§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of 1531 State for Foreign Affairs what are the portions of the German sphere of influence in Africa, referred to in Article VIII. of the Anglo-German Agreement, within which the German Government engages under that Article to apply the Free Trade provisions of the Berlin Act of 1885?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.The whole of the German sphere in East Africa, with the exception of the strip of territory on the coast, 10 miles deep, now belonging to Zanzibar.
§ MR. BUCHANANI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Great Britain is to assume the Protectorate over Zanzibar under the Anglo-German Agreement; and whether he will promise that when that Protectorate is assumed, slavery shall cease to be legal within the limits of the British Protectorate?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONNo date is fixed for the assumption of the Protectorate. As regards the second paragraph, it would be unjust and impolitic to demand the confiscation of domestic slaves in a Mohammedan country as soon as it is placed under British protection; but it will be our duty to guard by all means in our power against abuses, and provide for the effectual working of the Act of Brussels, which will ensure its gradual extinction.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government propose to take, in assuming the Protectorate of Zanzibar, to bring gradually to an end the system of domestic slavery prevailing in the country?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThe matter is occupying the attentive consideration of the Sultan and the Consul General.
§ MR. MUNRO FERGUSON (Leith,&c)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that under Article VIII. of the Anglo-German Agreement, the two Powers engaged to apply the Berlin Act in all the portions of their respective spheres where the first five Articles are applicable "at the date of the present Agreement"; whether it was intended by these words to contract the two Governments, being signatories 1532 of the Berlin Act, out of that Act as regards territories which might come into possession or under the influence of either Power after the date of the signing of the Anglo-German Agreement; and whether under this arrangement the German Government can allow German goods to enter the mainland portion of the Zanzibar Sultanate duty free should the coast line be ceded by the Sultan, while maintaining duties which will then be differential against British trade?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThat was certainly not the intention. Great Britain and Germany have neither the wish nor the power to contract themselves out of any of the obligations of the Berlin Act. No such arrangement as that referred to in the last paragraph is practicable, as has been fully explained in other answers.
§ MR. BRYCEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by Article VIII. of the Anglo-German Agreement regarding freedom of trade in East Africa, permission is given to the German Government, if and when it obtains that part of the present Zanzibar Sultanate which is situate on the mainland, to establish a protective tariff there; and whether this permission will in fact have the effect of evading and cancelling the provisions of the Berlin Act of 1885, under which Great Britain and Germany bound themselves, not only to apply the Free Trade system themselves, but to use their best endeavours to have it applied in the dominions of Native Sovereigns also?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONNo such permission is given by the Article. Either the Treaty with Zanzibar must be maintained, or the coast must be brought under the Free Trade provision of the Act of Berlin. In either case British trade is fully protected against excessive or differential treatment. The 4th Article of the Zanzibar Treaty, which provides for perfect freedom of commerce and navigation between the contracting parties, contains this provision:—
The Sultan of Zanzibar binds himself not to allow or recognise the establishment of any kind of monopoly or exclusive privilege of trade within his dominions to any Government, Association, or individual.
§ MR. BRYCEIs it not the case that under Article VIII. of the Agreement 1533 it will be in the power of Germany, when she acquires a narrow strip of territory on the mainland, to establish a protective tariff?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONOnly within the limit settled by the Zanzibar Treaty or the Act of Brussels—that is, 5 per cent. in the one case, and 10 per cent. in the other.
§ MR. BRYCEWill not that permission have the effect of cancelling the provisions of the Berlin Act of 1885?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThe hon. Member will, I think, perceive that that is superseded by the Act of Brussels.
§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)Have Turkey and Holland yet given in their adhesion to the Brussels Act?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONTurkey has adhered. Holland has not yet given her adhesion.
§ In answer to a question from Mr. O'KELLY (Roscommon) as to the adhesion of the United States,
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONsaid: If I remember rightly, the United States took an exceptional position at the Conference.
§ MR. MUNRO FERGUSONMay I ask whether, in the event of the mainland portion of the Sultanate of Zanzibar being ceded to Germany, the statement that "trade is protected from any differential treatment there" signifies that no heavier Customs Duties will be levied upon British than upon German goods?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThat is certainly the interpretation.