§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in 1862 an agreement was entered into between this Country and France, by which both countries undertook to respect the independence of Zanzibar; whether in 1885 Germany adhered to that agreement; whether the agreement now entered into between this Country and 694 Germany, by which this Country assumes a Protectorate over Zanzibar, is dependent upon France agreeing to release this Country from the obligation into which she entered in 1862, to respect the independence of Zanzibar; whether the Protectorate involves us in the obligation to defend Zanzibar if attacked by any other Country; whether, by the 23rd Article of the Berlin Conference, any of the signatories to that Act, desiring to establish a Protectorate over any part of the African Continent, must give notice of the intention to the other signatories; and whether this notice has been given in regard to Zanzibar, and to other portions of the African Continent, over which this Country has assumed a Protectorate?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONMy answer to the first question is, Yes. As to the second question, Germany adhered to the agreement in 1886. With regard to the third and fourth questions, communications are going on between the two Governments with reference to the Convention of 1862, and I cannot, therefore, say anything with respect to it at present. The 23rd Article of the General Act of the Conference at Berlin (of February 26, 1885) relates to loans. The 34th Article says that any power which henceforth takes possession of a tract of land on the coasts of the African Continent, or assumes a protectorate there, shall notify the same to the other signatory Powers. This engagement only applies to the African, coasts, and not to the African Continent generally. This country has not yet assumed a protectorate over the island of Zanzibar.