'Correspondence relating to the appointment of Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere's mission to Zanzibar, Nov 1872' [‎2r] (3/6)

ou will be at liberty to select an efficient staff to accompany you and to o'ive you
such assistance as you may require. ^ J
The Government of India will also be requested to place at your disposal any officer
of Her Majesty’s Indian Service whom you may find likely to be useful as an interpreter,
or in any other capacity in which his Excellency the Viceroy may consider that he would
be serviceable.
All your expenses in the performance of this duty will be paid bv Her Majesty’s
Government.
I am, &c.
(Signed) GRANVILLE.
No. 3.
Earl Granville to Sir Bartle Erere.
(No. 2.)
Sir, Foreign Office. November 9, 1872.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 1 of this day’s date, containing instructions
for your guidance on your contemplated Mission to the Sultans of Zanzibar and
Muscat, I now inclose the draft of a Treaty which you will propose to the two Sultans,
having for its object the more effectual suppression of the traffic in slaves on the East
Coast of Africa.
I also inclose letters which I have addressed to the Sultans, and which you will
deliver to their Highnesses, together with a correct translation in Arabic, accompanied
by suitable expressions on the part of Her Majesty’s Government.
As regards the Treaty, I have had it prepared, not with the view of binding you to
the exact terms contained in the draft, but as giving you an idea of the objects which it
proposed should be obtained, and of the points in regard to which the Sultans should be
invited to contract engagements.
It is obvious that, in addition to the Treaty engagements to be submitted to
the Rulers of Zanzibar and Muscat, there are other subsidiary measures which will occupy
your attention, and which doubtless would assist materially in the suppression of the East
African Slave Traffic.
We already have Treaty engagements with nearly every Arab Chief of importance in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and on the coasts of Arabia, binding them to use their best endeavours
to prevent the traffic in slaves by the people owning their sway; but it is to be feared
that these Treaties have been allowed to become dead letters, and that in some instances
at least they are ignored by the Chiefs and their people. I cannot doubt that, if all these
Chiefs were specially reminded of their Treaty engagements, and warned that, for the
future, they with their people would be held responsible amd severely punished for
infractions of these engagements, such a warning would be attended with satisfactory
results. At any rate, they would not be enabled to allege ignorance in extenuation
of their conduct, should they be in future found violating their engagements.
Printed notices in Arabic, warning the people of the consequences they will bring
upon themselves by engaging in Slave Traffic, might also with advantage be distributed
amongst the Chiefs and people on the coasts of Arabia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. : 'and it is
probable that means might also be found of making the purport of similar notices known
in the interior of Africa, on the routes by which slaves are usually brought to the coast,
which might have the effect of deterring the slave-dealers from bringing the slaves to the
coast, when they know that the markets are closed against them.
One of the points to which I would wish to draw your special attention is the
question as to the custody and ultimate disposal of captured slaves, and the probable
expense of any arrangements that may be necessary for this purpose. I should be glad
to receive a Report from you on this subject.
Another very important matter is the question as to the strength of the naval
force and the arrangements that may be necessary for giving effect to the stipulations
of the Treaties which you may be enabled to conclude with the Rulers of Zanzibar and
Muscat.
The question of the employment of Consular or Secret Agents on the African Coast,
and whether they should be Europeans or natives, is one which you will doubtless also
consider and report upon.
I will only, in conclusion, add that, knowing the great interest you take in the
suppression of the East African Slave Trade, Her Majesty’s Government have entire
eontidence that you will carry out your present mission with the same zeal and ability