Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 832922498

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-79587

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Place of publication:: [London]

Publisher:: [The House of Commons]

Year of publication:: 1871

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XXIV, 242 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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40 MINUTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEEOlîE SELECT COMMITTEE Sir B. T'rei O.C.S.J., K.r E. 1S71. ’e, on tlie sjiot, no doubt he would have made very short work oí his faithless correspondent ; that kind of information accurately giveiu and given with rajiidity to the head quarters of a squad- ron, would, I should think, enable the naval officers to diminish the number of ships em- jdoyed. 492. Do you think that the Persian Govern ment would accede to a seizure by our ships on our own investigation, by their authority, of a laden slaver in their own ports ?—They arc just now rather sore on such subjects, but I have no doubt they would do, in the long run, what is reasonable. 493. At present I think the Indian subsidy to the Royal ísavy is 70,000/. in addition to the transport service ?—Yes. 494. Do you think that they woidd be inclined to increase that amount very considerably for the purpose of suppressing the slave trade, supposing the diplomatic arrangements could be made ?—I think they Avould do whatever was reasonable, and whatever Her Majesty’s Government said, might fairly be expected of India, though, no doubt, they would be unwilling to take any additional expense upon themselves, unless they saw it was part of a general imperial policy. 495. Is it your opinion that the Royal Navy could best perform the service, or a local force, such as the Indian Navy formerly was?—That is a large question, but I have no doubt that the Royal Navy could perform the service very efficiently if the Admiralty v ere a little less strict in the enforcement of some of the rules which they have laid down for themselves. I think, if they allowed us to deal with their officers, and ships, more in the way in which the Horse Guards allow us to deal with their battalions and brigades, the Royal Navy could perform the duty just as efficiently as any other. 496. You would place them under the direc tion of the Governor of Bombay, rather than that of the Admiral on the station?—They should be always under the direction of the Admiral on the station. So far as my experience goes, the Governor of Bombay will never have any diffi culty in getting done whatever is necessary. But I allude rather to that special devotion to that particular service. It is a peculiar service in which the men get more efficient after having been four or five years on the coast ; and under the present system they arc removed just as they are getting to know their business thoroughly. 497. You do contemplate, then, that even with the ships of the Royal Navy, the officers of that particular service should be continued there for a much longer period than the period for which the officers of the Royal Navy continue, for any given service ?—Yes. 498. And that they should become locally qualified for the service ?—Yes, and that ymuld obviate most of the arguments for a local naval force. 499. Ml. J\.enna7vct2i.~^ One of your sugges tions ivas that we should have the rio-ht to'seize slavers within the three-mile limit,ivas it not? Yes. 500. Is it the fact that wo have not the right to seize slavers in Zanzibar and Muscat by the declaration of the Imaum of Muscat, dated 6th May 1850 ?—I do not recollect that ; I was think ing more particularly of the African coast. 501. But in the year 1850 would not Zanzibar have been under the Imaum of Muscat ?—Yes ; I may state that I know, as a matter of practice, that unless a vessel has been without the three mile limit she is rarely captured ; if she is chased on shore then they follow her ; but otherwise they leave alone vessels hugging the land. 502. Then, what further' stTpulations would you suggest should bo added to the treaty with Persia, we having the power to search vessels if we have a Persian officer on board, and having prohibited also the import of slaies?—That is rather an inconvenient restriction, but I would get, if I could, the same facilities from them that we have from any other power; the greatest facilities. 503. T ou would propose additions to that treaty; an amended treaty, in fact? —Cer tainly. I would keep the subject always before the Persian Government, and press it on their attention, until I obtained the utmost facilities I thought possible. 504. Dr. Kirk writes, on the 14th of April : '' I had no reason whatever to think that, on the subject of the sla’vc trade, he had in any wav changed, or was ¡nepared to grant what was asked through Mr. Churchill ;” you think that if w e were willing to relieve him of this subsidy, Ills objections to curtailing the slave trade would be done away with ?—Yes. 505. Would you propose that w e should pav a subsidy to Muscat?—Yes; that we should re lieve Zanzibar from all concern in the pay ment. 506. I hen we should be at the mercy of the Sultan of Zanzibar if he did not carry out the treaty, should we not ?—Hardly. A man in his position, who is really at our mercy the wdiole of the time, is not in a position to say that he had forgotten a treaty in which that was a stipula tion binding on him. 507. But his successors might not consider themselves bound by that treaty ?—I think thev would be as careful to observe any arrano-ement that they had entered into, as we should%c. I do not agree with the view that is taken by manv people, that there is always a disjiosition on their parts to recede from their engagements. 508. In addition to the cx]mnse of the liberated slaves at Aden, is there not a sum paid in boun ties to cruisers ?—Yes. 509. 1\ e pay a considerable sum in bounties, do we not ?—Yes. 510. If the slave trade was diminished, of course wc should save considerably in that respect, should we not ?—Yes. 511. Have you calculated at all w hat would be the whole expense of carrying out your plan ? —No. It w ordd be a matter of very easy calcu lation ; but it would be increasing in one wav and decreasing in another. If your vessels were as effective as they ought to be, I think you would then very speedly reduce the amount expended on your squadron, reduce the amount of the bounty, and the head money, and so on. But on the other hand, I think you ought to be prepared for some increase in the consular services. 512. laking it on the Persian Gulf, would you propose that this should be shared between the Indian and Imperial Governments ?—Yes. 513. In the Persian Gulf, are not the interests rather more Indian than Imperial ?—I think not; and I think that the interests are almost equally shared. It may be a doubt as to which division

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