Mr. Sherman to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, April 9, 1897.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 6th instant, transmitting to me a copy of a draft ordinance for restricting the importation of alcoholic liquors for the use of the native population in Zanzibar, which has been prepared in communication with the German Government. In communicating the proposed measure to this Government you express, on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, the hope that you may receive early information on the acquiescence of the United States in its terms.
The subject of the stringent regulation of injurious liquor traffic with the natives of Africa received earnest attention on the part of this Government at the time of the Brussels conference, and strongly expressive measures were then advocated by the representatives of the United States. It therefore gives me pleasure to view, in the communication now made to me, a further application of the beneficent principle for which this Government has contended.
I have, etc.,