No. 301.
Mr. Moran
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
London, March 31, 1874.
(Received April 20.)
No. 473.]
Sir: With reference to your No. 524 to General
Schenck, and to your No. 452, I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of
a note which I addressed to Lord Derby on the 17th instant, in regard to the
slave-trade which it is alleged has been, until recently at least, carried
on between Tripoli and Constantinople via Malta, and of his reply dated the
26th instant.
It will be observed that his lordship has promptly communicated with the
secretary of state for the colonies on the subject of this traffic with a
view to the institution at an early day of searching inquiries into the
matter at Malta, and that he promises so soon as the result of that
investigation is known to communicate further with this legation about the
alleged indifference of the authorities at that place in regard to this
trade.
Lord Derby says that I have called his attention to the alleged neglect of
the authorities at Malta to check the conveyance of slaves on board British
vessels from Tripoli to Constantinople; but this is an error which I shall
correct when I receive his lordship’s further communication on the subject.
The depositions which I sent to him describe the steamers as Ottoman
vessels., and my letter makes no reference to their nationality.
I contented myself by directing notice to the sanction which the trade had
received at Malta, and did not touch upon the character of the ships engaged
in it.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in Xo. 473.]
Mr. Moran to Earl
Derby.
Legation of the United States,
London, March 17,
1874.
My Lord: Referring to the brief conversation
which I had with your lordship at the foreign office on the 24th ultimo,
I have now the honor to send herewith for your information copies of a
couple of depositions made by servants of the consul of the [Page 502] United States at Tripoli in
regard to the sanction which, it would appear, has recently been given
to the slave-trade between Tripoli and Turkey by the police authorities
at Malta, and I add a copy of a letter to Mr. Tidal-from Sahmi Pasha,
dated the 21st of October last, showing that the Turkish government have
lately taken energetic steps to suppress this traffic.
In July, 1873, General Schenck brought to Lord Granville’s notice,
unofficially, the existence at that time of a slave-trade carried on
between Tripoli and the Levant ports in Egypt and Turkey via Malta; and
his lordship expressed the desire of Her Majesty’s government to put an
end to such traffic, saying that they were glad to know of any supposed
evasions of British law, or any lack of vigilance at Malta that might
interfere with any discovery or suppression of the practice on the part
of illicit traders.
The depositions herewith would seem to establish the fact that the
British authorities at the place named have not been as zealous in
checking this traffic as the policy of Her Majesty’s government in
regard to the slave-trade would seem to require, and hence my Government
has deemed it advisable to instruct me to bring the facts contained in
the depositions in question to your, lordship’s notice in order that the
necessary measures may be adopted toward causing that policy to be duly
respected at Malta.
Mr. Vidal, the consul of the United States at Tripoli, reported to the
Department of State as late as the 6th of November last, that, wishing
to ascertain how the pasha’s orders were respected, he had sent Lueschi,
his janissary, to Malta on the 2d of that month, on board a steamer
called the Vilaiet; but there were no slaves on board during that trip.
Still, as the traffic may be resumed, I have been directed to bring the
subject to your lordship’s attention, in order that the policy of Her
Majesty’s government may be observed at Malta.
And I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 473.]
The Earl of Derby to Mr.
Moran.
Foreign
Office, March 26,
1874.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 17th instant, calling attention to the
alleged neglect of the authorities at Malta to check the conveyance of
slaves on board British vessels from Tripoli to Constantinople.
I have not failed to communicate the contents of your note to the
secretary of state for the colonies, with a view to searching inquiries
into the matter being instituted at Malta; and as soon as the result of
these inquiries is known I shall have the honor of addressing a further
communication to you on the subject.
I have the honor, &c.,
