1. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the twenty-four labourers recruited in Angola for one year for San Thomé, according to Dispatch No. 48 of Mr. Consul Drummond Hay, were repatriated at the termination of their contract?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)Of the twenty-four labourers sent to San Thomé, on 11th November, 1911, in the "Malange," twenty-one were repatriated on 27th November, 1912. The other three do not appear to have returned to the mainland.
2. Mr. HARVEYasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the steamship "Portugal" is registered for carrying 500 labourers between Angola and San Thomé; and, if so, whether he will inquire on how many occasions within the last year this vessel has carried such numbers of repatriated labourers back to the mainland?
§ Sir E. GREYI have no information on the subject, nor do I consider that any useful purpose would be served by endeavour in to obtain such information.
Mr. HARVEYDoes not this matter depend on whether or not there really is any means of effectual repatriation?
§ Sir E. GREYI do not think that that is the real point. The real point is that repatriation should proceed at a proper rate. Of course, if there was not sufficient accommodation to enable it to proceed at a proper rate, that would be a thing to be inquired into and be remedied, but the measure of the proper rate is not the capacity of the ship's accommodation, but whether those who are entitled to repatriation are being repatriated.