§ 57. Mr. FERENSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf" has within the last two years called the attention of His Majesty's Government to slave-trading practices in West Africa; and, if so, will he lay such Papers before the House of Commons at an early date?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)The commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf" has called attention to some suspicious cases, which have been brought, to the notice of the Foreign Office. We are inquiring into the matter, and it would be premature to lay Papers at present.
§ 58. Mr. FERENSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a report submitted to the Foreign Office alleging slave trade of grave proportions between a port south of Benguella and San Thom6; and, if so, whether he will give instructions to the commander of His Majesty's ship "Dwarf," or other suitable vessel, to pay more frequent visits to those regions?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe only definite allegations in the report to which the hon. Member presumably refers relate to a period before recruiting in Angola, and export of labourers thence was stopped. It is known that at the time abuses did occur. The efforts of His Majesty's Government were directed to getting the Portuguese Government to put a stop to these in Angola. This we believe has been done, and statements as to what went on previously are irrelevant to the state of things that now exist, and it is most unfair to quote them as evidence that these particular abuses continue. If recent evidence to the contrary is produced it would of course be considered.