‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎122r] (83/114)

Majid-
t is given in the margin, we
at some length, and we see no
:pressed. The fact of Indian
> us to be a sufficient reason for
Live trade is carried on by our
ment is found sufficient for all
as received, the Govern-
)ut the suggestions of the
the mission at Zanzibar
Zanzibar Consulate.—
aken place between the
Lords Commissioners of
5 Consulate at Zanzibar,
t of India. Of that corre-
gn Office appear, in sub-
ican slave trade, to have
t of the slave squadron,
tes, and also the assump-
if the cost of the Political
muld not consent to any
their reply concluded—
f the absolute extinction of the
> expend a greater amount than
pearance of lending at least a
ance of the present expenditure
objection was founded on
located by the committee,
tion of all conveyance of
iy which less than five per
viously inadequate. The
icir decision, and, with re-
said—
3 slave trade, which is a sub-
jendence in slave-trade matters,
^ orders at considerable detri-
i action of the two departments
;ncy of slave-trade matters at
) state that the Government of
he altered relations of Zanzibar
all expenditure on account of
they would consent to would be
le slave trade should be borne
lc Lords of the Treasury,
than that previously an-
ic Secretary of State for
»dtb regard to the refusal
accede to this proposed arrange-
ed to regard the question ol the
Events in Zanzibar from the death of Syed Majid-
cost of the Zanzibar establishment from a new point of view, and to state distinctly his opinion
on the subject.
" The proceedings of the special committee sitting at the Foreign Office, the report of
which was laid before the Parliament on the 2ith January 1870, clearly show the importance
which the Imperial Government attached to the suppression of the East African slave trade.
This, as observed by the Slave Committee Trade, is not an Indian, but an Imperial, question.
The Government of India have, indeed, on more than one occasion protested against the justice
of any part of the expenses attending the suppression of the East African slave trade being charged
against the revenues of India. In the opinion thus expressed, the Duke of Argyll concurs.
It is only in consideration of the fact that there is an extensive trade between some parts of
India and Zanzibar that the Secretary of State for India in Council can sanction any expendi
ture at all on the maintainence of an establishment in this outlying territory. He desires,
therefore, that you will state, for the information of Earl Granville, with a view to its com
munication to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that His Grace will take immediate
steps, through the Government of India, to place the Zanzibar Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. on an entirely new
footing with reference to the requirements of Indian interests and commerce."
The Foreign Office then transmitted a copy of the Duke of Argyll's letter
to the Lords of the Treasury and remarked—
" As this change will involve the loss of all control over, and probably the entire neglect
of, all slave trade questions at Zanzibar, Lord Granville must again express his great regret
at the decision which has provoked this resolution on the part of the Government of India,
and his strong hope that it may yet be rescinded.
The Lords of the Treasury replied that-
in thinking that the policy suggested in their
the imperial expenditure already incurred
on
" they cannot agree with His Lordship
correspondence warrants any addition to
account of it."
Upon which the Foreign Office asked the India Office—
" whether, in saying that the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. is to be placed on an entirely new footing with
reference to the requirements of Indian interests and commerce, the Secretary of State for
India means that the Agent is no longer to interfere in matters of imperial interest, such
as the slave trade and traffic in slaves, and that he is to cease, as hitherto, to be under the
control of this department in regard to such questions/'
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. replied—
" The Governor General of India in Council has, on more than one occasion, in the
interests of the great dependency under his charge, protested against any appropriation of the
revenues of India to such imperial objects as the suppression of the slave trade, and has
even suggested the withdrawal of the Agent altogether, as an officer whose services are but
little, if at all, required for purposes of a purely Indian character. Lord Granville is aware
that 'in this opinion the Duke of Argyll has not concurred; but he considers it to be his
duty to limit the employment of the Agent, and the expenditure of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , to such
objects as may tend directly to the promotion of the interests of India; and in this view it
would be requisite that all instructions furnished to the officer selected by the Government of
Bombay, or the Government of India, should emanate from these authorities, and that the
ultimate controlling authority must be vested solely in the Secretary of State for India.
The last mentioned letter was dated the 22nd June, and on the ^8th of
the following month the Secretary of State addressed the Indian Government
as follows:
" The whole question of the relations of the British Government with Zanzibar is at the
present time under the consideration of a Select Committee of the House of Commons and that
it is desirable, therefore, that only such action maybe taken pending the receipt of further
instructions, as may be necessary to prevent inconvenience and embarassment in the conduct
of the current business of the mission. It is not desired that the views which I have express
ed respiting the relations of the Foreign and Indian departments of Her Majesty s Gov
ernment with the Zanzibar slave trade should be acted upon precip lt ate y, or that anything
should be done, pending the enquiry to which I have referred, to obstruct the elforts now
being made for the suppression of the illegal traffic. ^