THIS SLAVERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 36, 12 February 1931, Page 6

THIS SLAVERY.

MODERN ASPECT OF AN OLD EVIL. The subject of slavery lias recently been brought into prominence by the League of Nations, wliich had made investigations into conditions in Liberia —that home of liberty founded by the American Colonisation Society as a refuge for freed negroes of America shortly after the" abolition of slavery in that country. This small republic was a model of what a free State should be till, during the Avar, it came under the notice of tlie Firestone Corporation, the American tyre manufacturers, who sought and Avere given important concessions which enabled them to obtain huge supplies of rubber. What lies behind this can be well understood by those who have read De Vere Stacpoole's "Pools of Silence," wherein he shows the conditions existing under Belgian rule in the Congo territory. Concessions and what they mean to the native population are ably dealt with in E. O. Morel's fine work # "Red Rubber." Lady Simon in "Slavery," one of the most remarkable of recently-published books, reveals the extraordinary fact that in this present year of grace there are six million slaves in the world, - using the Avord "slave." in its strictest sense. That is, there are six million men, women and children avlio can.be disposed of as if they were cattle or furniture. It is Avell to know that the granting of concessions by Governments to commercial concerns almost invariably entails forced labour , under terrible conditions among the people of subject and mandated territories. Those of us who had our young hearts stirred to fiery indignation by' reading in our schooldays of the cruelties perpetrated on the Indians by the Spaniards, as described by Kiiigsley in "Westward Ho," should feel for these unfortunate victims of a modern system which allows the exploitation of humanity wherever it is defenceless and inarticulate. • Many of these territories have representatives the World Court at Geneva, but, alas for human frailty, a total lack of sincerity .prevents them from speaking and acting a§ their responsible position there should demand. In this matter, as in others, casuistry triumphs-, over truth, and avarice over duty. If Brutus were to-day giving an oration on the League of Nations he might well query, "And are not these all honourable men?" Bishop Wilberforce one. hundred years ago demanded and gained freedom for the negroes in America; who Avill arise' to-day and ask that the slaves in Liberia, in the Congo, in Abyssinia, and other parts be freed? The question of slavery was raised at Geneva by Lord Cecil in' 1929,/ when his proposal that the Temporary' Slavery Commission should be reviewed was rejected in favour of a policy of procrastination. Mr. Noel Buxton last year brought forward, on behalf of the British Government, further proposals for the' appointment of a Slavery Commission. In spitb of vigorous efforts and of gallant support from Spain, Siam, India, as Avell as Germany, Denmark and Hungary, the opposition of Liberia and Abyssinia, backed by Portugal, France and others, was triumphant. A further policy of delay was adopted and' gave rise t'o eloquent protest by Mr.- Buxton and his colleagues. It is not generally known that slavery on a vast ssale exists to-day 111 Abyssinia, the oldest Christian Empire. It is computed that there are two or three million slaves in that country. In this • connection there has been a, recent dangerous development. Ras Taffari, now King of Abyssinia, anxious, to develop econornic resources of his .country, declared while on his recent travels'in interviews with American and other journalists that he Avouhl be Avilling to grant concessions on a large scale to foreign contractors for the development of Abyssinia and to offer them slave labour on certain terms. It has recently been announced that the White Company ,of New York has been granted an enormous concession which will run into many millions of pounds sterling and will take very many years to complete. This concession is for carrying out various public Avorks, especially roads,, canals and Avater supply. The, contractors are to be supplied with slave labour for this purpose. The United States section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom has sent a memorandum to Congress at Washington to be forwarded to the League of Nations expressing the disapproval of American citizens for any connection of their country with slavery. This organisation, with branches and sections in forty different countries, is Ava telling the position throughout the woyld and will report on. this matter to the. League of Nations through its international headquarters at Geneva. —M.B.S.