (cm)d. Bung with a hole in ite. Water containing Sodium Bicarbonatef. Bent delivery tubeg. Conical flaskh. Black paper and some sticky tapei. Scale (mm)j. Elodea (Canadian Pondweed)k. Ink bubblel. StopwatchIn order to get the ink bubble into the delivery tube I will use the following method:1. Seal the top end of the delivery tube.2. Dip the bottom end of the delivery tube into a pool of ink.3. Seal the bottom end of the delivery tube.4. Remove the seal from the top end of the delivery tube.5. Tip the delivery tube up and release seal to position bubble, and then replace seal.6. Seal the bottom of the delivery tube to the test tube, and then finally remove the seal from the top of the delivery tube.To discover accurately the affect of light intensity on pondweed (i.e. maintain a fair experiment), I shall have to supply sufficient amounts of four of the five factors necessary for photosynthesis to take place, these are carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll, and heat. This is so that the fifth factor, light, is the only factor limiting any photosynthesis that takes place. In addition, the levels of carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll, and heat need to be kept at a constant. This is so that light intensity is the only variable of which the affect is being measured. Since the investigation is intended to demonstrate the way in which light intensity affects photosynthesis in pondweed, I will obviously have to vary the light intensity. If I varied both the light intensity and levels of carbon dioxide, for instance, and kept the other three factors at a constant, my results would show the effect of both light intensity and carbon dioxide on the rate of photosynthesis in pondweed. It is for this reason that light intensity will have to be the only factor I vary. I know that the natural amounts of carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll, and heat are of a sufficient quantity, since pondweed survives in the wild. For this reason I shall not alter the amount of heat subjected to the pondweed. Ideally, I would sustain a constant temperature but due to limited equipment , this is not possible. In addition, I shall not alter the amount of chlorophyll present in the pondweed, or its size and surface area. I shall maintain this by simply using the same piece of pondweed for each set of results. This may however cause the pondweed to slightly loose its efficiency at photosynthesis. Though this inaccuracy would be lesser than that caused by using different pieces of pondweed for each set of results, since it would be almost impossible to obtain several pieces of pondweed that were identically sized, had the same surface area, and contained an equal amount of chlorophyll. Ideally I would prefer sustain the pondweeds natural supply of water and carbon dioxide, but by removing the pondweed from the pond and placing it in a test tube, I have already altered the amount of water and carbon dioxide that the pondweed has to use. To compensate for this I shall add Sodium Bicarbonate to the conical flask full of pond water I will provide. Since both water and car bon dioxide are used in photosynthesis, the water will need to be replaced for each set of readings ensuring there will be equal amounts of water and carbon dioxide each time. The water will be replaced with the same volume of water, which comes from the same source, containing the same amount of sodium bicarbonate.I will record the location on the scale, of the beginning of the ink bubble every 30 seconds for 5 minutes. Then using the formula v=?r2l (where v is volume, r is radius and l is length), I will be able to work out the volume of gas released from the pondweed every 30 seconds over the 5 minutes. I will repeat this at least three times, replacing the water each time, and moving the lamp 25cm away from its previous position, when its first position is at 0cm.Since plants respire, the waste products of carbon dioxide and water will also be released:C6H12O6+6O2?6CO2+6H2O+EnergyGlucoseOxygenCarbon DioxideWaterTherefore, I shall carry out a control experiment where the light in tensity is nil (the lamp will be turned off and the test tube wrapped in black paper, stopping any light from getting to the pondweed). This will cause any photosynthesis to cease and provide a set of results I can use for comparison with my other results. With these results I will then be able to work out the volume of gas released during respiration alone, enabling me to work out the approximate volume of gas released during photosynthesis with the varied intensities of light.PredictionI predict that the rate of photosynthesis will increase as the light intensity increases. Since the supply of the other four factors necessary for photosynthesis is limited, if the light intensity increases too much the rate of photosynthesis will stop increasing. In addition, because the pondweed is in a sealed container, if the speed of photosynthesis exceeds the speed of respiration, the supply of carbon dioxide and water will not be renewed in tin, and so the rate of photosynthesis will eventual ly slow down to the rate of respiration. In the long term, this will stop the pondweed photosynthesising enough and will eventually cause it to die. Also, since there will only be the minerals that were present in the water in the test tube, the pondweeds supply of sulphates, phosphates, and nitrates will soon run out. These minerals are not strictly necessary for photosynthesis, but the pondweed cannot survive without them, and if the pondweed is dead, it cannot photosynthesise.When the light intensity is nil, I predict a small amount of gas will be released as a result of respiration.A Predicted graph to show how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in PondweedA Predicted graph to show how no light affects Photosynthesis in PondweedTrial Experiment15cmTimeReading onscale (cm)(to 1dp)Volume (ml) of Gasreleased during past30 seconds (to 0dp)0:009.70:309.4-51:009.2-31:309.0-32:008.9-22:308.903:009.023:309.234:009.544:309.855:0010.155:3010.346:0010.65Average