§ MR. J. A. PEASE (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have yet been taken to secure the abolition of slavery, or the legal status of slavery, on the mainland in the Zanzibar Protectorate; whether there is any intention to grant to concubines in the Islands of Zanzibar and Pemba the power to obtain their freedom; whether he can state how many slaves have, up to any recent date, been given their freedom in the two islands respectively, under the decree of 6th April, 1897; whether papers of freedom are given in each case; whether wages are paid to the freed slaves by their Arab masters; and when further Papers relating to the Protectorate will be laid upon the Table of the House?
MR. CURZONThe answer to the honourable Member's Questions will be found in Papers which are now being prepared, relating to the operation of the Abolition Decree during the past year, and which I hope will very shortly be in the possession of honourable Members.
§ MR. J. A. PEASECan the right honourable Gentleman say when we may expect them?
MR. CURZONI cannot fix the precise date; they are being printed, and I hope will be ready in the course of the next week or two.