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+
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
JAN., 1933.
JAN., 1934.
THE SLAVE MARKET NEWS.
7
THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S APPEAL FOR ARMENIAN REFUGEE WORK IN SYRIA. The Editor, **The Slace Market News," SIE,
We are indeed grateful to you for your continual generosity in publishing 'The Slave Market News' to champion the cause of the most distressed of all sufferers of the human race,
ARMENIAN REFUGEES IN THE SYRIAN CAMPS.
Poverty and distress are acuts amongst all the peoples of the Near East, but more especially amongst the Armenian Refugees in the Syrian Camps, whom the Lord Mayor's Fund has continuously and effectively helped, while at the same time co-operating with the Nansen Office for Refugees (League of Nations), and with other organisations, in determined efforts to find the Armenians' permanent homes at last, in urban and agricultural settlements, in Syria and elsewhere,
But the rigours of winter are immeasurably increasing the sufferings of the thousands who are not yet nettled, who are still enduring the sordid misery of the Refugee Camps. Our honorary worker writes again from the Aleppo Camp, describing pathetically har work of feeding sa many children and caring for as many consumptives as the funds sent her will allow, from The Lord Mayor's Fund" and * The Save the Children Fund.'
We thank very much the donors of the following sume, which we have received for the Aleppo Refugees since September 21st, 1933, viz.-one cheque for £2 63. Jd., four sums of 10%,, and one of bs. ; in all, a total of £4 116. Dà,
ALL GIFTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THIS WORK, IN RESPONSE TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S APPEAL FOR ARMENIAN REFUGEE WORK IN SYRIA, SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY, ARMENIAN (LORD MAYORS) FUND, 40, GORDON SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.1.
FIGHTING THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC.
It cannot be too strongly emphasized that there is urgent need that all Christian men and women should be aroused to take their part in abolishing at last, that vilest form of slavery, the White Slave Traffic.
The wonderful work of Josephine Butler and her Association for Moral and Social Hygiene, ought to be far more widely known and supported than it is, for it is through this great Leader's organisation and dauntless witness to purity, righteousness and justice that this vile trafic, under the aegis of State-Regulation of vice and licensed brothels, has been swept out of the whole of the British Empire and out of practically all of the Northern Nations of Europe.
The Reports of the Travelling Commissions of the League of Nations exposed the hideous extent to which this vila oril poisona the cities of France, Spain, Italy, nud other countries of Southern Europe, of North Africa and Egypt, of Syris under the French Mandate, and is rampant in Japan and China and South America.
As has been already reported in these columns, the hearts of many men and women of good will are stirring against this abominable practice in these countries where it still degrades humanity, and the splendid work already accomplished by Josephine latter's Association through trained and skilled workers can be widely extended throughout the world, if only the necessary funds are forthcoming, and if greatly increased number of annual subscribers of sume both large and small can be surolled.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS TOWARDS THE FUND FOR FIGHTING THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIO SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY, MISS ALISON NEILANS, ASSOCIATION FOR MORAL AND SOCIAL HYGIENE, LIVINGSTONE HOUSE, BROADWAY, WESTMINSTER, 8. W.1.
Yours_very_faithfully.
THRIGBY HALL, GREAT YARMOUTH,
Christmas, 1939.
LAURA HELEN SAWBRIDGE (Hon. Secretary).
NOTE BY EDITOR.-Miss Sawbridge also pleads for the Assyrians, who have been so shamefully treated by the Allies. A report of the Dean of Chichester's plea for the betrayed Assyrians appeared in the Church Times of December 22nd. Readers desirous of showing their practical sympathy with the Assyrians in their great nood, would do well to get into touch with Capt. G. F. GRACKY, D.8.0. Overseas Delegate, c/o The Save The Children Fund, 40 Gordon Square, London, W.0 1.
REPORT OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY INTO TRAFFIC OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE EAST (GENEVA, 1983).