volume (ml) of gas relea sed every 30 seconds (0dp)1My trial experiment revealed several problems with my experiment:Firstly, for the first two minutes, the volume of the matter contained in the apparatus decreased, as if gas was being used up rather than produced. This was actually because I had placed the lamp next to the test tube while I had set the equipment up, and then had moved it away to a distance of approximately 15cm. The light was considerably hot and had heated up the test tube and its contents. Therefore, when I moved the lamp away from the test tube, the contents of the equipment compressed as they cooled down, causing the ink bubble to register a decrease of volume. To compensate for this I will leave five minutes before taking any readings, leaving enough time for the contents of the equipment (i.e. the water, pondweed, and the air) to expand or decrease, to the present temperature.Secondly, my equipment proved to include several flaws:* The normal delivery tube proved to be too wide to su stain the ink bubble, so I replaced it with a 1mm wide equivalent.* Equipment was limited, and there was not a bent 1mm wide delivery tube, so I replaced the bent delivery tube with two straight delivery tubes and a rubber pipe.* I found it very hard to position the bubble. In the end, I found a syringe to be useful for the initial positioning.* The seal between the delivery tube and the rubber pipe was not totally air tight, so I added some Vaseline to maximise the seal.Now Vaseline has been added to the seals between the delivery tubes and the rubber pipe, the pipe could easily be moved up and down the tube, which moved the ink bubble up and down the scale, making it much easier to position the ink bubble.This is my new equipment set-up:a. Lampb. Clamp standc. Meter ruler (cm)d. Bung with a hole in ite. Water containing Sodium Bicarbonatef. Scaled capillary tubeg. Delivery tube (short)h. Rubber pipei. Test tubej. Black paper and some sticky tapek. Scale (mm)l. Elodea (Canadian Pon dweed)m. Ink bubblen. Syringeo. Vaselinep. StopwatchAnalysis0cm25cm50cmControl (no light)TimeReading on scale(cm) (to 1dp)Volume (ml) of Gasreleased during past30 seconds (to 0dp)Reading on scale(cm) (to 1dp)Volume (ml) of Gasreleased during past30 seconds (to 0dp)Reading on scale(cm) (to 1dp)Volume (ml) of Gasreleased during past30 seconds (to 0dp)Reading on scale(cm) (to 1dp)Volume (ml) of Gasreleased during past30 seconds (to 0dp)5:007.64.43.71.35:307.834.403.701.306:008.154.523.701.306:308.454.623.701.307:008.634.723.821.307:308.834.823.801.308:009.035.033.801.308:309.355.123.921.309:009.534.8-54.021.309:309.854.924.001.3010:0010.035.134.121.30Average volumeof gas releasedevery 30 seconds (excluding any anomalous results).4210My results show, when the lamp was placed 0cm from the pondweed, the pondweed produced approximately 4mmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of gas every 30 seconds. When the lamp was placed 25cm from the pondweed, the pondweed produced approximately 2ml of gas every 30 seconds. W hen the lamp was placed 50cm from the pondweed, the pondweed produced approximately 1ml every 30 seconds. When the lamp was switched off and the test tube covered in black paper, the pondweed produced approximately 0ml every 30 seconds.This proves that light intensity does affect photosynthesis in pondweed, and that as I predicted, as the light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. In fact, the word photosynthesis suggests this: Photo means light, and synthesis refers to the assembly of organic compounds. Though light does affect the rate of photosynthesis, the overall process takes place in two stages, and only the first is light dependant. The second can take place with, or with out light. In the first stage, the light dependant reactions, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, and ATP is produced. This is where the oxygen is released as a waste gas. The ATP is used in the synthesis of carbohydrates in the second stage, the light independent reactions.Though contrary to my prediction, I recorded no gas to have been produced when the pondweed is subjected to no light at all. This could be a result of one of three possibilities:1. No gas was produced by respiration.2. An insubstantial amount of gas was produced by respiration and so it did not show up on my scale.3. The equipment I used was faulty, and so the gas was escaping.Since my experiment only lasted for 10 minutes, the other factors necessary for photosynthesis did not limit the rate of photosynthesis in the pondweed.Graphs to show how Light intensity affects Photosynthesis in pondweed.Graph to show how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in PondweedEvaluationMy experiment did prove that as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, though it is not completely reliable. My data contained at least one anomalous result: on the ninth minute when the lamp was placed 25cm away from the pondweed, I recorded that the volume of the matter inside the equipment dec reased by 5ml. Unreliable anomalous data such as this could have been recorded due to errors in several main areas:* The equipment I used may have been faulty and/or inaccurate:* It is unlikely that the seals around the delivery tubes were totally air tight, and so it is probable that some gas leaked causing the apparatus to record a lesser increase in volume.* As previously stated the lamp gave of a considerable amount of heat, and so when the lamp is close enough to the test tube, it caused the temperature inside to rise. The atoms in the water gain energy making them spread out, increasing their volume. Temperature is one of the four factors I stated I had to keep at a constant, but by using this lamp, and not controlling the rise in temperature, I failed to do so. This means that my results, to a certain extent, show both the effect of Light intensity and temperature on photosynthesis in pondweed.* As well as not controlling the temperature, I could not totally control the inten sity of light, since I was unable to carry out the experiment in a totally dark room, or a room with a sustained level of light.