‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎104v] (48/114)

Proceedings subsequent to the arbitration relating to the question of the subsidy.
"We propose, therefore, with the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, to address the
Sultan of Zanzibar once more on the subject of the subsidy, tellinor him in plain terms that
the payment will be insisted on. And in case he still refuses, we would propose the despatch
of a man-of-war to blockade his port/'
39. Views of Home Government on the subsidy question. With
drawal of Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. from the control of Indian Government
suggested .—In the meantime a despatch (No. 20, dated 15th February 1868)
had been received from the Secretary of State on the general question of the
subsidy. The English Foreign Office had expressed a wish 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 manv 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."
Should Indian interests not require the enforcement of the payment the
Foreign Office observed— '
" There are considerations cnonected with imperial interests which would seem to Lord
o tan ley to warrant our leaving the Sultan free to act as he may think fit in this matter."
These considerations were connected with the suppression of the slave
trade, in order to effect which it was necessary to put a stop to the carriag-e of
slaves coastwise from one part of the Sultan's dominions to another, and also
to limit the number of slaves imported into Zanzibar, with the view, if possible
eventually to put a stop to the importation entirely.
" But ' contlnued Foreign Office, it cannot be expected that Sultan Maiid will make
the requisite concessions in this matter, unless some means are found to compensate him for
the diminished income, which must necessarily be the consequence of his losino- the capitation
tax on slaves introduced into Zanzibar. b ^P^ation
n 'T wo . u1 j ' however, be in a great measure made up to him, if he were not com
pelled to pay the subsidy of 40,000 Dollars annually to the Sultan of Muscat; and considering
the conduct and character of that Chief, Lord Stanley is of opinion that Her Mai est v^s
Government would be perfectly justified in declining to use their influence to compd Sultan
.lajid to continue the payment of this subsidy, and more especially as the Sultan of Muscat
has not kept his treaty engagements with us for the suppression of the slave trade his own
essels having been captured by British cruisers engaged in the traffic of slaves." '
tary of StateMwote— ^ 0f ^ 0ffice c —the Secre-
penods taken place between the Foreiffn Office and the India OffiT tl! has at different
discussion has recently been renewed »n I U 11 f ffice 0n the sttb J cct - T he
desirable that the matter should be placed permanently"™ "suX rLth.o. ; ^ tban ? Ver
most advantageously to the public interests whikt romn ; i tootin g as may conduce
ineonsistencic^whii ma.v, to^rarLtCrel 11 , ZTZtZ ^
of this object, I am an.ious to obtain from you an expression of Your SkncJ's opinion "
is al J He? Majesty's Cotufehat "andTn Uat cl 311 f T 0f the GOT "nment (
instructions from, the Secretary of State 'for Foreign Affairs, 7 ' corrra P onds Wlth > and receives
sularTommfsfi™' tm" Her' MaLiy'" H^corL','.^ **> Md. a con-
P"mbay Government, from whom he receives his instructions ' & H ™' d .. who ' l y Wlth t' 1 ®
tiou »ith the Foreign Office. instructions. He has no direct communica-
40