‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎121v] (82/114)

Events in Zanzibar from the death of Syed Majid.
" In our despatch No. 16 of 4th April, of which an extract is given in the margin, we
stated our opinion on this subject at some length, and we see no
Tide paragraph 76. reason to modify the views therein expressed. The fact of Indian
subjects having a large trade with Zanzibar does not appear to us to be a sufficient reason for
having a Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. there. An equally large and remunerative trade is carried on by our
Indian subjects with many other ports where a consular establishment is found sufficient for all
the duties which arise.""
Until a decision on the subject of the subsidy was received, the Govern
ment of India expressed their inability to carry out the suggestions of the
Secretary of State with regard to the constitution of the mission at Zanzibar
on its new footing.
83. C orrespondence regarding expenses op Z anzibar C onsulate.—
In June 1871 copies of correspondence that had taken place between the
London Poreign Office, 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. , and the Lords Commissioners of
the Treasury, with regard to the expenses of the Consulate at Zanzibar,
was forwarded for the information of the Government of India. Of that corre
spondence the following is a summary : The Foreign Office appear, in sub
mitting the report of the committee on the East African slave trade, to have
recommended an increase of expenditure on account of the slave squadron,
and on account of the establishment of new Consulates, and also the assump
tion by the Imperial Government of a half share of the cost of the Political
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Zanzibar. The Lords of the Treasury would not consent to any
increased expenditure for the objects mentioned, and their reply concluded—
" My Lords, without stating what their view might be if the absolute extinction of the
East African slave trade were in question, are not disposed to expend a greater amount than
at present of public money upon measures which have the appearance of lending at least a
partial countenance to it. M}' Lords think that the continuance of the present expenditure
upon such terms requires serious consideration."
Thereupon the Foreign Office, believing that the objection was founded on
a misconception of the question and of the policy advocated by the committee,
represented that the complete, though gradual, cessation of all conveyance of
slaves by sea was contemplated, and that a system by which less than five per
cent, of the slaves exported were rescued was obviously inadequate. The
Lords of the Treasury were asked to re-consider their decision, and, with re
gard to the expenses of the Zanzibar Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , it was said —
" a great portion of this officer's duty is in connection with the slave trade, which is a sub
ject of imperial interest; that the system of divided superintendence in slave-trade matters,
which has hitherto prevailed, has led to the issue of conflicting orders at considerable detri
ment to the public service abroad, while at Home the two-fold action of the two departments
multiplies correspondence and retards the despatch of business.
"It is, therefore, most advisable that the superintendency of slave-trade matters at
Zanzibar should rest entirely with this department; and I am to state that the Government of
India have lately expressed a very strong opinion that under the altered relations of Zanzibar
to the State of Muscat, the Indian funds should be relieved of all expenditure on account of
the A<rency, and that the onlv alternative arrangement which they would consent to would be
that the entire cost of the arrangement for the suppression of the slave trade should be borne
by the imperial revenues."
The arrangements had, however, no effect on the Lords of the Treasury,
who were 44 unable to arrive at any conclusion" than that previously an
nounced. On being informed of this decision, the Secretary of State for
India expressed his regret thereat and observed, with regard to the refusal
of the Treasury to bear half the cost of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,—
" as the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have refused to accede to this proposed arrange
ment, the Secretary of State for India in Council is compelled to regard the question oi the
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