We wonder if Europe will ever hear the true history
of [the reported German proclamation in East Africa in favour of slavery. The story came originally from the correspondent of the Times in Zanzibar; but it is pretty evident that, in some way or other, he was egregiously deceived. The Imperial Government at once repudiated any such policy, the German Commissioner denied that he had either issued or heard of any such proclamation, and now (25th inst.) the Times' agent telegraphs that the Germans are anxiously endeavouring to efface any such illusion from the Arab mind. It looks very much as if it were somebody's interest in Zanzibar to stir up strife between the two nations, and we cannot say that the English come altogether creditably out of the affair. They were far too ready to be suspicious, and
to believe that there was an intention either to insult them, or to make profit out of a trade condemned by all civilised opinion. Journalists often condemn Govern- ments as pedantic because they wait for official information; but Governments have been taught by long experience to rely on their agents as the only men who are tolerably disin- terested. Those who are paid to collect exciting news are often, even in England, too ready to believe it ; and every- where else they avoid inquiry, lest a good story should be spoiled. The telegraph is becoming one of the difficulties of modern diplomacy, for populations are fired by stories told for the sake of brevity without qualifications, and for the sake of priority without investigation.
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