THE LEAGUE AND SLAVERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 6

THE LEAGUE AND SLAVERY.

In the Committee appointed to deal with the question of mandates and the protection of backward races, Lord Cecil ;has unexpectedly submitted on behalf of Britain a proposal for the eventual j abolition of slavery throughout the | world, including domestic slavery. It is j said that no serious objections were raised, but that Portugal and others emphasised the importance of not moving too rapidly. The League lias, from its inception, made the abolition of slavery one of its great aims, and it will be remembered that considerable delay took place in admitting Abyssinia as a member of the League because of the slave conditions existing in that State. Lately the League has beon investigating an alleged system of slavery in Portuguese Africa, where slavery was said to be practically existent under the form of forced labour. In East Africa , the whole problem of coloured labour i has been brought under the notice of the I Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, and the vice-chairman (Mr. C. R. Buxton) has contended that the various methods of pressure used to make the African work for the white man are in reality slavery in disguise. Mr. Buxton has gone so far as to suggest that the League of Nations should elaborate a code of native rights and decide under what conditions the black man ought to work, and whether virtual exploitation under the name of forced labour ought to be allowed. The question has arisen in connection with Kenya, and also in regard to native potentates employing slaves in their households. Probably this is what is meant by domestic slavery. It is fitting that the question should have been brought forward by the representative of Great Britain, since no country has done more for the emancipation of the slave. In the report of the Mandates Commission to be submitted to the present session of the Assembly, Labour conditions are referred to, and there seems to be little doubt that the League will use every endeavour not only to abolish actual slavery, but also other forma of exploitation iv regard to coloured labour.