§ 3. Mr. HOAREasked whether there is any reason to believe that the recent native rising in San Salvador was due to the carrying out of the provincial order contained in dispatch No. 65, in White Paper No. 7279; and whether His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon will be instructed to call the attention of the Portuguese Government to this order signed by the Governor-General of Angola, whereby it would seem that an attempt was made by the Portuguese Governor himself to secure forced labour for private profit?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe British Vice-Consul at Boma, who is now at San Salvador, has been instructed to report in connection with the case of Mr. Bowskill on all the circumstances leading up to the rising, including the question of recruitment of native labour, and I would prefer to await his report before giving any reply to this question. As regards the second part of the question the order referred to provides for the voluntary recruitment of contract labour 690 and not for forced labour. To what extent the decree was abused, and, if so, who was responsible for its abuse, is a question on which I must wait for the full report expected.
§ Mr. ACLANDI am afraid that is rather uncertain, as the means of communication appear to be very difficult.
§ Mr. ACLANDAs I do not know how difficult the means of communication are I could not give any useful estimate.