* The scale I used may not have been precise enough.* The equipment I used may have been contaminated:* It is probable that the equipment, in particular the water contained in the test tube, was contaminated with other organisms that would have released gas during respiration.* It is possible the equipment contained undesired substances which also could have affected photosynthesis in the pondweed.* I used the same piece of pondweed for every set of results, meaning the pondweeds ability to photosynthesis may have improved or deteriorated as time went on.* Human error may have lead to inaccuracies in recording data, either by reading the scale wrong or bad time keeping.To account for these possible mistakes I should really repeat the experiment a many times and work out an overall average. This would ensure the data is reliable and not a fluke.In addition, I could use the following equipment to decrease the chance of any fault in my equipment:a. Fluorescent Lampb. Clamp standc. Meter ruler (cm)d. Bung with a hole in ite. Water containing Sodium Bicarbonatef. Scaled capillary tubeg. 3 way taph. Test tubei. Elodea (Canadian Pondweed)j. Ink bubblek. Syringel. StopwatchIdeally, the experiment would be carried out in the dark, with no light pollution at all so that I would have total control of the light intensity. The temperature of the lab would be controlled and constant so that my results would not show how temperature as well as light intensity affects photosynthesis in pondweed. In addition, a fluorescent lamp would be used. This is for two reasons, firstly, fluorescent lamps are incredibly more efficient than normal lumen incandescent lamps, meaning they give off less heat. This also would ensure that my investigation only records the effect of light intensity on pondweed and not temperature.Secondly, the light emitted from lumen in candescent lamps is not white light, it is made up of mostly red light, with some green light, and even less blue light. Since the objective of this investigation is to show how light intensity and not colour affects photosynthesis in pondweed, and plant life has evolved over millions of years to photosynthesise using sunlight, a lamp that emits light of daylight quality would be much more adequate. Also, a three way tap combined with a syringe would enable me to reset the ink bubble to 0 for each set of readings, along with the 1mm delivery tube with scale, this would decrease the chance of human error when reading the scale.Dave Burton 10FDAn Investigation to find out how Light Intensity affects Photosynthesis in Pondweed.

Full Text of General Act of the Berlin Conference on West Africa

Full Text of General Act of the Berlin Conference on West Africa Signed by the representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United States of America, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden-Norway, and Turkey (Ottoman Empire). (Printable version  of this text) GENERAL ACT OF THE CONFERENCE AT BERLIN OF THE PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, BELGIUM, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS, PORTUGAL, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN AND NORWAY, TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES RESPECTING: (1) FREEDOM OF TRADE IN THE BASIN OF THE CONGO; (2) THE SLAVE TRADE; (3) NEUTRALITY OF THE TERRITORIES IN THE BASIN OF THE CONGO; (4) NAVIGATION OF THE CONGO; (5) NAVIGATION OF THE NIGER; AND (6) RULES FOR FUTURE OCCUPATION ON THE COAST OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT In the Name of God Almighty. Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India; His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, etc, and Apostolic King of Hungary; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the United States of America; the President of the French Republic; His Majesty the King of Italy; His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, etc; His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves, etc; His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias; His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, etc; and His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, WISHING, in a spirit of good and mutual accord, to regulate the conditions most favourable to the development of trade and civilization in certain regions of Africa, and to assure to all nations the advantages of free navigation on the two chief rivers of Africa flowing into the Atlantic Ocean; BEING DESIROUS, on the other hand, to obviate the misunderstanding and disputes which might in future arise from new acts of occupation (prises de possession) on the coast of Africa; and concerned, at the same time, as to the means of furthering the moral and material well-being of the native populations; HAVE RESOLVED, on the invitation addressed to them by the Imperial Government of Germany, in agreement with the Government of the French Republic, to meet for those purposes in Conference at Berlin, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries, to wit: [Names of plenipotentiaries included here.] Who, being provided with full powers, which have been found in good and due form, have successively discussed and adopted: 1. A Declaration relative to freedom of trade in the basin of the Congo, its embouchures and circumjacent regions, with other provisions connected therewith. 2. A Declaration relative to the slave trade, and the operations by sea or land which furnish slaves to that trade. 3. A Declaration relative to the neutrality of the territories comprised in the Conventional basin of the Congo. 4. An Act of Navigation for the Congo, which, while having regard to local circumstances, extends to this river, its affluents, and the waters in its system (eaux qui leur sont assimilà ©es), the general principles enunciated in Articles 58 and 66 of the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna, and intended to regulate, as between the Signatory Powers of that Act, the free navigation of the waterways separating or traversing several States - these said principles having since then been applied by agreement to certain rivers of Europe and America, but especially to the Danube, with the modifications stipulated by the Treaties of Paris (1856), of Berlin (1878), and of London (1871 and 1883). 