'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎37v] (14/72)

to the Foreign Office, which could not take cognizance of cases affecting the interests
of Indian subjects, and subjects of neighbouring allied States, with the rapidity and
convenience that are desirable.
7. At the same time we are of opinion that the inconveniences arising from double
references, and the risk of conflicting orders, would be best obviated by causing the Agent
at Zanzibar to discontinue his direct correspondence with the Foreign Office. No real
loss of time would ensue from the transmission of communications affecting European
subjects through the Bombay Government; and there can, in our opinion, be no more
reason for direct communication with the Foreign Office from Zanzibar than from Muscat,
where the Agent enjoys no such privilege. On the other hand, if Muscat be under the
Government of India, and Zanzibar be under the Foreign Office, there will not only be a
conflict of directions, but, sooner or later, also a probable conflict of policy.
We have, &c.
(Signed) J. LAWRENCE.
G. N. TAYLOR.
H. M. DURAND.
H. S. MAINE.
JOHN STRAOHEY.
R. TEMPLE.
No. 12.
Mr. Eyerton to Lord Clinton.
Sir, Foreign Office, July 16, 1868.
I AM directed by Lord Stanley to transmit to you to be laid before Secretary Sir
Stafford Northcote, in the event of his not having already received a communication on the
subject from the Government of India, the accompanying copies of a despatch and its
inclosures from Her Majesty's Consul at Zanzibar, reporting that Sultan Seyd Majid has
determined to burn, for the future, all Northern Arab dhows arriving in the ports of his
dominions, and stating that His Highness has come to this determination with the view to
put a stop to the export of slaves from his territories, it being notorious that the Northern
Arabs repair to the East Coast of Africa with no other motive than that of procuring
slaves.
Lord Stanley desires me to observe that, however notorious it may be that the object
of the Northern Arabs in visiting the African Coast is to procure slaves, such a proceeding
on the part of Seyd Majid as the indiscriminate destruction of all Northern dhows visiting
his coasts would doubtless be open to grave objections, and might possibly compromise
His Highness with European States in the not improbable event of the Arab shipmasters
procuring the shipment on board their vessels of property belonging to a European
merchant as a colourable pretext for their voyage.
But whilst deprecating the high-handed course of proceeding which the Sultan of
Zanzibar proposes to adopt. Lord Stanley is nevertheless of opinion that the British Govern
ment is bound to render every possible assistance to His Highness in his endeavours to put
a stop to the export of slaves from his dominions, and his Lordship with this view would
suggest for Sir Stafford Northcote's consideration whether it would not be right and
expedient that instructions should be addressed to the British agents at Muscat and in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , directing them to warn the native Chiefs on the coast of Arabia, and in the
Red Sea, and in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that they will be held responsible to Her Majesty's
tjovernment for the due and strict fulfilment of the engagements which they have contracted
with the British authorities for the prevention of the African Slave Trade, informing them
at the same time that the Sultan of Zanzibar has determined to put a stop to the export
of slaves from his dominions, and that British cruizers having received orders to support
His Highness in carrying out this determination, all Arab vessels found engaged in, or
equipped in any way fox the Slave Trade, will be seized and destroyed.
I am, &c.
(Signed) E. C. EGERTON.