Austrian Colonial Policy - Other Activities

Other Activities

Due to the lack of support by the government, Austria-Hungary didn't attempt to obtain any later colonies. Individual actions and expeditions didn't change this state of affairs.

In 1873, an Austrian expedition was sent to the north pole and managed to discover and name Franz Josef Land. This was never a formal colony; however, no other country put forward a claim until the Soviet Union annexed the islands in 1926.

A trader based in Hong-Kong sold his rights to North Borneo, (modern Sabah), to the Consul of the Austria-Hungary in Hong Kong, Baron von Overbeck. He managed to get a 10-year renewal of the lease from the Temenggong of Brunei, and a similar treaty from the Sultan of Sulu on January 22, 1878. To finance his plans for North Borneo, von Overbeck found financial backing from the Dent brothers (Alfred and Edward). However, he was unable to get any interest from his government in the territory. After efforts to sell the territory to Italy for use as a penal colony, Von Overbeck withdrew in 1880, leaving Alfred Dent in control.

However in 1885, despite the fact that Austria-Hungary was not a colonial power, it was invited to the Berlin conference to regulate colonial policy among the powers of Europe. Despite lack of overseas expansion, Austria-Hungary was still viewed as a major European power.