In 1856, the supercargoes were reported by the liberated Africans to the British Foreign Office, which stated in its response that since Britain espoused the principle of free trade, it would invariably support the rights of all those engaged in such trade in Calabar. Lord Clarendon, the Foreign Secretary, stressing that the British Government would continue to 'take a warm interest in the welfare and safety' of liberated Africans, frowned on the fact that despite doing the very things that his Government expected of them, namely promoting civilization and commerce, they were confronted with the 'jealous hostility of British traders'. The supercargoes were instructed not to interfere with the legitimate activities of any man previously seized and sold in the market like a puncheon of oil. A law officer at the Foreign Office argued that:  
The whole policy of [Her Majesty's Government] in this matter (for which it has made and still makes great sacrifices) is thus effectually thwarted and defeated, and Africans tho' Liberated from actual slavery, are prevented from returning to their native country with any security, or from engaging in the staple trade of West Africa, a state of things which [Her Majesty's] Government cannot be expected to tolerate, especially formally brought  
under its notice, and going on as it were under the shadow of its flag, a British man of war, a British Consul, missionaries, and merchants being on the spot (Nair, 1972).