'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎48r] (35/72)

The Earl of Clarendon to Mr. Churchill.
(No. 2.)
^ T rmcT7t>Tn7 • Foreign Office, March 10, 1869.
OBSERVE in your despatch to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. dated
the 12th of December last, a copy of which you forwarded to me in your despatch No. A 7
of the 18th of the same month, that you state that His Highness Sultan Majid is quite
right in saying that his dhows are fast quitting his protection for that of the French, whose
nag protects the Slave Trade by its inviolability.
I should be glad to receive any further information which you may be able to furnish
me as to the extent to which the proceedings of British cruizers employed in the suppres
sion of the Slave Trade have influenced the owners of Zanzibar vessels, or the vessels of
any other native States in placing them under the French flag, as well as upon the point
whether the French flag is used to cover Slave Traffic, and if so to what extent.
I am, &c.
(Signed) CLARENDON.
No. 41.
Extract of a Memorial from the British Steam Navigation Company to the
Bombay Government.
March 12, 1869.
WE have reason to suppose that on His Highness Syud Salim ceasing to be Sultan
of Muscat, the Port of Bunder Abbas also may fall into the Persian Government, and we
would avail ourselves oi this opportunity for expressing our earnest trust that by the
intervention of the British authorities this may not prove to be the case, for we can trade
without much annoyance or risk of sudden loss where references have simply to be made
to the Chief of Arab tribes, but that under Persian Governors the intrigues, irregularities,
and obstacles thrown in the way of trade are destructive of all mercantile confidence, and
are, we believe, unparalleled in our connection with the most uncivilized nations.
No. 42.
Mr. Churchill to Lord Stanley.—(Received March 30.)
(No. 25.)
My Lord Zanzibar, January 22, 1869.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of my despatch No. 5 of the 22nd of Januar
addressed to the Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay, relative to the steps taken by me
for carrying out the orders of his Excellency the Governor-General of India for the
suppression of slave-dealing as carried on by Kutchees, &c., residing in Zanzibar.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HY. A. CHURCHILL.
Inclosure 1 in No. 42.
Mr. Churchill to the Acting Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Zanzibar, January 22, 1869.
I RECEIVED your despatch of the 7th ultimo relative to the possession of slaves
by the Kutchees residing in Zanzibar on the 4th instant, and although I took an early
opportunity of communicating the decision of the Indian Government to His Highness the
Sultan, who was on the Coast of Africa at Dar Selam spending the Ramadan, I thought it
better to wait until the Sultan's return to Zanzibar, as the delay incurred by this means
would have the effect of reconciling His Highness with the stringent measures that I
purposed taking with regard to the natives of India under his protection; I trust that my
having allowed the Indians this short respite as a mark of deference to His Highness the
Sultan will not be disapproved by the Right Honourable the Governor in Council, although
it was, as I am aware, my duty to have acted upon the orders I had received without the
least delay.