CO885-(11-13) — Page 373

6428.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO.

885

12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

No. 139.

(SIERRA LEONE.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

MY LORD,

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Malcolm's letter of the 17th inst., stating that he was directed by your Lordship to request our

Temple, 29th May 1877. attention to the following statements with regard to the territory in the neighbour- hood of the Settlement of Sierra Leone.

2. That a very serious depression of trade, and consequent diminution of revenue had, during the last three or four years, prevailed at Sierra Leone; the Settlement had thereby become deeply involved in debt, and that it was urgently necessary that some measures for restoring a more satisfactory state of affairs should be resorted to without delay. Unless that could be effected, it would be necessary to apply to Parliament for a vote of several thousands a year for a long time to come.

3. That the revenue of Sierra Leone, like that of other West African Colonies, was mainly derived from the duties on goods imported. Only a small portion of those imports was consumed within the Settlement, the greater part being taken by the native tribes who inhabit the countries bordering the rivers to the north and south. Until lately those tribes, to effect their sales and purchases, resorted in great numbers to Freetown, the port of Sierra Leone where the merchants and traders had their factories. In 1872, however, an increase was made in the rate of duties levied on spirits and tobacco, and since that time many factories had been established on the neighbouring rivers beyond the limits of the Colony, where goods were imported which otherwise would have come to Freetown, and thus avoid the payment of duties, to the great detriment of the Colonial revenue. Moreover, from the facilities afforded by the abundant and closely connected water communications which exist in those countries, a considerable amount of smuggling into British territory was constantly taking place, and with which it was impossible to cope.

4. That it was alleged by those conversant with the matter, that it was owing to the existence of British establishments at Sierra Leone, and the fear of the British power thus engendered in the minds of the natives, that the merchants were enabled now to carry on their transactions in the rivers beyond the Settlement with safety, a course which it would have been impossible for them to adopt in former times. If that were so, and there appeared to be no reason to doubt the fact, it seemed reasonable that the traders should in some way or other be made to contribute to the cost of those establishments from which they derived so much benefit.

5. That under those circumstances it became desirable to obtain the right and power of collecting duties over the coast line, and in the rivers north and south of Sierra Leone, from the Pongas river to British Sherbro.

6. That two methods of effecting that object had been under your Lordship's consideration :--

(1.) To accept from the Chiefs, who were fully prepared to cede it, the right of levying customs duties with a power of acquiring the coast, if hereafter Her Majesty's Government should desire to do so.

(2.) To take a strip of land along the beach and the banks of the rivers, say

mile wide, which the Chiefs were ready to cede if desired.

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7. That your Lordship was extremely averse to any actual acquisition of territory on the West Coast of Africa if the object which your Lordship had in view could be accomplished in any other way.

8. That your Lordship would therefore prefer,

possible, to carry out the former of

the two methods suggested above, taking from the Chiefs a right to collect customs in their rivers in return for certain stipends to be paid them.

9. That there were, however, certain difficulties which occurred to your Lordship

in pursuing such a course. That your Lordship did not feel certain how far, if at all, the powers conferred by such a treaty would enable the Colonial Government to fix a tariff for the rivers in question, or to seize and condemn vessels, whether British or

▲ 12916.-135. 25.-12/84.