HC Deb 25 July 1882 vol 272 cc1685-6
MR. M'COAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a Memorandum recently issued by the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, showing that some two hundred negroes are now held in slavery in Brazil by the St. John del Roy Mining Company, an English Company working under English Law, and the head office of which is in London; and, whether, if the facts be as stated by the Society, the directors of the Company in question being British subjects, are not liable to criminal prosecution under the Slave Trade Act of 1873?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT,

in reply, said, that in Questions of this kind a reasonable interval should be allowed in order that the facts might be learned. He would give an answer in a week or a fortnight.

MR. O'KELLY

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to the following statement in the "Bio News" of June 24th:— There are yet a large number of slaves in the province of Minas Geraes belonging to the extinct 'National Brazilian Land and Mining Association,' commonly known as the 'C'ocaes Company,' which are illegally held because the English law forbids slave-holding to British subjects. These slaves, however, are hired out, and their wages are regularly received and administered by the British Court of Chancery. It is altogether likely that a brief note to the British Government on this matter will secure the liberation of these unfortunate captives; and, whether the Government will take such action as will put an end to the administration of funds derived from slave labour by the Court of Chancery, and secure the liberation of the slaves illegally held as property by British subjects?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply recently given by the Attorney General on this subject. Her Majesty's Government have been informed that the St. John del Rey Company have granted freedom to their only remaining slaves. The question of the liability of British subjects in these matters comes within the province of the Treasury.

MR. O'KELLY

said, the hon. Baronet had not answered the last part of the Question.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I believe that is a matter which comes within the functions of the Treasury.