SLAVERY EXPOSED IN NEGRO STATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 3

SLAVERY EXPOSED IN NEGRO STATE.

| PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA RESIGNS HIS POST (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 3. The Geneva correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” says that as a result of the findings of the League of Nations international inquiry into slavery in Liberia, the President of Liberia, the Hon Charles D. B. King, and the Vice-President, the Hon Alan N. Yancy, have resigned. Mr King has nominated the Secretary of State, the Hon Edwin Barclay, as acting-President. The Commission’s report states that Mr Yancy sanctioned the compulsory recruitment of labour for road construction and shipment abroad. The report condemns the use of the Liberian Frontier Force for conveying gangs of captured natives to the Coast for shipment. It was estimated that 400,000 out of a population of 2,500,000 are living in conditions akin to slavery. President King, though not aware of Mr Yancy’s action, considered that his own resignation was obligator)'. Liberia is an independent negro State on the West Coast of Africa. It was founded bv groups of freed slaves from the United States and its constitution is based on the constitution of that country. Mr King’s term as president would have expired in 1932.