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This issue includes the ANNUAL REPORT of the Society for 1918.

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OBITUARY: REV. J. S. MOFFAT, MR. J. B. MOFFAT, MR. E. E. DoWER.

THE COMMITTEE: NEW MEMBERS

REVIEW: LADY VICTORIA BUXTON

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1918

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS, 1918

SUMMARISED CASH ACCOUNT

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Published under the sanction and at the Offices of

The Anti-Slavery & Aborigines Protection Society

51 Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge Road

London, S.W.1

Anti-Slavery Reporter and Aborigines' Friend.

APRIL, 1919.

[The Editor, whilst grateful to all correspondents who may be kind enough to furnish him with information, desires to state that he is not responsible for the views stated by them, nor for quotations which may be inserted from other journals. The object of the journal is to spread information, and articles are necessarily quoted which may contain views or statements for which their authors can alone be held responsible.]

The Rhodesian
Land Case.

Quarterly Mote.

THIS question has been under constant consideration by the Committee of the Society, which resolved to print a final statement upon the case for private circulation among representative men and women, the Missionary Societies, etc., in the hope of bringing direct influence to bear upon the Government, so as to avoid, if possible, the wide appeal to the public, which will become necessary if all else fails. This action has been endorsed by leading members of Parliament and by the Society's Committees in Scotland. Meanwhile Lord Milner has agreed to receive a small deputation from the Society to bring the facts before him for his personal examination and consideration. This is being arranged as we go to press. 1

.

Peace Terms and Colonial Reconstruction.

Ir had been hoped that Mr. Balfour would be able to receive a deputation from the Society, and early in the year a letter from the Foreign Office informed Sir Victor Buxton that the proposals which had been made "had been carefully considered by the Department in consultation with the Colonial Office."

"The great press of work," however, made it difficult to receive a deputation, but it was suggested that a memorial might be drawn up “which could be published in the Press, setting out the ends you have in view." 'Such a memorial," it was added, "would be carefully studied.”

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A memorial was accordingly drafted setting forth the main features of the Society's repeated representations upon the subject of peace terms and native races, a copy of which was forwarded to the British Representatives

1 It is hoped that it will be possible to report on this subject at the Annual Meeting.

2

at the Peace Conference in Paris, and was also sent to the Press. The terms of this memorial follow :

TO THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE,

FOREIGN OFFICE.

January 14, 1919.

SIR, In response to your communication of the 7th instant, addressed to Sir Victor Buxton, the President of this Society, we beg now to place before His Majesty's Government, in the form of a single memorandum, the main features of the representations made by the Society upon the question of Peace Terms and Native Races. These fall under two main heads :1. Territories whose sovereign control may undergo changes as a result of the war, and

II. The sphere within which international action can safely and wisely operate.

I.

Our Committee has by various means brought to the forefront of public discussion, and by direct representation to His Majesty's Government, the paramount importance of taking into consideration, so far as ascertainable, the wishes and welfare of the inhabitants themselves before any transfer of sovereignty takes place.

In this connection we desire to emphasize that in our opinion special reasons exist for applying this principle to any colonial territories which were wholly or in part under British Administration prior to August 4, 1914. Committee ventures to hope that at an early date an assurance may be given upon this point, because we are convinced that public opinion would welcome this further assurance that no territory under British Colonial influence will be surrendered to any Foreign sovereignty without both the inhabitants of the territories and the British Parliament being given the opportunity of expressing an opinion. If it appears to His Majesty's Government that this latter point is unduly emphasized, we beg to say that urgent representations have been made to our Committee in connection with certain territories.

II.

The second main category of our representations has covered the sphere of international control over tropical territories with a view to restraining retrograde measures, abuse and evil influences, in preference to proposals for international executive Government, which latter, in our opinion, can only be fraught with danger to world peace and a menace to just and progressive Government.

