In return, they acquired Heligoland, strategically placed for control over the German Bight, which, with the construction of the Kiel Canal from 1887 onward, had become essential to Emperor Wilhelm's II plans for expansion of the Imperial Navy. Wilhelm's naval policies aborted an accommodation with the British and ultimately led to a rapprochement between Britain and France, sealed with the Entente cordiale in 1904. The misleading name for the treaty was introduced by ex-Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who intended to attack his despised successor Caprivi for concluding an agreement that Bismarck himself had arranged during his incumbency. However, Bismarck's nomenclature implied that Germany had swapped an African empire for tiny Heligoland ("trousers for a button"). This was eagerly adopted by imperialists, who complained about "treason" against German interests. Carl Peters and Alfred Hugenberg appealed for the foundation of the ("Pan-German League") which took place in 1891. Notes Further reading Includes the citation of the English version of the contract. External links Vertrag zwischen dem Deutschen Reich und dem Vereinigten Königreich über die Kolonien und Helgoland vom 1. Juli 1890, Deutsche Geschichte in Dokumenten und Bildern (DGDB), Transcription of: Das Staatsarchiv. Sammlung der offiziellen Aktenstücke zur Geschichte der Gegenwart, Bd. 51, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1891, S. 151. The Anglo-German Treaty (Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty) 1 July 1890, Translation of the German version of the contract History of Zanzibar Legal history of German East Africa British colonisation in Africa German South West Africa Treaty Treaties of the United Kingdom (1801–1922) Treaties concluded in 1890 1890 in the United Kingdom 1890 in Germany 1890 in Zanzibar Germany–United Kingdom relations 19th century in Africa Treaties of the German Empire Treaties entered into force in 1890 Treaties extended to the Sultanate of Zanzibar British Heligoland Bilateral treaties of the United Kingdom