§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it is true that it has been arranged that British vessels are to undertake the blockade of a part of the German Coast of Zanzibar, said to be from Mainea Island south to the Rovuma River; if so, whether, in addition to stopping the Slave Trade, the ships are to stop the import of arms; and whether the blockade is to extend to any other merchandize; whether there is now a British Consul in the Nyassa region west of the blockaded coast, or whether he is withdrawn; and, whether the African Lakes Company, who are now carrying on a war in those regions, and missionaries accompanying them, have been withdrawn or warned that they continue at their own risk, and must not expect to be supported by a British Expedition to the interior of Africa?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)As to paragraph I, the details of the blockade have been left to the discretion of the Admirals, and we have not heard that they have been finally settled. The objects have been clearly stated in the Papers before Parliament. There is a Consul at the south end of Lake Nyassa. His district lies to the south of the Zanzibar Coast, and to the westward of the Portuguese Colony of Mozambique. The Consul is at present absent on leave. The African Lakes Company are perfectly aware that they can expect no material support from Her Majesty's Government in conflicts with the Arabs or Native Tribes. It is not known that any missionaries have accompanied the Company's forces.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked whether it was the case that arms had been stopped by the Portuguese on their way up the river?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he was aware of that; but permission had now been given for the passage of certain arms.
§ MR. MUNRO FERGUSON (Leith, &c.)also asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What is the exact nature of the participation of the French Government in the proposed 1235 blockade of the Zanzibar Coast, and the meaning of the following sentence in the Marquess of Salisbury's despatch to Sir Edward Malet of November 8:—
The French Government, though unwilling to grant the right of search on all occasions and in all cases, has consented that it should be looked upon as one of the incidents of a blockade;and, when the Papers relating to the co-operation of the French Government will be laid upon the Table?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The French Government are not participating in the blockade of the Zanzibar Coast, but have sent a man-of-war specially to observe and check any abuses of the French flag by slavers. The right of search has been recognized by the French as a necessary incident of a blockade; but the terms and limits of that recognition are still a matter of discussion between the English, French, and German Governments. Slaves discovered on dhows, whatever flag may be flying, will, of course, be liberated. It is not desirable to lay any Correspondence at present.