'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎33v] (6/72)

the subsidy has been alleged by the Sultan of Muscat to be a cause of inability on his part
to control his rebellious subjects, and to prevent political cornplications very embarrassing
to the officers of the Indian Government, who represent British interests in the neighbour
hood of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I am, &c.
(Signed) HERMAN MER1VALE.
Inclosure in No. 4.
Sir S. Northcote to the Governor-General of India in Council.
gi r India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , London, February 15, 1868.
LI FORWARD, for the information of your Excellency's Government, and for any
observations which you may have to offer upon the subject of it, a copy of a letter dated
8th January, 1868, addressed to this Department of Her Majesty's Government, by direction
of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. You will observe that Lord Stanley desires to
be informed whether, apart from the consideration that the Treaty, which stipulates for
the payment of a subsidy by the Sultan of Zanzibar to the Sultan of Muscat, was
negotiated under the auspices of the Indian Government, "there are any Indian interests
involved in the political relations between Zanzibar and Muscat, which render it advisable
for the British Government to require the Sultan of Zanzibar to continue the payment of
the subsidy to Muscat." 4
2. I avail myself of this opportunity to inform you that Her Majesty's Government
have had for some time under their consideration the question of the control of British
relations with the Chiefs of Oman and the Sultan of Zanzibar. Much correspondence has
at different periods taken place between the foreign Office and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. on the
subject. The discussion has recently been renewed, and it appears to me now to be more
than ever desirable that the matter should be placed permanently on such a footing as
may conduce most advantageously to the public interests, whilst removing Departmental
uncertainties and inconsistencies, which may in practice lead to considerable embarrass
ments. In furtherance of this object, I am anxious to obtain from you an expression of
your Excellencv's opinion.
3. You are aware that the Agent at Zanzibar, who is an officer of the Bombay
Government, is also Her Majesty's Consul at that place, and in that capacity he
corresponds with, and receives instructions from, the Secretary of State for Foreign
if Affairs.
4. The Agent at Muscat, who is an officer of the Bombay Government, also holds a
y Consular commission from Her Majesty. His correspondence is conducted wholly with
y \ the Bombay Government, from whom he receives his instructions. He has no direct
communication with the Foreign Office.
5. The salaries of both these officers are, as your Excellency is aware, paid entirely
from the Indian revenues.
6. 1 need not inform your Excellency that the Agent and Consul at Zanzibar receives
instructions from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, mainly because an important
part of the business which comes before him is connected with the suppression of the
Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa. It is obvious that the regulation of the
measures to be taken for the prevention of this Traffic must rest undividedly with Her
Majesty's Government, as represented by the Foreign Department. Questions also have
arisen in connection with the action of other European Powers in that part of the world,
which must be submitted for the decision of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs.
7. But although there are substantial grounds for this partial control by the Foreign
Office of an officer holding a situation under the Indian Government, it is not the less
apparent that this state of things is attended with considerable inconvenience. It
engenders inconsistency of action and conflicts of authority. It has happened on some
occasions that the Agent at Zanzibar has received contradictory instructions from the
Bombay Government and from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, which have
placed him in an embarrassing position. The Commanders of Her Majesty's vessels in
these waters are also subject to the receipt of inconsistent orders from the authorities in
India and in England.
8. I am anxious, therefore, to be informed whether, in your Excellency's opinion,
there are any political and commercial questions arising out of the relation between India
and Zanzibar of sufficient importance to render it necessary that any controlling authority
I