No. 171.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Robeson.
Washington, April 6, 1872.
Sir: Since the letter to you from this Department, of the 29th ultimo, relative to the abrogation of the treaty between Great Britain and the Sultan of Zanzibar or Muscat, this Department has been orally informed by Sir Edward Thornton, the British minister here, that it is not the wish of his government to have the whole of that instrument annulled, but only that provision of the treaty by which the right to transport domestic slaves, by sea, within certain limits of their own territory, was reserved. I will consequently thank you to modify accordingly any orders which have been or may be given by the Navy Department upon the subject.
I have, &c,