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REPORT:  SLAVE  TRADE  EAST  COAST  OF  AFRICA

vity  in  conducting  the  greater  part  of  the  work  of  the  department  for  some  years,
they  would  recommend  that  no  technical  rules  of  the  service  be  allowed  to
interfere  with  his  appointment  as  Political  Agent  at  Zanzibar.
In  view  of  the  considerable  commercial  interests  which  Germany,  France,
America,  and  Portugal  possess  in  commerce  with  Zanzibar  and  the  surroundings,
your  Committee  suggest  that  Her  Majesty’s  Government  invite  the  co-operation
of  these  several  Governments  in  the  suppression  of  a  traffic  so  subversive  of  these
interests.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  such  an  overture  would  be  responded
to,  especially  by  the  Government  at  Berlin  in  virtue  of  the  preponderance  of
German  trade  at  the  port  of  Zanzibar.
It  would  be  also  desirable  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  the  Government
of  Persia,  to  secure,  if  possible,  for  Her  Majesty’s  officers  greater  facilities  of
search  in  vessels  suspected  of  carrying  slaves.

4  August  1871.