Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Decree prohibiting the recruitment of native labourers in the Province of Angola for labour in the cocoa plantations of San Thomé and Principe is still in force; and if he can say whether the cocoa planters have recently engaged a large number of free labourers from Mozambique for work in the plantations?
The UNDERSECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The Decree of 22nd November, 1909, prohibited recruiting in Angola until 1st February last. I understand that it was decided that recruiting should not be resumed until the new regulations were properly introduced. It is at first only to 957 be allowed in the districts of Quillenges, Bailundo, and Jinga de Ambaca. With regard to the second part of the question, recruiting of labourers from Mozambique has been proceeding for some months, but I am not aware whether a large number of labourers have been engaged recently. I am asking for reports from the Consul to get the latest information on both these points.