"أوراق تتعلق بتجارة الرقيق على الساحل الشرقي لأفريقيا والنظام المتبع لكبحها" [و‎‎٦‎٦] (٧٢/٧١)

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71
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Admiralty Court against the captors, and Lord Clarendon fears that if the system of
destroying vessels suspected of being engaged in the Slave Trade which is now carried out
to a very considerable extent by British cruizers on the East Coast of Africa is continued,
not only will it give rise to large pecuniary claims on Her Majesty's Government, but in
some instances vessels may be destroyed, and their owners, from not knowing where their
case will be adjudicated, may be unable to obtain a hearing and defend their property;
and thus injustice will be done to honest traders, a state of things which it is on every
account the object of Her Majesty's Government to avoid.
I am, &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
No. 79.
Mr. Otway to Mr. Merivale.
Sir, Foreign Office, July 22, 1869.
I AM directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to herewith a copy of a despatch,
with its inclosures in original, from Colonel Disbrowe, Her Majesty's Political Agent and
Consul at Muscat, relative to a difference which he has had with the de facto Ruler of
that country, which difference induced him to withdraw from the town for a while, and
to go on board Her Majesty's gun-boat " Clyde."
I am to request that, in laying this paper before the Secretary of State for India in
Council, you will inform him that Lord Clarendon has informed Colonel Disbrowe that
the matter has been referred to the India Office, it being one which will be dealt with by
the India Government.
I am, &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
P.S.—Since the above was written, a further despatch has been received from
Lieutenant-Colonel Disbrowe on the same subject, which is sent herewith, and it is
requested that the inclosures in this letter, being sent in original, may be returned to this
office when done with.
No. 80.
Mr. Otway to Lieutenant- Colonel Disbrowe.
(No. 2.)
Si r> Foreign Office, July 22, 1869.
I AM directed by the Earl of Clarendon to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch
of the 28th of May last,* reporting the circumstances under which a difference had arisen
between yourself and the de facto Ruler of Muscat, which had induced you for a short
time to retire from that place and to go on board Her Majesty's gun-boat " Clydeand
I am to state to you that, this affair being one which, from its nature, must be exclusively
dealt with by the Indian Government, his Lordship has referred your despatch above-
mentioned to the Secretary of State for India.
I am, &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
* No. 75.
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN
OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.— 29/10/C9.