No. 167.
Mr. Fish to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Washington, March 29, 1872.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive, and have laid before the President, your interesting note of the 6th instant, in regard to the slave-trade on the east coast of Africa. In reply, I am directed to state that he entirely concurs in the views expressed in that communication as to the inhumanity of that traffic and as to the desirableness that it should be put an end to. It is questionable, however, whether or how far it may be competent or expedient for this Government, in the absence of an indication of a specific plan for that purpose, to co-operate with that of Her Majesty’s, even for so praiseworthy a purpose. The United States have a treaty with the Imaum of Muscat, whose dominions are understood to include the island of Zanzibar. They, however, have not and never had any regular diplomatic representative in that quarter, and may not deem it advisable to send one thither for the special purpose which is the subject of your note. No objection, however, is entertained to directing, as will be done, the consul of the United States at Zanzibar to intimate to the sovereign of that country that we would be glad to see that provision of the treaty between him and Great Britain terminated which reserved the right of transportation by sea between certain limits of his own territory of domestic slaves, as there is reason [Page 211] to believe that the right reserved under that treaty is a principal cause of the evil complained of, and that also it has been abused. This Government will also direct the commander of the first United States man-of-war which may visit Zanzibar to convey a similar intimation to the authorities.
That part of your note which relates to the fostering of trade with the eastern coast of Africa does not seem to be as definite as may be desirable for forming or expressing an opinion as to the expediency of co-operation on the part of this Government. It is true that industrious countries engaged in foreign commerce may be said to have a common interest in such a condition of affairs, especially in rich and populous regions abroad, as may lead to an increased demand for their own productions, and to the cheapening of those which are desirable in the places with which they may traffic. As a rule, however, it is the policy of the United States to leave such matters to private enterprise only, and it is not seen why Congress might be disposed to deviate from that rule in the case of Eastern Africa.
I have, &c,