HC Deb 12 April 1904 vol 133 c8
MR. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Commissioner in Pemba has ruled in the Court that all property acquired by a slave by purchase out of his own money or by gift, belongs to the slave's master; and, if so, whether, in view of Article 2 of the decree dated 1st Zilkada 1314, which states that from that date the district Court shall decline to enforce any alleged rights over the body, service, or property of any person on the ground that such person is a slave, he will say what action he proposes to take in the matter.

(Answered by Earl Percy.) His Majesty's Government have no Commissioner in Pemba. The officer referred to is probably the Commissioner for Pemba appointed by the Zanzibar Government. No official information has reached us of the ruling referred to in the Question, but an inquiry will be addressed to His Majesty' Agent and Consul-General at Zanzibar.