Although the Spanish Empire had a residual claim on the Marshalls in 1874, when she began asserting her sovereignty over the Carolines, she made no effort to prevent the German Empire from gaining a foothold there. <answer>Britain</answer> also raised no objection to a German protectorate over the Marshalls in exchange for German recognition of <answer>Britain</answer>'s rights in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. On October 13, 1885, SMS Nautilus under Captain Rötger brought German emissaries to Jaluit. They signed a treaty with Kabua, whom the Germans had earlier recognized as "King of the Ralik Islands," on October 15.
What nation asserted their rights over the Gilbert and Ellice islands?
Britain