§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)To ask the Secretary of of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to a treaty between England and Portugal, published in O Commercio do Porto of 31 Aosto 1890, in Article X., providing for protection of missionaries, and XI. for protection of Natives and suppression of slavery; if he will furnish a translation of the said articles; if he has received a Report from Mr. Burtt on the labour question of St. Thomé and Angola; and whether such Reports establish the fact that slavery exists in both districts for the production of rum and cocoa.
§ (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I presume that the hon. Member refers to the convention between Great Britain and Portugal, which was signed on 20th August, 1890. As, however, it has never been ratified its stipulations have of course no force, and in any case Article XI. contains no 197 specific provision relating to the protection of Natives. A translation of the whole document was laid before Parliament in Parliamentary Paper, Africa, No. 2, 1890–91, together with correspondence showing why the ratifications were never exchanged. A Report on the labour question at St. Thome and Angola by Mr. Burtt has been sent to the Foreign Office. It; is of a confidential nature, but His Majesty's Government have expressed their willingness to bring it before the Portuguese Government for their information if they are authorised to do so by those who are responsible for the Report.