§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked whether His Majesty's Government have any reports to show what is the respective treatment of natives in the Colonies of the Cameroons 3 and French Congo, in respect to taxation and forced labour; and, if not, will they obtain special reports frm His Majesty's Consuls on this point?
§ Mr. ACLANDWe have no reports of the nature indicated in the question, and my right hon. Friend cannot undertake to publish special reports about the internal affairs of other countries.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked whether His Majesty's Government have any reports as to the manner in which the rubber Concessionaires in the French Congo conduct their business and treat the natives; whether these companies will continue their operations in that part of the French Congo now transferred to Germany; and whether His Majesty's Government have intimated in any way to the German Government that they would welcome in the interests of the natives the abolition of these concessions in so far as the German Government has the power to do so?
§ Mr. ACLANDAs to the first question, His Majesty's Government have no reports. With regard to the second question, the Agreement between France and Germany of the 2nd instant provides that public and private concessions granted by either party shall be respected. The answer to the third question is in the negative.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Concessionaires in the French Congo have carried on a system of native exploitation every bit as bad, if not worse, than that on the Congo?
§ Mr. ACLANDMy hon. Friend is giving information, and not asking for it.