§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had now received reports from Mexico as to the wholesale deportation of the Yaqui Indians to Yucatan, and their enslavement under the peonage system in that country?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I am aware of the prevalence of the peonage system in Mexico, but His Majesty's Government have no grounds for interference in the matter.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the present difficulties in Mexico do not offer a suitable opportunity for making representations with regard to these Indians; and is it not a fact that two-thirds of these people are either killed or die off during their first year of service?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI cannot answer the latter part of the question without notice. To the first part the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONHas the report from the British Consul in Mexico to which the Foreign Secretary referred last June yet been received?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe hon. Member must give me notice of that. It is not a report that would be published.