Annual Report, 1926.

THE adoption by the League of Nations of the Convention on Slavery at the Seventh Assembly last year is a notable landmark in the work of our Society, which may fairly claim to have had some part in the inception of the Committee appointed to enquire into slavery in all its forms. The Convention, as signed by no less than thirty Powers at Geneva, was on the whole stronger than the first draft, although the British delegates were unable, owing to the opposition of certain Powers, to insert a clause treating the slave trade as piracy; but another Convention is to be introduced, dealing solely with slave trade on the high seas. The article on forced labour, representing, in Lord Cecil's words, a definite attempt to deal with the question in a general international agreement, marked, as he said, important progress. It now seems certain that a Convention on coloured labour will form a permanent part of the work of the International Labour Office, for which a special department will be created. Our Committee has appointed a special sub-Committee, in co-operation with the League of Nations Union, to investigate the question of contract and forced labour, and it is recognised that its members will be entitled to make representations and suggestions when the time comes. The meeting of experts is fixed for next June.

Lord Cecil attended a private luncheon arranged by the Society in November, and was good enough to answer questions as to how it can render the most effective help to make the Convention a reality.

There has been little further information on conditions Abyssinia. in Abyssinia, but the Society received a request from the Foreign Office to assist towards the establishment by Dr. George Martin of a school for freed slaves in the capital. The Secretaries and some Members of the Committee met Mr. Bentinck, the British Minister who explained the scheme, and the Committee expressed its willingness to try to raise an initial gift and an annual subscription to the proposed school which had received help from the Empress and from Ras Taffari, the Regent. It was arranged that the management of the fund raised should be in the hands of a small Committee which would include Mr. Bentinck, and would be responsible for the organisation of the school. We learn from the Minister who has now returned to Abyssinia, that as no building has yet been erected on the site given by the Regent, the money is not required at present. "Things," he writes, "move slowly in this country."

Abolition of
Slavery in
Nepal.

The great scheme of the Maharaja has been successfully carried through, over 51,000 of the slave population of nearly 60,000 having been freed by the Government at a cost of £275,250 for compensation-less than was anticipated. One thousand two hundred and eighty-one owners volunteered to release their slaves without compensation; these

numbered 4,651. Only a small minority of the owners (467 out of 15,719) desired the retention of slavery.

The highest credit is due to the enlightened ruler who conceived the plan for abolishing a system, by the excesses and abuses of which he was profoundly impressed, and who, undismayed by the magnitude and difficulties of the task, brought it to a successful issue.

The Committee passed a resolution of cordial congratulations to His Highness the Maharaja, which was acknowledged by him in warm

terms.

Questions relating to the Natives of Kenya Colony, Kenya Colony. including, of course, those of land and labour, have again been prominent; and legislation was proposed imposing the death penalty for certain offences against women. Owing to the constant demand for a larger supply of labour, proposals were made in Kenya for a Labour Commission, at which the importation of foreign labour would be asked for. The Society noted with satisfaction an assurance given by Sir Edward Grigg to the Convention of Associations, that the Government would not employ compulsion of any sort to obtain labour from the Reserves. The Native," he said, "must have the fullest opportunity of developing the areas secured to him."

A public Conference on Kenya and the East African territories was called for February 17th in the Caxton Hall, when Lord Cranworth and other representatives of the Settlers were present and took part. Resolutions were passed, urging His Majesty's Government to adhere to the declaration of Trusteeship affirmed in 1923, and to the refusal to grant responsible government (or "an unofficial majority,") to the Settlers. The prohibition of all forced labour, and guarantees against pressure, direct or indirect, to induce Natives to work for European employers rather than on their own lands, were asked for, as well as the vesting of all tribal lands in a Trust, the extension of the activities of the Agricultural Department, and adequate representation of Native interests in the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Colony.

Labour

Conditions

in

Portuguese

Africa.

We referred in last year's Report to the appointment by the Portuguese Government of a Commission of Colonials "to study the measures to be taken

to carry out the laws in force, and to put an end to abuses if any exist." The Society received this information. from the Portuguese Ambassador in London, in February, 1926, but repeated subsequent enquiries failed to elicit any further information. The Committee then approached the Foreign Office, with whom correspondence followed, which is still continuing.

