HC Deb 14 January 1913 vol 46 cc1855-6
1. Mr. HOARE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has any reason to believe that British coloured subjects are being recruited for the Island of Fernando Po; and whether His Majesty's Government is satisfied as to the conditions under which this labour is employed?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)

His Majesty's Government have reason to believe that some British coloured subjects have been recruited clandestinely for Fernando Po, and that the conditions under which they are employed are unsatisfactory. They arc taking steps to see that the men's rights are protected. I may add that a salaried Vice-Consul has recently been appointed for the Spanish and Portuguese Islands in the Gulf of Guinea.