This volume was reviewed in our columns just after its issue, but as we understand Members of Parliament are referred to this Report in order to correct" our so called regrettable statements" made in our editorial (October, 1933), we think it is well to state cue or two facts.
The Report can be obtained from the League of Nations Publications Agente. Messrs George Allen Ltd., 40, Museum Street, London, W.CI. price 166. It consists of over 500 pages of clossly packed information concerning the Traffic in Women and Children in the East. We venture to think that any Member of Parliament who obtained this volume will not be at all impressed by the official attitude of the Colonial Office regarding the fate of Mui Tai in Hong Kong. It is true that the League of Nations Report reprints some extracts from the Female Domestic Service's Ordinance of Hong Kong, Nov. 1923, and we would suggest to Members of Parliament that they compare the wording of the Oidianuce of 1923 with the information given in the White Paper, Cind 3424, which deals with the position of affairs in 1922-29. The League of Nations Commission of Enquiry could certainly not state that slavery 18 non-existent in Hong Kong.
THE FATE OF MUI TSAI
The fate of Mui Tssi, or child slaves, was referred to in our October editorial, and apparently disturbed the equanimity of the Colonial Office. Chinese brothels are supposed to be closed within three years of 1931. In the League of Nations Report concerning the subject of Procurers, it is stated "It is possible to distinguish broadly between persons who procure girls in order to live on the proceeds of their prostitution and traffickers who procure girls and hand them over to brothel-keepers in return for a lump sum. The former are generally middle aged or elderly women who may be prostitutes or ex-prostitutes, brothel-servants or brothel-managers. Their practice is to purchase children who are introduced by them into brothels at an early age. It is usual for them to claim these children as daughters. The latter are also na a rula middle-aged or elderly women, who describe themselves as maidservants, or perhaps more commonly as "travelling tradera" pedlars, commission agents, or guides). Their social status is low, and the funds at their disposal at any one time are probably small. In fact, it is not unlikely that these persons are usually agents working on commission. Their employers may be individuals or possibly syndicates working through a Chinese boarding-house. In one case the method is believed to have been to advance money to these agenta in return for a promissory note. No doubt, also, credit is given by the boarding-house on the same terms."
We hope to make some further references to the Longue of Natious Report in our next issue.
HUMAN LIVESTOCK, by EDxUND B. D'Auvergne, (Messrs. Grayson & GRAYSON, Coazon Street, MAYFAIR, LONDON). It is to be hoped that all those interested in the subject of Slavery will obtain Mr. D'Auvergne's book. This volume faithfully recorda the history of slaves during the past three centuries, lifting the veil upon many aspects of the question, which other writers appear to leave alone. The terrible crnalties perpetrated on the glaves by American slave owners, and the awful conditions of the slaves in the Middle Passage" is faithfully shown. The publication of this book should do much to strengthen the hands of those who are fighting for the Abolition of Slavery to-day. It is a terrible commentary upon civilisation to consider that many of the horrible cruelties perpetrated on slaves in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are still perpetrated to-day in many areas of the world where slavery flourishes.
If one could put down the book with a sigh of thankfulness that all the horrors are a thing of the past, it would be a great relief, but one knows only too well that at the time of writing, millions of human beings are to-day in bondage, and subjected to similar inhuman treatment an given in this history of the slave trade of the past.
KIYOI CHAN,
an
unwanted
Japanese
Child,
Continued from Page 4
SMCOGLING OF FLEAK AND BLOOD. Concerning the "adequate penalties" im- posed, gala we refer our readers to the front page, to the correspondence between Lt. Commander Haslewood and the Colonial Office concerning women and girls.
Again we believe in many respects, Hoeg Kong is a very well-regulated Colony, and it seems passing strange that difficulties should not be met by the Government of Hong Kong concerning the prevention of Importa- tion of Mal Tsal into the Oolony, when it is evidently quite possible to prevent or regulate the introduction of opium. One would bara thought it would have been easier to have detected a "servile" human being, than s packet of opium. Is the emogging of human flesh and blood looked upon with a more tolerant eye than the smuggling of oplam or datiable merchandise, that may be calculated to swell the Exchequer ?
