HC Deb 01 March 1922 vol 151 cc346-7
3. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has received during the last 10 years reports which confirm the existence of widespread and growing slave-trading in Abyssinia; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of publishing the most recent of these reports in the form of a Blue Book?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; but I am not sure that the best method of dealing with the matter would be the publication of papers at the present stage.

4. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the published statement that slaves are employed in the British Legation in Abyssinia; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

No slaves are employed by the Legation, but some of the Abyssinian servants at the Legation possess slaves. I am making inquiries into this matter.

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