5. An Act of Navigation for the Niger, which, while likewise having regard to local circumstances, extends to this river and its affluents the same principles as set forth in Articles 58 and 66 of the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna. 6. A Declaration introducing into international relations certain uniform rules with reference to future occupations on the coast of the African Continent. And deeming it expedient that all these several documents should be combined in one single instrument, they (the Signatory Powers) have collected them into one General Act, composed of the following Articles: CHAPTER I DECLARATION RELATIVE TO FREEDOM OF TRADE IN THE BASIN OF THE CONGO, ITS MOUTHS AND CIRCUMJACENT REGIONS, WITH OTHER PROVISIONS CONNECTED THEREWITH Article 1 The trade of all nations shall enjoy complete freedom- 1. In all the regions forming the basin of the Congo and its outlets. This basin is bounded by the watersheds (or mountain ridges) of the adjacent basins, namely, in particular, those of the Niari, the Ogowà ©, the Schari, and the Nile, on the north; by the eastern watershed line of the affluents of Lake Tanganyika on the east; and by the watersheds of the basins of the Zambesi and the Logà © on the south. It therefore comprises all the regions watered by the Congo and its affluents, including Lake Tanganyika, with its eastern tributaries. 2. In the maritime zone extending along the Atlantic Ocean from the parallel situated in 2 º30 of south latitude to the mouth of the Logà ©. The northern boundary will follow the parallel situated in 2 º30 from the coast to the point where it meets the geographical basin of the Congo, avoiding the basin of the Ogowà ©, to which the provisions of the present Act do not apply. The southern boundary will follow the course of the Logà © to its source, and thence pass eastwards till it joins the geographical basin of the Congo. 3. In the zone stretching eastwards from the Congo Basin, as above defined, to the Indian Ocean from 5 degrees of north latitude to the mouth of the Zambesi in the south, from which point the line of demarcation will ascend the Zambesi to 5 miles above its confluence with the Shirà ©, and then follow the watershed between the affluents of Lake Nyassa and those of the Zambesi, till at last it reaches the watershed between the waters of the Zambesi and the Congo. It is expressly recognized that in extending the principle of free trade to this eastern zone the Conference Powers only undertake engagements for themselves, and that in the territories belonging to an independent Sovereign State this principle shall only be applicable in so far as it is approved by such State. But the Powers agree to use their good offices with the Governments established on the African shore of the Indian Ocean for the purpose of obtaining such approval, and in any case of securing the most favourable conditions to the transit (traffic) of all nations. Article 2 All flags, without distinction of nationality, shall have free access to the whole of the coastline of the territories above enumerated, to the rivers there running into the sea, to all the waters of the Congo and its affluents, including the lakes, and to all the ports situate on the banks of these waters, as well as to all canals which may in future be constructed with intent to unite the watercourses or lakes within the entire area of the territories described in Article 1. Those trading under such flags may engage in all sorts of transport, and carry on the coasting trade by sea and river, as well as boat traffic, on the same footing as if they were subjects. Article 3 Wares, of whatever origin, imported into these regions, under whatsoever flag, by sea or river, or overland, shall be subject to no other taxes than such as may be levied as fair compensation for expenditure in the interests of trade, and which for this reason must be equally borne by the subjects themselves and by foreigners of all nationalities. All differential dues on vessels, as well as on merchandise, are forbidden. Article 4 Merchandise imported into these regions shall remain free from import and transit dues. The Powers reserve to themselves to determine after the lapse of twenty years whether this freedom of import shall be retained or not. Article 5 No Power which exercises or shall exercise sovereign rights in the abovementioned regions shall be allowed to grant therein a monopoly or favour of any kind in matters of trade. Foreigners, without distinction, shall enjoy protection of their persons and property, as well as the right of acquiring and transferring movable and immovable possessions; and national rights and treatment in the exercise of their professions. PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO PROTECTION OF THE NATIVES, OF MISSIONARIES AND TRAVELLERS, AS WELL AS RELATIVE TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Article 6 All the Powers exercising sovereign rights or influence in the aforesaid territories bind themselves to watch over the preservation of the native tribes, and to care for the improvement of the conditions of their moral and material well-being, and to help in suppressing slavery, and especially the slave trade. They shall, without distinction of creed or nation, protect and favour all religious, scientific or charitable institutions and undertakings created and organized for the above ends, or which aim at instructing the natives and bringing home to them the blessings of civilization. Christian missionaries, scientists and explorers, with their followers, property and collections, shall likewise be the objects of especial protection. Freedom of conscience and religious toleration are expressly guaranteed to the natives, no less than to subjects and to foreigners. The free and public exercise of all forms of divine