HC Deb 29 January 1878 vol 237 c623
MR. ANDERSON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he has taken any steps to learn whether the Despatch, sent through Her Majesty's Consul at Zanzibar to inform Mr. Stanley (with reference to his account of a massacre of natives at Bam-birch) that he was not authorized to carry the British Flag, ever reached Mr. Stanley; and, if so, what was the reply; if not, will he now take steps to ascertain?

MR. BOURKE

Sir, the despatch to Mr. Stanley referred to was sent through Her Majesty's Consul General at Zanzibar, who reported, on receiving instructions to forward the letter to Mr. Stanley, that as his movements were not published at Zanzibar, and were only known to the American Consul, he had forwarded the letter through him. We have received no official communication which would show whether the letter in question ever reached Mr. Stanley or not; but we know from an unofficial source of undoubted credibility that it never did reach his hands, consequently there could be no reply thereto.