In this connection, we beg to repeat our suggestion that, at a date to be fixed by the Peace Congress, a new official Conference, following on the lines of the Vienna, Berlin, and Brussels Conferences, should be held to deal with all questions affecting the aboriginal races of territories wherein there is no

self-government. Our Committee presumes that in fixing a date for the holding of such Conference the Peace Congress would also prepare comprehensive terms of reference, and at this stage our Committee only indicates briefly some of the subjects which have from time to time formed the basis of our representations to His Majesty's Government.

We have asked that any such Conference should define anew the existing international obligations for the suppression of slave-owning and slavetrading, secure an international agreement to abolish forced labour for private profit, lay down the broad lines of protective measures for migrations, and for labour contracts, obtain effective international action for controlling the traffic in spirituous liquors, establish an international bureau for the study and prevention of tropical diseases, make provision for giving security and adequacy of land tenure for indigenous populations.

If the appointment of such Conference can be secured, our Committee would be glad to submit further memoranda covering each of these subjects, but does not propose burdening His Majesty's Government with such material until we know what form such Conference will take, and what terms of reference are laid down for its guidance,

We are, etc.,

(Signed) TRAVERS BUXTON, Secretary,

JOHN H. HARRIS, Organizing Secretary.

Representations were made to the President of the United States when in London, and an interview was asked for, but was rendered impossible by the shortness of his stay in this country.

The text of the letters which passed follows:

To H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

December 28, 1918. SIR, We beg leave to approach you with reference to the vital question of Colonial reconstruction in territories, mainly African, where permanent White residence is impracticable.

We submit that whilst a detailed consideration of all the problems which are involved in this subject may be impossible at the Peace Congress, such consideration of detail could be committed to a Conference sitting within a definite period, and with adequate terms of reference, at an agreed date after the signing of Peace.

The established abuses arising from White contact with native races have been due principally to labour conditions, drink, and preventable diseases which together have decimated whole tribes in circumstances involving much suffering to the tribes themselves and grave prejudice to economic and ethical progress. In the economic sphere there is a further disadvantage from which these people undoubtedly suffer through prefer

ential duties imposed in the interest of European and American national trade.

We beg to urge upon your Excellency that the motive for Colonial expansion should be that implied in the term "Protectorate." This term implies that the overseas Powers should be in the position of Trustees for the well being of the inhabitants regardless either of national or colour distinction, a position which involves :--The abolition of every form of compulsory labour for private profit; the preservation of indigenous land rights; the rigid restriction of the sale of ardent spirits within the boundaries of all such Protectorate territories, such restriction again to be impartially imposed; the recognition of some Protectorate and Native rights over sub-surface values, forest and virgin produce; the prevention of communicable diseases.

In our opinion, the foregoing and kindred subjects which so vitally affect native races should form a legitimate sphere for super-national control by international agreement. At the same time we attach the greatest importance to the setting up of some permanent Court of Appeal before which Nations, Tribes, scientific and other recognized bodies could lay allegations of any violation of principles for which international agreement had been reached. In our opinion the existing international obligations have hitherto failed, and failed lamentably, owing to the fact that no machinery has existed for securing the applications of agreed principles. We attach hereto a copy of a statement of the case as advocated.

Under separate cover we are forwarding certain pamphlets bearing on the subject.

If permitted, we shall be happy to lay before. your Excellency any detailed material upon these subjects, but should it be possible to grant us the fayour of an interview, we should prefer to arrange for a small deputation to wait upon your Excellency at such time and place as you might be pleased to appoint.

We have, etc.,

FOR THE ANTI-SLAVERY AND ABORIGINES PROTECTION SOCIETY

(Signed) T. F. VICTOR BUXTON, President.

TRAVERS BUXTON, Secretary.

JOHN H. HARRIS, Organizing Secretary.

FOR THE EDINBURGH COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE RACES

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JOHN COWAN, Vice-Chairman [Conveners.

FOR THE GLASGOW COMMITTEE for the PROTECTION OF NATIVE RACES

SAMUEL CHISHOLM, Chairman.

RICHD. HUNTER, Vice-Chairman.

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