worship, and the right to build edifices for religious purposes, and to organize religious missions belonging to all creeds, shall not be limited or fettered in any way whatsoever. POSTAL REGIME Article 7 The Convention of the Universal Postal Union, as revised at Paris 1 June 1878, shall be applied to the Conventional basin of the Congo. The Powers who therein do or shall exercise rights of sovereignty or Protectorate engage, as soon as circumstances permit them, to take the measures necessary for the carrying out of the preceding provision. RIGHT OF SURVEILLANCE VESTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION COMMISSION OF THE CONGO Article 8 In all parts of the territory had in view by the present Declaration, where no Power shall exercise rights of sovereignty or Protectorate, the International Navigation Commission of the Congo, instituted in virtue of Article 17, shall be charged with supervising the application of the principles proclaimed and perpetuated (consacrà ©s) by this Declaration. In all cases of difference arising relative to the application of the principles established by the present Declaration, the Governments concerned may agree to appeal to the good offices of the International Commission, by submitting to it an examination of the facts which shall have occasioned these differences. CHAPTER II DECLARATION RELATIVE TO THE SLAVE TRADE Article 9 Seeing that trading in slaves is forbidden in conformity with the principles of international law as recognized by the Signatory Powers, and seeing also that the operations, which, by sea or land, furnish slaves to trade, ought likewise to be regarded as forbidden, the Powers which do or shall exercise sovereign rights or influence in the territories forming the Conventional basin of the Congo declare that these territories may not serve as a market or means of transit for the trade in slaves, of whatever race they may be. Each of the Powers binds itself to employ all the means at its disposal for putting an end to this trade and for punishing those who engage in it. CHAPTER III DECLARATION RELATIVE TO THE NEUTRALITY OF THE TERRITORIES COMPRISED IN THE CONVENTIONAL BASIN OF THE CONGO Article 10 In order to give a new guarantee of security to trade and industry, and to encourage, by the maintenance of peace, the development of civilization in the countries mentioned in Article 1, and placed under the free trade system, the High Signatory Parties to the present Act, and those who shall hereafter adopt it, bind themselves to respect the neutrality of the territories, or portions of territories, belonging to the said countries, comprising therein the territorial waters, so long as the Powers which exercise or shall exercise the rights of sovereignty or Protectorate over those territories, using their option of proclaiming themselves neutral, shall fulfil the duties which neutrality requires. Article 11 In case a Power exercising rights of sovereignty or Protectorate in the countries mentioned in Article 1, and placed under the free trade system, shall be involved in a war, then the High Signatory Parties to the present Act, and those who shall hereafter adopt it, bind themselves to lend their good offices in order that the territories belonging to this Power and comprised in the Conventional free trade zone shall, by the common consent of this Power and of the other belligerent or belligerents, be placed during the war under the rule of neutrality, and considered as belonging to a non-belligerent State, the belligerents thenceforth abstaining from extending hostilities to the territories thus neutralized, and from using them as a base for warlike operations. Article 12 In case a serious disagreement originating on the subject of, or in the limits of, the territories mentioned in Article 1, and placed under the free trade system, shall arise between any Signatory Powers of the present Act, or the Powers which may become parties to it, these Powers bind themselves, before appealing to arms, to have recourse to the mediation of one or more of the friendly Powers. In a similar case the same Powers reserve to themselves the option of having recourse to arbitration. CHAPTER IV ACT OF NAVIGATION FOR THE CONGO Article 13 The navigation of the Congo, without excepting any of its branches or outlets, is, and shall remain, free for the merchant ships of all nations equally, whether carrying cargo or ballast, for the transport of goods or passengers. It shall be regulated by the provisions of this Act of Navigation, and by the rules to be made in pursuance thereof. In the exercise of this navigation the subjects and flags of all nations shall in all respects be treated on a footing of perfect equality, not only for the direct navigation from the open sea to the inland ports of the Congo, and vice versa, but also for the great and small coasting trade, and for boat traffic on the course of the river. Consequently, on all the course and mouths of the Congo there will be no distinction made between the subjects of riverain States and those of non-riverain States, and no exclusive privilege of navigation will be conceded to companies, corporations or private persons whatsoever. These provisions are recognized by the Signatory Powers as becoming henceforth a part of international law. Article 14 The navigation of the Congo shall not be subject to any restriction or obligation which is not expressly stipulated by the present Act. It shall not be exposed to any landing dues, to any station or depot tax, or to any charge for breaking bulk, or for compulsory entry into port. In all the extent of the Congo the ships and goods in process of transit on the river shall be submitted to no transit dues, whatever their starting place or destination. There shall be levied no maritime or river toll based on the mere fact of navigation, nor any tax on goods aboard of ships. There shall only be levied taxes or duties having the character of an equivalent for services rendered to navigation itself, to wit: 1. Harbour dues on certain local establishments, such as wharves, warehouses, etc, if actually used. The tariff of such dues shall be framed according to the cost of constructing and maintaining the said local establishments; and it will be applied without regard to whence vessels come or what they are loaded with. 2. Pilot dues for those stretches of the river where it may be necessary to establish properly qualified pilots. The tariff of these dues shall be fixed and calculated in proportion to the service rendered. 