§ MR. J. A. PEASE (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state for what period British war vessels have been withdrawn from Zanzibar waters during the past six months; and whether, seeing that the absence of such vessels may tend to encourage the slave traffic, orders will be given for such vessels to be stationed there for the future.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)In consequence of war requirements at the Cape, there has been no ship stationed at Zanzibar since 1st of September, 1899. It is possible the absence of war vessels from Zanzibar waters, if long continued, might tend to some recrudescence of slave traffic, but the Admiralty have received no information as to this being the case up to the present time. The Admiral has received instructions to arrange for a ship being in Zanzibar waters during the continuance of the south-west monsoon, from May to August, which is the period most favourable for slave traffic.