سياسي رقم ١٥٣ لسنة ١٨٧٣، تحيل نسخةً لأوراقٍ تتعلق بتصديق سلطان زنجبار على المعاهدة التي تلغي تجارة الرقيق [و‎‎٣‎٠‎٧] (٢٠/١١)

In the 1st Article, as now sent for submission fo His Highness, it is said
that the trade is to stop entirely after a date to be hereafter fixed, whereas
the Treaty I have prevailed upon the Sultan to sign took effect the day on
which it was ratified by him on the 5th of June.
Again, in the 2nd Article of the proposed Treaty, I find the Sultan is only
required to engage that all public markets in his dominions for imported slaves
shall be entirely closed, whereas I have struck out the word 44 Imported” and
obtained the abolition of public sale of slaves of whatever class.
This my second was a point of some moment which would have given a
loophole for evasion of the law.
_ I, therefore, venture to think that in the only two points wherein the Treaty,
as signed by me, differs from the one I now for the first time possess the text of
will much facilitate its practical working, which is at present proving ample for
the objects we desire.
I trust Your Lordship will consider the very responsible position I stood
in on receipt of your telegraphic despatch, as had I not acted on my own
authority, in as far as I thus did, either the blockade would have been pro
claimed, and in force three weeks before the English and authorized version
came to hand, or the admiral and fleet would have been forced to remain
inactive to the great loss of our prestige, and I venture to think the ultimate
loss of the Treaty, as His Highness undoubtedly had the desire, if Erance did
not accept his offer of the Protectorate, to refer the matter to Paris for arbi
tration.
I have every reason to think that, even to the last M. de. Yienne coun
selled delay on the part of His Highness, with the view of getting the final
settlement of the matter withdrawn to Paris, and I know that with this
view His Highness would have made his escape by last mail had I not clearly
given him to understand he would in that case be forcibly detained by my
orders.