§ MR. ARTHUR PEASEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the accounts lately published in the newspapers of the constant public sales of slaves in Morocco are confirmed by the report of Sir John Hay Drummond Hay; whether he has been instructed to protest against this public scandal; and, whether the attention of the Government has been called to the following particulars of the sale of slaves contained in a Tangier Paper, "El Mograb El Aska," of July 1st, 1883:—
Sale of Slaves in Tangier.-1883.—June 23, a young negro aged 12, 25 dollars; June 27, a negress, very young, robust, and well formed, 40 dollars; June 27, a young mulatto girl, 35 dollars; June 27, a negress, young and healthy, 38 dollars; June 27, a negress, older, 40 dollars; June 28, a young negro, aged 8, from the Province of Lûs, 33 dollars; June 28, a very young negress, well formed, and sufficiently sympathetic, 39 dollars?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, I regret to say that the accounts in the newspapers of the public sales of slaves in Morocco are generally confirmed in the Reports sent by Sir John 942 Drummond Hay, which, together with an instruction to him on the subject, will shortly be laid before Parliament. The attention of Her Majesty's Government has not been called to the particular statement referred to by my hon. Friend; and I cannot, therefore, state whether it is accurate.