It is becoming sufficiently clear that Lord Salisbury was wise
in agreeing to assist the Germans in blockading the East African coast. Had he refused, the German Government might have been goaded into taking extreme steps to recover its lost prestige. The African traveller, Herr Paul Reichard, publicly accuses it of extreme weakness in not annexing the whole Sultanate of Zanzibar; and among its own supporters there is a feeling that it has not supported its own colonial policy by a sufficient display of strength. Indeed, it is not quite clear that the Sultan of Zanzibar is yet safe, for the semi- official journals state that a demand is to be made upon him for compensation as guarantor of the cessions to the German African Company, and he has no resources to part with except certain territorial rights on the mainland, which are almost nominal, but are recognised by Europe as valid for the sake of convenience. A "grant" from a suzerain is a better- looking title than conquest. The Germans intend, moreover, to raise a native force, but are puzzled whence to obtain one, and are talking of enlisting Mahrattas. That will never do, as their discipline would be intolerable to Hindoos, who would mutiny in a week upon the question of food ; and they cannot obtain Negroes from the West Indies, because they will not pay enough. Civilised Negroes would demand five times German pay. They will have to employ Arab and Abyssinian non-commissioned officers, and with their aid apply the con- scription slowly to their own dark subjects.
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