"THIS FREEDOM."
With reference to the statements made by the Colonial Office to the Member of Parlia ment (to whom we have referred) that the Mul Teal are "required to be paid wages,
and are free to leave their employers if they wish to return to their parents or if they
are ill-treated," we would ask the plain man's question. Is it logiest to assume that chil- dren of tender age upon whom cruelties are perpetrated and upon whom rigid control is xerolaad by their owners, are likely to be able voluntarily to leave their owpern "employers as the Colonial Office terima them? The whole evidence shows they are
or
not free agouts. And is it likely that the army of three inspectors can ensure the payment of wages?
Even la Great Britain, there is plenty of work for the Soolaty for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Concerning wages, it
is evident that their wagea so-called often are only paid when a particularly furld
We
case de brought before the Police Ocurt Magistrate, and it la even suggested that the arrears of wages to Mal Teal may be looked upon in the nature of fine, shown by the last paragraph of the Colonial Útion's letter on the first page.
The Colonial Office also Intimated that **folated cases of cruelty to children occar in Hong Kong, as in every country." would ask two questions on this matter. If only three inspectors are employed In- stead of an army, which the Governor (in 1989) considered would be necessary, is It no cortalo that there are only leolated cseas of cruelty to children? The Govern ment's White Paper provides Information that the bumber if children who are Mal Tani to Hong Kong run into many thou. sands, and the number given by indepen- dent observers exceed considerably official estimates. In any case, it can be seen that it is impossible to state the number of case of cruelty that may cocar. Can the present staff of inspectors effectively cover the ground? Regarding the so-called "ade- quate penalties Imposed." we can only refer our readers to the reports published in thle, and to previona leaves, called from The South China Morning Post," of the fines actusily Imposed.
It should be borne lu time that the value of the dollar in Hong Kong la about 18, 40. when calculations are made as to the adequacy of the fines.
REPORT NOT AVAILABLE,
With reference to the concluding con. tence of the Colonial Office communication concerning Reports received from the Governor of Hong Kong, we must venture to observe that the people in thle country who pay for the cost of the House of Commons Library should be entitled to see the publications. We are given to ander. stand that the pabllo are not admitted to the Library, and although the Reports re
one
of the children
at the
Japan Rescue
Mission
Home,
Tomizawa.
calved from the Governor of Hong Kong may contain Information that would lay public concoro, it is quite possible they may not. It would be a pubilo-spirited notion on the part of any of our Members of Parlla- ment to ask whether the Reports obtained from the Governor of Hong Kong on this subject can be published as a White Paper, so that the public would be able to form their own conclusions, and compare it with information received from independent sources in the Colony.
SLAVERY DOE FLOURDE IN HONG KONG.
In spite of the official view that slavery does not exist in Hong Kong, we shall continue to say that it does. The White Paper shows it does The reporte of Police Ooart proceedings in Hong Kong show that it does. The evidence of the Anti- Mu Toal Society shows that It does. The books written by ays-witnesses show that it does. The photographs of rescued chil- dren abow that it does. The records of the Anti-Slavery Soclety show that it does. It appears to us that the correct thing for the Colonial Office to do le to admit that It does. If the Government case is that they consider it le impossible to prevent the bartering and selling of Chinese chll- dren under the British Flag, then the Governmenḥ should any 30. It is no
aDewar to say there is a Law if the Law le not enforced. Platitudinous smoke- screens of words do not obscure the Jorld facts. The Governor of Hong Kong In 1929 stated "VERY DRASTIC POWERS WOULD BE REQUIRED, IF REGIS. TRATION WERE TO BE MADE EFFECTIVE, AND SUCH POWERS WOULD BE INTENSELY UNPOPULAR.' That approximates the truth of the matter, And we are willing to belleve it. When those **Drastic Powers " are exercised we shall bear no more of slavery in Hong Kong. But that day has not yet dawned.
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