3. Charges raised to cover technical and administrative expenses incurred in the general interest of navigation, including lighthouse, beacon and buoy duties. The lastmentioned dues shall be based on the tonnage of vessels as shown by the ships papers, and in accordance with the rules adopted on the Lower Danube. The tariffs by which the various dues and taxes enumerated in the three preceding paragraphs shall be levied shall not involve any differential treatment, and shall be officially published at each port. The Powers reserve to themselves to consider, after the lapse of five years, whether it may be necessary to revise, by common accord, the abovementioned tariffs. Article 15 The affluents of the Congo shall in all respects be subject to the same rules as the river of which they are tributaries. And the same rules shall apply to the streams and river as well as the lakes and canals in the territories defined in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 1. At the same time the powers of the International Commission of the Congo will not extend to the said rivers, streams, lakes and canals, unless with the assent of the States under whose sovereignty they are placed. It is well understood, also, that with regard to the territories mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 1 the consent of the Sovereign States owning these territories is reserved. Article 16 The roads, railways or lateral canals which may be constructed with the special object of obviating the innavigability or correcting the imperfection of the river route on certain sections of the course of the Congo, its affluents, and other waterways placed under a similar system, as laid down in Article 15, shall be considered in their quality of means of communication as dependencies of this river, and as equally open to the traffic of all nations. And, as on the river itself, so there shall be collected on these roads, railways and canals only tolls calculated on the cost of construction, maintenance and management, and on the profits due to the promoters. As regards the tariff of these tolls, strangers and the natives of the respective territories shall be treated on a footing of perfect equality. Article 17 There is instituted an International Commission, charged with the execution of the provisions of the present Act of Navigation. The Signatory Powers of this Act, as well as those who may subsequently adhere to it, may always be represented on the said Commission, each by one delegate. But no delegate shall have more than one vote at his disposal, even in the case of his representing several Governments. This delegate will be directly paid by his Government. As for the various agents and employees of the International Commission, their remuneration shall be charged to the amount of the dues collected in conformity with paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 14. The particulars of the said remuneration, as well as the number, grade and powers of the agents and employees, shall be entered in the returns to be sent yearly to the Governments represented on the International Commission. Article 18 The members of the International Commission, as well as its appointed agents, are invested with the privilege of inviolability in the exercise of their functions. The same guarantee shall apply to the offices and archives of the Commission. Article 19 The International Commission for the Navigation of the Congo shall be constituted as soon as five of the Signatory Powers of the present General Act shall have appointed their delegates. And, pending the constitution of the Commission, the nomination of these delegates shall be notified to the Imperial Government of Germany, which will see to it that the necessary steps are taken to summon the meeting of the Commission. The Commission will at once draw up navigation, river police, pilot and quarantine rules. These rules, as well as the tariffs to be framed by the Commission, shall, before coming into force, be submitted for approval to the Powers represented on the Commission. The Powers interested will have to communicate their views with as little delay as possible. Any infringement of these rules will be checked by the agents of the International Commission wherever it exercises direct authority, and elsewhere by the riverain Power. In the case of an abuse of power, or of an act of injustice, on the part of any agent or employee of the International Commission, the individual who considers himself to be aggrieved in his person or rights may apply to the consular agent of his country. The latter will examine his complaint, and if he finds it prima facie reasonable he will then be entitled to bring it before the Commission. At his instance then, the Commission, represented by at least three of its members, shall, in conjunction with him, inquire into the conduct of its agent or employee. Should the consular agent look upon the decision of the Commission as raising questions of law (objections de droit), he will report on the subject to his Government, which may then have recourse to the Powers represented on the Commission, and invite them to agree as to the instructions to be given to the Commission. Article 20 The International Commission of the Congo, charged in terms of Article 17 with the execution of the present Act of Navigation, shall in particular have power- 1. To decide what works are necessary to assure the navigability of the Congo in accordance with the needs of international trade. On those sections of the river where no Power exercises sovereign rights the International Commission will itself take the necessary measures for assuring the navigability of the river. On those sections of the river held by a Sovereign Power the International Commission will concert its action (sentendra) with the riparian authorities. 