1st. Certainty of reaching Emin.
2nd. Transport up the Congo River by state steamers to a point 320 geographical miles from Lake Albert.
3rd. Allaying suspicion of Germans that underlying our acts were political motives.
4th. Allaying alleged fears of French Government that our Expedition would endanger the lives of French Missionaries.
5th. If French Missionaries were endangered, then English Missionaries would certainly share their fate.
6th. Greater immunity from the desertion of the Zanzibaris who were fickle in the neighbourhood of Arab settlements.
Lord Iddesleigh writes me that the French ambassador has been instructed to inform him that if the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition proceeds by a route east of the Victoria Nyanza it will certainly endanger the lives of their Missionaries in Uganda. He suggests that I consider this question.
Visited Admiralty, inquired of Admiral Sullivan respecting the possibility of Admiralty supplying vessel to carry Expedition to Congo. He said if Government ordered it would be easy, if not, impossible.
Wrote to the King urging him to acquaint me how far his assistance would extend in transport on the Upper Congo.