§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as stated in the public journals, that the President of the French Republic has made his award as to the boundary between the British and Portuguese dominions in East Africa, and that the same is adverse to the claims of this Country; when the Papers will be laid upon the Table of the House; and, whether the Government will make available the visit of the Sultan of Zanzibar to make further arrangements for the protection of British interests within his dominions with a view to the development of legitimate commerce, and thereby, and also by such other means as have been devised or may be found requisite, more effectually checking and suppressing within his dominions the traffic in slaves?
§ MR. BOURKESir, we have no official knowledge of the result of the arbitration under a reference made on the 10th of September, 1873, as to the British and Portuguese boundaries in East Africa; but from communications which have reached the Foreign Office I have little doubt that the fact is that the President of the French Republic has made his award as to the boundary between the British and Portuguese dominions in East Africa, and that the same is adverse to the claims of this country. When the official award reaches us we shall be prepared to lay Papers on the Table. As to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I would remind him that the Seyyid of Zanzibar is in this country as a guest of the British Government, and that the present is not therefore a time to press upon him claims or requests which he might consider inopportune; but I have no doubt that before he leaves our shores communications will pass between His Highness and Her Majesty's Government on the subject of the protection of British interests within his dominions and the checking and suppressing of the traffic in slaves, and Her Majesty's Government entertain no doubt of the sincere desire of His Highness to meet their wishes in both respects.