Page images
PDF
EPUB

J. C. Arana y Hermanos in South America, and to carry on business at Iquitos (Peru), Manaos (Brazil), and along the tributaries of the Amazon. During 1909 there were rumours as to the methods by which the Company's business was being carried on in the Putumayo, and a Select Committee of the House of Commons was appointed in March, 1913, to inquire whether any responsibility rested upon the British directors of the Company in respect of the atrocities in the Putumayo district. Having regard to the disclosures made before the Committee, it had been suggested whether the Company was not an illegal concern, but the Committee had found that although there were unlawful acts, they were done unknown to and were unauthorized by the British directors.

In the Official Receiver's opinion, the failure is due to the trading businesses and various estates sold to the Company not being of the value and not producing the profits set out in the prospectus, also to the lack of any effective control by the English directors, to their failure to ascertain the character of the business in the first instance, and to gross mismanagement by its directors, managers, and employees in South America.

He is also of opinion that the directors' estimates of the assets are wholly unreliable, being based on book values as in 1908. The finding of the House of Commons Committee would, he says, make it impossible. for him, were it in his power to realize the interests in the Putumayo, to negotiate for the sale of a business over which no real control could be effected, which may still in some measure be carried on under slave conditions, and therefore can have no lawful existence. Since the liquidation there has been a total of realizations amounting to £2,918 8s. 3d. No others are anticipated; any dividend to creditors can only be of a nominal amount, and no return to shareholders is possible."

The words which we have italicized remind us how little ground there is for confidence that, as has been sometimes stated, the abuses in the Putumayo have all come to an end. This is a comfortable belief for which, we fear, there is an entire absence of real evidence.

Parliamentary.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

February 12.

NEW HEBRIDES.

Dr. CHAPPLE asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continued delay in effecting reforms in the control of the New Hebrides, he will approach the French Government with the suggestion that a joint commission of inquiry be set up to investigate and report ?

**

Mr. HARCOURT: The question of the steps to be taken for the improvement of the administration of the Condominium is receiving the earnest consideration of the French and British Governments, and His Majesty's Government are in communication with the French Government on the subject.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has received a report of a meeting held in Melbourne and presided over by the ex-Premier of Victoria in regard to this matter?

Mr. HARCOURT: Yes, I think I have.

February 19.

Sir GILBERT PARKER asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether complaints and protests have been made to him concerning the condition of affairs in the New Hebrides, of irregularities that occur in the carrying out of official regulations, and in the administration of justice; and whether representations have been made to the French Government, which, under the Convention of 1907, is responsible with this Government for the public welfare of the islands?

Sir E. GREY My attention has been called to the state of affairs in the New Hebrides, and we are in communication with the French Government on the subject as stated by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the 12th instant.

Sir G. PARKER: Has it been brought to the right hon. Gentleman's notice that greatly different judgments on criminal questions in the English and French Courts have had most seriously disturbing effects on the settlers ?

Sir E. GREY: It has been brought to our notice that the Condominium has not worked very satisfactorily in that respect, and that is why we have entered into communication with the French Government with a view to devising some arrangement to meet the difficulty.

February 19.

Captain CLAY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention had been called to the case of Judah, a native of the New Hebrides and a British subject, who was arrested by the French authorities on British territory without a definite charge being made against him; whether Judah is still in prison; and whether the British Resident Commissioner has taken any steps in the matter?

Mr. HARCOURT: My attention has been called to the case of Judah, a native of the New Hebrides, but not a British subject, and I have asked the Resident Commissioner to send a report upon it as soon as possible.

February 25.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he received last year any Report on labour conditions in the New Hebrides; and, if so, whether he will make it public?

Mr. HARCOURT: I have received no general Report for last year on labour conditions in the New Hebrides, but the question is one of those which still engages my most careful attention.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS asked the right hon. Gentleman whether Dr. Borgesius, the native advocate appointed under the Condominium Government of the New Hebrides, has complained that he is hampered in every way by the French officials from assisting the natives; whether the French officials have forbidden Dr. Borgesius going outside Vila, the capital, on business connected with his office, contending that his duties, as set forth by the Convention, do not warrant his assisting natives otherwise then before the Joint Court; whether it is the contention of His Majesty's Government that Article 17 of the Convention was intended to convey that the native advocate is free to assist the natives in any way he can; and, if so, whether the Government will send telegraphic instructions to the British Resident Commissioner to that effect?

Mr. HARCOURT: The subject referred to is one of those which it is hoped may be discussed with the French Government. In order that the issue of that discussion may be as satisfactory as possible, I would much prefer not, in anticipation, to enter into details in this House.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS: Does the right hon. Gentleman realize the extreme gravity of the statements which are coming here with regard to labour conditions in the New Hebrides, and can he give us any idea when these conversations in France are likely to take place or be completed?

any

Mr. HARCOURT: I realize the gravity of the reports. I could not give further information as to when the conversations with France are likely to take place. Any question on that subject should be addressed to my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Sir WM. BYLES: May I ask whether it was recently disclosed in evidence in open Court in the New Hebrides that a plantation had changed hands, the assets, including implements, cattle, and thirty-three labourers, the labourers being valued at £50 each; and whether a total of £1,650 was actually paid for these thirty-three men and boys? *

Mr. FELL asked the right hon. Gentleman if negotiations are proceeding with the French Government for any change in the status of the whole or of some of the islands of the New Hebrides group?

*See below, p. 18.

Mr. ACLAND: The answer is in the negative.

Mr. FELL: Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the great anxiety felt in Australia with regard to the statements that have appeared in the Press ?

Mr. ACLAND: Yes, Sir. An answer was given in reply to a private notice question yesterday on that subject. There is no foundation for the anxiety that has been felt in Australia on the subject.

February 27.

Dr. CHAPPLE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the organization of public indignation meetings in Australia to protest against the alleged partial cession of the New Hebrides to France; whether there is any foundation for the disquiet amongst those in Australasia most interested in the islands; and whether, in view of the growing dissatisfaction with the Condominium, and the distrust arising in the delay in the negotiations for reform, he will state the nature and the stage of the communications with the French Government on the subject?

Sir E. GREY: There is no question of cession of the New Hebrides, and, therefore, no foundation for the disquiet to which the hon. Member refers. As stated in this House on the 12th instant, the question of the steps to be taken for the improvement of the Condominium administration is receiving the earnest consideration both of His Majesty's Government and of the French Government, but at this stage I cannot usefully make any fuller

statement.

Dr. CHAPPLE: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is keeping in touch with Colonial opinion in the negotiations with the French Government?

Sir E. GREY: I understand that the Government of Australia has been in communication with the Secretary for the Colonies, and these communications have, of course, been brought under the consideration of the Foreign Office.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the question of the New Hebrides has been mentioned in the negotiations pending in regard to the new treaty about to be made between France and this country?

Sir E. GREY: To what treaty does the hon. Member refer?

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: I refer to the treaty to be made between France and this country.

Sir E. GREY: Well, sir, I am afraid I must ask for notice of the question.

March 3.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any conversations have taken place with France relating to the position in the New Hebrides since the last Papers referring to that question were laid upon the Table of the House; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of circulating further Papers on the subject?

Sir E. GREY: I have already on several occasions stated that His Majesty's Government are actually in communication with the French Government in order to improve the working of the Condominium. There have been various instances brought to our notice, as is well known, showing certain grievances that exist in the New Hebrides. We have asked the French Government to confer with us so that the joint administration may be improved. If, as I hope, this leads to definite results, I shall be prepared to lay Papers explaining them.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether since the appointment of the Condominium Government of the New Hebrides any suggestion has been made by this country to France for the purchase of French rights in these islands, or for the surrender of those rights in exchange for compensating advantages in some other part of the world; and, if not, whether he can see his way to advise His Majesty's Government to open negotiations with France for the purpose of making such arrangements as will lead to the cession of all French rights in the New Hebrides to this country, with a view of the administration of the islands being handed over to the Commonwealth of Australia ?

Sir E. GREY: No suggestion of the nature proposed has been made to the French Government since the establishment of the Condominium Government in December, 1908. I am not aware that the Commonwealth of Australia is prepared to entertain a suggestion for the acquisition of the French rights in the New Hebrides by purchase or exchange of territory; and His Majesty's Government have no present intention of asking Parliament to vote money for the purchase of French rights in the New Hebrides, or to agree to the surrender of British territory elsewhere in exchange, even supposing the French Government were prepared to entertain such a negotiation.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: Would the right hon. Gentleman confer with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, asking him if he would send some message to the Commonwealth of Australia to see if they would not accept responsibility for the New Hebrides?

Sir E. GREY: I gather the hon. Member's suggestion to be that we should ask the Government of Australia whether it would be prepared to take over the New Hebrides?

« PreviousContinue »