EVILS OF SLAVERY

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19631, 18 July 1935, Page 7

EVILS OF SLAVERY

DISCUSSED BY LORDS.

MOVEMENT FOR SUPPRESSION.

GOOD WORK BEING DONE

United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright

(Received July 18, 11,10 a.m.) . LONDON, July 17

The subject of slavery was discussed in the House of Lords in connection with the recent report of the Slavery Committee of the League of Nations.

Lord Cecil and the Archbishop of Canterbury, paid tribute lo the work of British Governments for the last 100 years, and since the war at Geneva, in support of the movement for the suppression of slavery. The Archbishop complained of the need for more information from certain areas, and advocated a special agreement regarding traffic in slaves in territories round the Red Sea and other places. With regard to Abyssinia, he said that it was only fair to recognise that the Emperor was trying to suppress slavery there in spite of difficulties, 7 Lord Noel Buxton and Lord Polworth spoke to the same effect in referring to their personal experiences in Abyssinia.

Replying to the debate Lord Stanhope said the Government was anxious to increase the influence and power of the League’s Slavery Committee, and would give to its work the fullest possible support. With regard to Red Sea traffic, ho claimed that preventive measures, in which British forces took part, had reduced the big stream to a ripple.

600,000 'Slaves.

Lord Polworth said the Emperor of Abyssinia told him in 1932 that slavery would be extinct in 12 years and certainly in 20 years. His own people gave the number of slaves at between 500,000 and 600,000. Accepting the official figure that 3043 slaves were liberated last year, it was clear that it would be a long time at that rate before slavery was extinct. Lord Stanhope said the idea of a convention of the Powers round the Red Sea was receiving attention. Mr R. A. Eden’s recommendation, that a special meeting of the League of Nations Committee on Slavery be held in 1936 would be considered by the Assembly in September.