31. Earl WINTERTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government of the Republic of Liberia have accepted the recommendations of the recent conference arising out 790 of the report of the committee of the League of Nations to inquire into allegations of slavery in Liberia; and whether the system of forced labour to which exception was taken in the report has now ceased?
§ Mr. DALTONThe Liberian Government were represented on the committee set up by the Council of the League of Nations, and this committee unanimously adopted the resolutions to which the Noble Lord refers. With regard to the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government have every reason to hope that the expert on general administration, who is now proceeding to Monrovia, will be able to propose suitable action in order to bring to an end the unsatisfactory state of affairs revealed in the report of the Commission of Inquiry.
Earl WINTERTONIs the effect of the hon. Gentleman's long answer to the second part of the question that this forced labour has not ceased? Has he had any information from His Majesty's representatives there?
§ Mr. DALTONWe should not like to commit ourselves to a statement which might turn out to be untrue and damaging to the Liberian Government, who, we believe, are making efforts to improve the position in this respect; but the answer which I gave to the second part of the Noble Lord's question was that we trust that we shall soon get an accurate report of the state of affairs from this gentleman who is proceeding to Monrovia.