Some startling statements upon the slave raids carried out by Portuguese in Angola have appeared in a Memorial sent to the Mandates Commission by Mr. W. H. Stuart, M.L.A., of South Africa, while other information

received from Missionaries alleges the forcing of men, women and children by the police to labour far from their homes, and the victimisation of the Natives who gave evidence to Professor Ross and his companions. The Portuguese Government states that the law respecting native labour is being entirely remodelled, and that forced labour is only to be permitted when absolutely indispensable for urgent public works. To this the Society has replied that it is not so much the Portuguese laws (which are often excellent) to which the Society has taken exception, but rather to the fact that the laws have not been administered.

Southern Rhodesia.

The Society memorialised the Dominions Office in regard to the Report of the Land Commission of which Sir Morris Carter was Chairman, declaring that the present right of Natives to purchase land without restriction should not be surrendered except for an adequate quid pro quo, and that to limit the areas purchasable by them to some 8,000,000 acres out of a total 43,000,000 would be grossly disproportionate. Areas left over for future consideration should, the Commission suggested, be held in trust by the Crown for future Native acquisition.

The Dominions Office was also approached by the Society upon the Native Juveniles' Employment Act, which amounted to the sanction of a form of indentured labour, in that young persons could, under certain conditions, be" contracted" to an employer without their consent. This question has been raised in the House of Commons, but the Home Government has declined to interfere.

South Africa. The Society has regarded with suspicion and alarm the Native legislation brought forward by the Government of the Legislation. Union, which includes four Bills, dealing with the questions of the colour bar in industry, native land and native franchise, holding that these measures impose substantial disabilities upon the Natives of the Union. To discriminate between races on the ground of colour is a backward step, and violates the ideals and traditions of the British Empire, while the same may be said of the proposal to deprive the Cape Natives of the political rights which they have enjoyed without abuse for three-quarters of a century. The scheme for providing for representation of the Natives in Parliament appears to be illusory and unsound. The Committee endeavoured to approach General Hertzog when he was in this country for the meetings of the Imperial Conference, but the Premier pleaded the press of engagements which prevented him from receiving a deputation. Some of our members had the benefit of hearing the views of Mr. Howard Pim, of Johannesburg, when in London for a short time, who as President of the Joint Council of Europeans and Natives explained their reasons for strongly opposing General Hertzog's policy. The Society feels that while it is impossible to take any direct

action against policy in the Dominions it should at least be urged that no further transfer of Native territories to the Union should be sanctioned by His Majesty's Government while the present anti-native legislation is being put on the Statute Book.

The Johannesburg Joint Council has issued two excellent pamphlets explaining and condemning the proposed solution of the Native question.

At the Annual Meeting held on the 29th of June, Mr. Annual Meeting. St. Loe Strachey gave an eloquent address on Slavery and the League of Nations which has been since published, and a resolution of appreciation of the work accomplished by the British Government at Geneva in connection with the Slavery Convention was passed. Lord Olivier moved a resolution of protest against the Colour Bar Act in South Africa.

Several new members have been added to the Society's The Committee. Committee during the year. Mr. Edward Bateson, Dr. Robert Howard as representing the Universities Mission to Central Africa, and five Members of Parliament, belonging to all parties, viz., Mr. G. M. Gillett, Commander Hon. J. M. Kenworthy, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bart., Mr. E. Thurtle and Col. Rt. Hon. J. C. Wedgwood. We regret to have lost the services of the Rev. Canon Simpson, who resigned owing to other engagements.

Obituary.

The following members and friends of the Society have been lost by death during the year: Mr. Francis Allen, Dr. R. W. Felkin (formerly on the Committee), Miss Isabella Fry, Mr. J. B. Hodgkin, Miss C. E. Gibbons, Dr. Frances Hoggan, Mr. C. E. Maurice, Rev. Dr. Ogilvie, Miss Rains, Mrs. Leigh Sodipe, of Sierra Leone, Mr. W. G. Rushbrooke, the Rev. F. W. