"مُلخّص المراسلات المتعلّقة بشؤون زنزبار من ١٨٥٦ إلى ١٨٧٢." أعدّه النقيب ب. د. هندرسون، الملحق بالإدارة الخارجية" [ظ‎‎١‎٣‎١] (١١٤/١٠٢)

Slave Trade-
supply the slave labor market, and can supply it only by kidnapping- their victims in the in
terior, and conveying them across from the mainland in a state of slavery."
The Political Agent was, therefore, directed to enquire from Messrs. Fraser
what precautions had been taken by them to prevent these large demands
from operating as a direct and dangerous stimulus to increased activity in the
slave traffic with the interior, and also what guarantee they had that the labor
ers at the expiration of their five years' term of service would be declared free.
The Government of India on the 14th November 1866 observed to the
Bombay Government that, whatever the legal aspect of the case might be—
" it is evidently incumbent on the Government to do what lies in its power to discourage
and repudiate a line of conduct in any of its subjects so inconsistent with the attitude which
it holds towards the State of Zanzibar and other countries in respect of slave dealing."
The Messrs. Fraser were to be informed distinctly that the Government
and its representative will in no case support such contracts, or aid in respect of
any difficulties which might arise from them.
In the meantime the matter had been reported by Dr. Seward to the
London Foreign Office, and on the 5th November 1866 Lord Stanley replied—
" Having consulted the proper law officers of the Crown, I have to imform you that
Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that in entering into this contract, Messrs. Fraser
have violated the provisions of Act 6 and 7 Victoria, Chapter 98, which renders applicable
the provisions of the Act 5, George IV., Chapter 113, to all British subjects wherever they
may reside.
"The contract stipulates that for five years certain the laborers are to be at the sole
disposal of Messrs. Fraser and Company, after which term they are to be set free. During the
interval they are clearly slaves, and the case falls within the following words of the Act'cf
George IV., viz. (section 2), ' deal or trade in persons intended to be dealt with as j-laves'; * con
tract for the transfer of persons intented to be dealt with as slaves'
" I have, therefore, to instruct you to apprize Messrs. Fraser and Company that by entering
into these contracts they have incurred the penalties of the Acts in question, and you will
enquire and communicate to Her Majesty's Government whether anything, and what, has been
done under the contracts, and also whether Messrs. Fraser and Company have any representation
or submission to make upon the subject before proceedings are taken."
^ On being made aware of the decision of Her Majesty's Government,
Captain Fraser, who until then apparently had no opportunity of stating his
case, represented that the contract had been framed on a contract previously
drawn out by Colonel Playfair when Political Agent at Zanzibar, and which
had been approved by the Bombay Government. Dr. Seward urged that
there was no similarity in the terms of the two contracts, but, as a copy of the
agreement framed by ( olonel Playfair was not submitted to the Government
of India, there are no grounds for forming an opinion in the matter. Mr.
Maine, the Legal Member ot Council, observed on the case—
ith the main question the Government of India does not seem to me to have anything
further to do. But it is a somewhat awkward element, in the case that Messrs. Fniser's
contracts should have been so fully concurred in by the former Consul, Colonel Playfair.
^ ir . S ewar ^ s part has been in the matter I fail to collect from this most unin-
tei igible letter.) Ihe offence against, the statutes is not holding slaves (which cannot generally
' e ' le 'p e ^ a slave-holding country) or employing, but contracting for their labor."
In March 1867 Dr. Seward informed the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs that the Sultan had, at his instigation, liberated 711 slaves who had been
working under contract with Messrs. Fraser and Company. Lord Stanley ex-
pressed satisfaction at the intelligence, and intimated that no proceedings
would be taken against Messrs. Fraser, provided they could undertake to abstain
in future from similar offences.— fFolitical, A, November 1866, Nos. 45-47;
May 1867, Nos. 141-43; May 1867, Nos. 181-83; June 1867, Nos. 24 ^ 25;
and April 1868, Nos. 145 8f 146.;
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