لسا
'། ༣། ཟ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
CO.
Reference :-
1
885
12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
MY LORD,
No. 211a.
(CYPRUS.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Sir Julian
Temple, November 17, 1879. Pauncefote's letter of the 13th ultimo, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us despatches from Her Majesty's High Commissioner in Cyprus, respecting the alleged existence of domestic servitude in that Island. That from those despatches it appeared that it was the practice of the Courts of Justice, when any person alleged to be a slave applied to them, to decree his freedom, and this as of course and without condition; but that it was not clear on what legal basis that practice rested; and it further appeared that a Vizirial Circular order addressed to the Governor of Cyprus, which might be taken as having the force of law in Turkey, and which prohibited slavery, could not now be found, either in original or in copy.
That under those circumstances your Lordship, in a despatch which was also enclosed, suggested to the High Commissioner that it would be well to remove all doubt as to the illegality of slavery by passing an Ordinance on the subject.
That General Biddulph accordingly submitted a draft of an Ordinance for that purpose, which would be found in the accompanying despatch, but which appeared to your Lordship to be open to objection. That another draft Ordinance had therefore been prepared by your Lordship's directions, which was therewith transmitted to us, and that Sir Julian Pauncefote was to request that we would favour your Lordship at our earliest convenience with our opinion as to whether it would meet the circumstances of the case, and whether it was such that it could properly be laid before the Legislative Council in Cyprus.
That Sir Julian Pauncefote was to point out that the first section of the draft in question was taken from the Act of the United States' Congress abolishing slavery in the district of Columbia, which would be found at p. 376 of the accompanying volume, and that the remaining sections were from the Indian Act respecting slavery, No. 5 of the 7th April 1843, copy of which was enclosed.
That the first section of the latter Act had been omitted, as being unsuitable. In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have the honour to
Report
That we beg to suggest the substitution, for clause 4 of the draft Ordinance, the following
"No one shall be excused from the consequences of doing any act amounting to a penal offence, on the ground that the person to, upon, or against whom the Act was done was, or was believed to be, in a state of slavery."
Subject to this alteration we are of opinion that the draft Ordinance will meet the circumstances of the case, and may properly be laid before the Legislative Council in Cyprus.
We have, &c.,
(Signed)
JOHN HOLKER. HARDINGE S. GIFFARD. J. PARKER DEANE.
!
The Right Hon. the Marquis of Salisbury.
▲ 20491.-19. 25.-6/84.