2. To fix the pilot tariff and that of the general navigation dues as provided for by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 14. The tariffs mentioned in the first paragraph of Article 14 shall be framed by the territorial authorities within the limits prescribed in the said Article. The levying of the various dues shall be seen to by the international or territorial authorities on whose behalf they are established. 3. To administer the revenue arising from the application of the preceding paragraph (2). 4. To superintend the quarantine establishment created in virtue of Article 24. 5. To appoint officials for the general service of navigation, and also its own proper employees. It will be for the territorial authorities to appoint sub-inspectors on sections of the river occupied by a Power, and for the International Commission to do so on the other sections. The riverain Power will notify to the International Commission the appointment of sub-inspectors, and this Power will undertake the payment of their salaries. In the exercise of its functions, as above defined and limited, the International Commission will be independent of the territorial authorities. Article 21 In the accomplishment of its task the International Commission may, if need be, have recourse to the war vessels of the Signatory Powers of this Act, and of those who may in future accede to it, under reserve, however, of the instructions which may be given to the commanders of these vessels by their respective Governments. Article 22 The war vessels of the Signatory Powers of this Act that may enter the Congo are exempt from payment of the navigation dues provided for in paragraph 3 of Article 14; but, unless their intervention has been called for by the International Commission or its agents, in terms of the preceding Article, they shall be liable to the payment of the pilot or harbour dues which may eventually be established. Article 23 With the view of providing for the technical and administrative expenses which it may incur, the International Commission created by Article 17 may, in its own name, negotiate loans to be exclusively guaranteed by the revenues raised by the said Commission. The decisions of the Commission dealing with the conclusion of a loan must be come to by a majority of two-thirds. It is understood that the Governments represented on the Commission shall not in any case be held as assuming any guarantee, or as contracting any engagement or joint liability (solidarità ©) with respect to the said loans, unless under special Conventions concluded by them to this effect. The revenue yielded by the dues specified in paragraph 3 of Article 14 shall bear, as a first charge, the payment of the interest and sinking fund of the said loans, according to agreement with the lenders. Article 24 At the mouth of the Congo there shall be founded, either on the initiative of the riverain Powers, or by the intervention of the International Commission, a quarantine establishment for the control of vessels passing out of as well as into the river. Later on the Powers will decide whether and on what conditions a sanitary control shall be exercised over vessels engaged in the navigation of the river itself. Article 25 The provisions of the present Act of Navigation shall remain in force in time of war. Consequently all nations, whether neutral or belligerent, shall be always free, for the purposes of trade, to navigate the Congo, its branches, affluents and mouths, as well as the territorial waters fronting the embouchure of the river. Traffic will similarly remain free, despite a state of war, on the roads, railways, lakes and canals mentioned in Articles 15 and 16. There will be no exception to this principle, except in so far as concerns the transport of articles intended for a belligerent, and in virtue of the law of nations regarded as contraband of war. All the works and establishments created in pursuance of the present Act, especially the tax collecting offices and their treasuries, as well as the permanent service staff of these establishments, shall enjoy the benefits of neutrality (placà ©s sous le rà ©gime de la neutralità ©), and shall, therefore, be respected and protected by belligerents. CHAPTER V ACT OF NAVIGATION FOR THE NIGER Article 26 The navigation of the Niger, without excepting any of its branches and outlets, is and shall remain entirely free for the merchant ships of all nations equally, whether with cargo or ballast, for the transportation of goods and passengers. It shall be regulated by the provisions of this Act of Navigation, and by the rules to be made in pursuance of this Act. In the exercise of this navigation the subjects and flags of all nations shall be treated, in all circumstances, on a footing of perfect equality, not only for the direct navigation from the open sea to the inland ports of the Niger, and vice versa, but for the great and small coasting trade, and for boat trade on the course of the river. Consequently, on all the course and mouths of the Niger there will be no distinction made between the subjects of the riverain States and those of non-riverain States; and no exclusive privilege of navigation will be conceded to companies, corporations or private persons. These provisions are recognized by the Signatory Powers as forming henceforth a part of international law. Article 27 The navigation of the Niger shall not be subject to any restriction or obligation based merely on the fact of navigation. It shall not be exposed to any obligation in regard to landing-station or depot, or for breaking bulk, or for compulsory entry into port. In all the extent of the Niger the ships and goods in process of transit on the river shall be submitted to no transit dues, whatever their starting place or destination. No maritime or river toll shall be levied based on the sole fact of navigation, nor any tax on goods on board of ships. There