§ 17. Mr. BLACKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received the Report from Arabia with respect to the slave traffic in that country; and, if so, whether he will place the Report upon the Table of the House of Commons for the information of the Members?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is not clear to what Report or to which of the Arab countries the hon. Member is referring. If he will give me further details an endeavour will be made to answer his question.
§ 18. Mr. BLACKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the results accruing from the operation of the Government vessels in the Red Sea in checking slave raiding; how many slave dhows were captured; how many slaves were liberated; and what further steps he proposes to take to endeavour to put a stop to this nefarious traffic?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn the recent operations carried out in the Red Sea by the division of destroyers no slave dhows were captured or slaves liberated. Several dhows were examined and their papers were found in order. It is considered that the presence of these vessels has proved a deterrent and that the recrudescence of this traffic has been checked. As regards previous operations in the Red Sea, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 21st of May to the hon. Member for North Hackney. His Majesty's ships in the Red Sea will continue to carry oat patrols to check this traffic in co-operation with the French and Italian war vessels stationed there.
§ Captain Viscount CURZONWill the right hon. Gentleman bear this answer in mind the next time a vote of censure moved by hon. Member's opposite on the question of cruisers?
§ Mr. J. HARRISHave the reports been placed at the disposal of the Council of the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERDo you mean the reports about slavery? I am not sure about this action, but reports on the whole question have been presented to the League.