Great Britain and Germany recognize the Dutch…

Great Britain and Germany recognize the Dutch claims on western New Guinea in an 1885 treaty.

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) had recognized the Sultan of Tidore's sovereignty over the Papuans, the inhabitants of New Guinea, in 1660.

Probably this had referred to some Papuan islands near the Moluccas, although Tidore never exercises actual control over New Guinea.

New Guinea had thus become notionally Dutch, as the Dutch hold power over Tidore.

In 1793, Britain had established a settlement near Manokwari, which had failed.

Britain and the Netherlands had agreed by 1824 that the western half of the island would become part of the Dutch East Indies.

In 1828, the Dutch had established a settlement in Lobo (near Kaimana), which also failed.

Tidore had recognized Dutch sovereignty in 1872 and granted permission to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to establish administration in its territories whenever the Netherlands Indies authorities would want to do so.

This had allowed the Netherlands to legitimize a claim to the New Guinea area.