shall only be collected taxes or duties which shall be an equivalent for services rendered to navigation itself. The tariff of these taxes or duties shall not warrant any differential treatment. Article 28 The affluents of the Niger shall be in all respects subject to the same rules as the river of which they are tributaries. Article 29 The roads, railways or lateral canals which may be constructed with the special object of obviating the innavigability or correcting the imperfections of the river route on certain sections of the course of the Niger, its affluents, branches and outlets, shall be considered, in their quality of means of communication, as dependencies of this river, and as equally open to the traffic of all nations. And, as on the river itself, so there shall be collected on these roads, railways and canals only tolls calculated on the cost of construction, maintenance and management, and on the profits due to the promoters. As regards the tariff of these tolls, strangers and the natives of the respective territories shall be treated on a footing of perfect equality. Article 30 Great Britain undertakes to apply the principles of freedom of navigation enunciated in Articles 26, 27, 28 and 29 on so much of the waters of the Niger, its affluents, branches and outlets, as are or may be under her sovereignty or protection. The rules which she may establish for the safety and control of navigation shall be drawn up in a way to facilitate, as far as possible, the circulation of merchant ships. It is understood that nothing in these obligations shall be interpreted as hindering Great Britain from making any rules of navigation whatever which shall not be contrary to the spirit of these engagements. Great Britain undertakes to protect foreign merchants and all the trading nationalities on all those portions of the Niger which are or may be under her sovereignty or protection as if they were her own subjects, provided always that such merchants conform to the rules which are or shall be made in virtue of the foregoing. Article 31 France accepts, under the same reservations, and in identical terms, the obligations undertaken in the preceding Articles in respect of so much of the waters of the Niger, its affluents, branches and outlets, as are or may be under her sovereignty or protection. Article 32 Each of the other Signatory Powers binds itself in the same way in case it should ever exercise in the future rights of sovereignty or protection over any portion of the waters of the Niger, its affluents, branches or outlets. Article 33 The arrangements of the present Act of Navigation will remain in force in time of war. Consequently, the navigation of all neutral or belligerent nationals will be in all time free for the usages of commerce on the Niger, its branches, its affluents, its mouths and outlets, as well as on the territorial waters opposite the mouths and outlets of that river. The traffic will remain equally free in spite of a state of war on the roads, railways and canals mentioned in Article 29. There will be an exception to this principle only in that which relates to the transport of articles destined for a belligerent, and considered, in virtue of the law of nations, as articles contraband of war. CHAPTER VI DECLARATION RELATIVE TO THE ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN ORDER THAT NEW OCCUPATIONS ON THE COASTS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT MAY BE HELD TO BE EFFECTIVE Article 34 Any Power which henceforth takes possession of a tract of land on the coasts of the African continent outside of its present possessions, or which, being hitherto without such possessions, shall acquire them, as well as the Power which assumes a Protectorate there, shall accompany the respective act with a notification thereof, addressed to the other Signatory Powers of the present Act, in order to enable them, if need be, to make good any claims of their own. Article 35 The Signatory Powers of the present Act recognize the obligation to insure the establishment of authority in the regions occupied by them on the coasts of the African continent sufficient to protect existing rights, and, as the case may be, freedom of trade and of transit under the conditions agreed upon. CHAPTER VII GENERAL DISPOSITIONS Article 36 The Signatory Powers of the present General Act reserve to themselves to introduce into it subsequently, and by common accord, such modifications and improvements as experience may show to be expedient. Article 37 The Powers who have not signed the present General Act shall be free to adhere to its provisions by a separate instrument. The adhesion of each Power shall be notified in diplomatic form to the Government of the German Empire, and by it in turn to all the other signatory or adhering Powers. Such adhesion shall carry with it full acceptance of all the obligations as well as admission to all the advantages stipulated by the present General Act. Article 38 The present General Act shall be ratified with as little delay as possible, the same in no case to exceed a year. It will come into force for each Power from the date of its ratification by that Power. Meanwhile, the Signatory Powers of the present General Act bind themselves not to take any steps contrary to its provisions. Each Power will address its ratification to the Government of the German Empire, by which notice of the fact will be given to all the other Signatory Powers of the present Act. The ratifications of all the Powers will be deposited in the archives of the Government of the German Empire. When all the ratifications shall have been sent in, there will be drawn up a Deposit Act, in the shape of a Protocol, to be signed by the representatives of all the Powers which have taken part in the Conference of Berlin, and of which a certified copy will be sent to each of those Powers. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF the several plenipotentiaries have signed the present General Act and have affixed thereto their seals. DONE at Berlin, the 26th day of February, 1885. [Signatures included here.]