Lords Sitting of 12 May 1873

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Matrimonial Causes Acts Amendment* (105); Customs and Inland Revenue* (106).
Second Reading—Gas and Water Provisional Orders* (87).

NEW PEER.
James Charles Herbert Welbore Ellis, Earl of Normanton in that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Ireland, having been created Baron Somerton of Somerley in the county of Southampton—Was (in the usual manner) introduced.
ZANZIBAR—SIR BARTLE FRERE'S MISSION.

  MOTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE.
  LORD CAMPBELLsaid, that in moving for the Papers which related to Sir Bartle Frere's Mission to Zanzibar, it was not his intention to detain the House by argument, but he should briefly recall the circumstances which preceded it. Having done so, he pointed out the leading object of the Mission—namely, to enlarge the Treaty of 1845 with the Sultan of Zanzibar for the suppression of the slave trade. There were limits in that Treaty which, according to every African authority, should be considerably narrowed, or entirely removed, with a view to its successful operation. It appeared by a version which was public, and had not been contradicted, that Sir Bartle Frere and Mr. Badger had wholly failed to bend the Sultan to their object. The cause of the failure he (Lord Campbell) was inclined to think had been indicated years ago by Brigadier Coglan, who did much to bring about the separation of Muscat and Zanzibar. The Brigadier had pointed out, in a letter accessible to every one, that the dominion of Zanzibar and the territory of Portugal were
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  conterminous; that the first was a Mahometan, the second a Christian Power; that while the slave trade was permitted or connived at from the latter, it could not with much effect be restrained or made an object of remonstrance from the former. It was well known in that House our policy against the slave trade along the Portuguese sea-board had been entirely thrown into abeyance. It appeared also that French co-operation had been wanting to Sir Bartle Frere. By a Treaty of 1862 Zanzibar was an independent Power, under the joint protection of Great Britain and of France, and the Sultan was thus entitled to refer to France when any new demand was made upon him. Lord Campbell pointed to the fact that the annual Reports upon the slave trade had last year been withheld until the Long Vacation, and expressed a fear that the Papers he was moving for might be the object of a similar delay.
  Moved that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for, Copies of the correspondence between the British and French Governments on the Mission of Sir Bartle Frere to Zanzibar; of the Instructions given to Sir Bartle Frere; and of his subsequent despatches.—(The Lord Stratheden.)
  EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, with good judgment the noble Lord has very briefly alluded to the subject of his Motion—because I think it will be more convenient to the House to discuss this question when all the Papers are before it. I need not remind your Lordships that Sir Bartle Frere left this country last year on a Mission for which Her Majesty's Government are extremely grateful to him—a Mission to obtain information for the Government, and to make arrangements which would enable them, to deal more effectually with the slave trade on the East Coast of Africa. Sir Bartle Frere has now completed his Mission. He has obtained most valuable information as regards the state of the slave trade in those countries, and has also given us the means of forming a better judgment as to the mode of dealing with it. He has been exceedingly successful in renewing our treaties with the principal chiefs of the countries on the Persian Gulf, and he has concluded treaties with the Imaum of Muscat and another influential prince. But I am sorry to say that at Zanzibar his negotiations failed. In consequence of that failure, Her

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  Majesty's Government sent out certain instructions by the last mail, and further instructions will follow. As soon as those instructions are completed we shall lose no time in laying the Papers before the House, and then your Lordships will be able to discuss this large and difficult matter more fully than you could do at present. In asking the noble Lord to withdraw his Motion, I pledge myself that at no distant period all the Papers will be laid upon the Table by command of Her Majesty.
  LORD CAMPBELLconfessed that he felt embarrassed as to what course to pursue. He wished seine noble Lord of experience in the House had risen after the noble Earl, and given him some indication of opinion whether, under the circumstances, it would be wiser to withdraw his Motion.
  THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTERearnestly begged the noble Lord to accede to the request of the noble Earl not to press his Motion. As a person who took a very deep interest in the subject, he (the Bishop of Winchester) considered that it would be altogether unreasonable, and most injurious to the cause concerned, to press the Government on the subject at the moment when they wore doing their best in furtherance of the common object. He was satisfied that the production of these Papers at present would do more harm than good.
  LORD CAMPBELLsaid, he would not, under these circumstances, press his Motion.
  Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
  House adjourned at half-past Five o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.