§ 17. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the report of a slavery case tried at Karachi, on 10th October, in which the accused was sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment; whether he is aware that in the course of the case it was shown that slave-dealing is apparently rife in the Persian Gulf; and what steps the Government are taking in the matter?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have seen a newspaper report of the trial, and note that a statement was made somewhat in the sense of the second part of the question. In this particular case it appears that officers of the Government of India intervened effectively as soon as the facts came to notice, and secured the return to India of the Indian boys concerned. If the hon. Member desires further information in reply to the last two parts of the question, his inquiry should be addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.