55
1033
Slavery.
1034
Slavery.
[ LORDS ] mui-tsai can now be brought into the
the south-west of Ethiopia, or Abyssinia Colony, and the number not registered as we call it, and what is called the is steadily diminishing by natural causes, borderland between the Sudan and the the return of girls to their parents, south-west, there is a large country as
marriage, death, etc. The number re-
regards area and acreage which has been maining on the register on November 30, inhabited from time immemorial, I sup- 1930, was just over 4,000. In fact, the
pose, by half-civilised and nearly inde- mui-tsai custom has now been abolished
pendent tribes. That country has now in Hong-kong. All suggestions of a ser- become largely desolated because these vile status have been removed, and the tribes have fought with one another in girls on the mui-tsai register are free order by tribal raids to obtain slave “ and in the position of paid domestic ser-
for purposes of export and sale. The noble Earl was quite right vants.
course, that is a terrible condition of when he pointed out that the provisions affairs. I was reading the other day a which were intended to put an end to book by the Consul who has been there this system some years ago were hardly lately, and it shows a terrible condition in fact administered in
way which
of devastation in this district. would bring about that result. That is all changed now, and the desire of the Colonial Minister and the Government is that this system shall come to an end. It will die out in a comparatively short time. Under registration a large amount of protection is given, and the system now prevailing will be superseded by the ordinary rules of free domestic service.
a
The most rev. Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury asked me two questions, first of all as to how far this proposal of registration had been completed. The information I have is that it is com- pleted at the present time. Then he asked me a very important and a very practical question about the appointment of additional inspectors.
I think that Lord Lugard referred to another point. I am not quite certain that I appreciated it, but I think so. A book was lately published suggesting that slave dealing was rife in Kenya and Uganda and on the British side of the border. Information was asked for among the officials in these districts and the suggestion was absolutely and totally denied. It was said that there was no foundation for it whatever. Of course, as we all know, slaves escape over the border and provision is made as far as possible that they shall not be driven back to their ancient owners-I think that would be the right expression --in
Abyssinia. Additional in-
spectors are to be appointed with the very purpose of ensuring that the direc- tions which come from the Colonial Office will be in fact carried out, and com- pletely carried out.
The next question he asked me was in regard to Abyssinia. I am one of those who have had the advantage of seeing a good deal of Ras Tafari and let me express my agreement with the view stated, I think by all three speakers who have preceded me, that he really is in earnest, and desires to put an end to, or at least to put some substantial check upon, slavery in Abyssinia. But the diffi- culty is that there slaves are looked upon as part of the important property of the Governors of a particular district. It is undoubtedly a matter of great difficulty, but he will do his best, I believe, and in time I hope that the difficulties which now exist in Abyssinia may be modified, or even after a period of time be brought to an end. I should like to mention two other points in regard to Abyssinia. In
Lord Parmoor.
That no doubt arises from the attempt of the British Government officials in Kenya and Uganda and Tanganyika to do the best they can to help the escaped slaves and give them sufficient areas of land for their occupa- tion and preserve them against return to their old degraded positions. I imagine that everyone thinks that is the right thing to do, and indeed no British Government could adopt any policy except the one which I have indicated. On the other side, the question arises of the sea traffic, or the export of slaves across the Red Sea.
Perhaps I ought to have added, one word as to the raiding by these tribes. That, no doubt, has been rendered largely possible by the export of arms which are purchased by the banditti and raiders in that country, and any step which could be taken to prevent that export of arms would be, in my opinion, of great value in suppressing this terrible slave traffic. I have asked par- ticularly for information as regards the
ל
1095
Slavery.
[ 22 JULY 1931 ] export of slaves across the Red Sea. A book has been published which I have read myself, although I have forgotten the title for the moment, in which it was shown that whatever precautions were taken slaves could be carried across in small numbers, in the guise very often of being part of the crew of the dhow.
I was asked as to our action with Italy and France in this matter. We have acted in the most friendly co-operative nanner with Italy and France. We have two sloops in the Red Sea and they act most cordially with the vessels of Italy and France. Our experience-this, I think, is very remarkable is that since 1922, although there has been con- stant supervision, we have not, in fact,
come
across any case of the export of slaves by sea from Abyssinia to Arabia I do not mean to say that some have not
gone across they probably have, because it is not a difficult trade for smugglers but no large numbers have gone, and so far as our ships are con- cerned, the information which I have been given is that since 1922 no case has arisen where they have found this ex- port of slaves going on from the Abyssinian coast across the Red Sea to Arabia on the other side.
There is one other point I was asked about and that is the case of Arabia. Of course, there again it must be a ques- tion of international arrangement. Arabia is not a member of the League of Nations and therefore is not in the same position as China. Through centuries of time, from time immemorial, there has been a very large amount of slavery in Arabia, and no doubt it still exists. If the noble Earl or His Grace the Lord Arch- bishop would make any practical sugges tion at any time by which we could diminish the number of slaves or improve their condition in Arabia, every member of His Majesty's Government would cor- dially support any effective proposal of that kind.
I think those are all the instances and illustrations about which I was asked, with the exception of Liberia. The ques tion of Liberia has been brought forward internationally at Geneva, and there is also in connection with it the question of United States action about which Lord Lugard spoke so that rather than deal with it partially myself I have asked Viscount Cecil to deal with the matter as
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Stavery,
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a whole. I am sure that would be the most effective way of bringing it to the notice of your Lordships. I do not think that any other question has been asked me about slavery in these various dis tricts, but I do not want in any way to leave unanswered any question.
I say that for two reasons. Firstly, I am anxious that all publicity should be given; and secondly, that the sincerity- if I may use that word-of the Govern- ment may be shown, a sincerity which is not political, which does not specially affect this Government, but a sincerity which I think represents the public opin- ion of Great Britain, upon this point, and which has been represented substan- tially since the year 1772, and certainly since the year 1833.
There is one point I should like to men- tion about the Act of 1833. The Act of 1833 did not affect slavery in protected States or in our Protectorates, but now, I believe, in every instance protection has been given. In all cases where the Act of 1833 does not run, because Protec- torates and Protected States were not included in it, there has been legislation applicable to the particular districts for the purpose and object, which to a great extent has succeeded, of putting an end to those brutal conditions of ownership in the form of slavery. It was a pleasur able statistic which Lord Buxton gave us as regards the diminution of slavery in Tangyanika of about 450,000 within recent times, and as to the possibility of direct British influence. I am convinced that this Government-I do not say that there is any special virtue in it as well as any Government representing Great Britain, will do all in their power to put an end to what is regarded by us all as an injurious and odious ownership and traffic.
One point I think I have not answered, but Lord Lugard will tell me if I have misapprehended him-namely, the ques- tion of forced labour, The particular question asked me to-day has reference to slavery, but I agree very much with what Lord Cromer said-I heard him say it often in this House and always agreed with him-that under certain conditions forced labour brings about a status practically similar to that of slavery itself. Of course a great deal depends on how forced labour is imposed and the purpose for which it is used,
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