'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [‎33v] (18/32)

18
“ It is certain, therefore, that anything which
“ can be done by Her Majesty’s Government to
“ meet the views of the Italian Government on the
" present occasion will be highly appreciated, not
“ only by the Government, hut by the commercial,
<e scientific, and general public.”
On the 18th June, Signor Mancini, the Italian
Minister of Foreign Affairs, in answer to a question
respecting the reported intention of France to
acquire a port on the east coast of Africa, ex
plained that the rumour probably had reference
to the French possession of Obokh, which was out
side the Fed Sea, and in no way menaced the esta
blishment at Assah, in regard to which France had
never shown jealousy, but, on the contrary, had
manifested sympathy.*
The further overtures, foreshadowed by Baron
Blanc in his conversation with Sir A. Paget, were
very soon received.
On the 7th July,f the Foreign Office forwarded
to this Office two memoranda communicated to
Lord Granville by the Italian Ambassador on the
29th June.
The first of these papers, after formally reserving,
on both sides, all question with respect to rights
of sovereignty at Assab, and renewing previous
declarations as to the exclusively commercial cha
racter of the establishment there, suggested the
desirability of establishing a modus vivendi between
the Resident at Aden and the Italian official, de
scribed as the “ Royal Italian Commissioner ” at
Assab, and proposed that, with this object, a draft
of arrangement should be prepared by Her Majesty’s
Government, —
1. To authorize the officials above mentioned to
correspond directly on all matters of local
interest.
2. To authorize the Resident at Aden to accredit
a British Agent to the Italian official.
3. To authorize the two officials to co-operate
for the suppression of the slave trade; for
the carrying out of commercial treaties or
regulations ; and in all matters of general
and humanitarian interest.
The second memorandum stated that, with a view
of suppressing the traffic in slaves, which the
Italian Government learned from Assab was car
ried on in that neighbourhood, and particularly at
Beilul, they had instructed M. Bianchi, who in
this second paper was described as “ Italian Civil
“ Commissioner” at Assab, to put a stop to this traffic
within the limits of his powers, and had authorized
him to place himself in correspondence with the
Resident at Aden, if necessary, in order to keep
that officer informed on the subject. The memo
randum further stated that it was intended to
despatch an Italian ship to Assab to watch the
vessels carrying on the slave trade.
In requesting Lord Hartington’s views on the
proposals made by the Italian Government, it was
* Sir A. Paget to Lord Granville ; No. 256
dated 19tb June 1881.
t Home ; No. 478.