§ SIR LEWIS PELLY (Hackney, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, referring to the telegrams from Zanzibar appearing in the Times of Saturday 26th July, which state that the Arabs at Zanzibar, under the influence of intriguing advisers, are becoming much alarmed as to the effect of the forthcoming British Protectorate on their slaves, is there any intention that the private property of Arabs in domestic slaves should be confiscated on the Sultanate passing under the protection of this country?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Government have received no confirmation of the reported agitation among the Arabs. There is no intention of confiscating domestic slaves, but every effort will be made to insure the carrying 1361 out of the provisions of the Act of Brussels, and the prevention of abuses.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)Are we to understand that when a country is put under the British flag, slavery is to be retained?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONThere is no idea of putting the dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar under the British flag.
§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)May I ask whether it has not been stated that the Protectorate of Zanzibar is to be established in a concrete fashion; and, if so, is slavery to be upheld?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI only said it is not intended to assume the Protectorate in so complete, not concrete, a fashion as to exclude the commerce of other Powers. I think it will be found that the measures to be taken on the coast will largely result in the suppression of slavery.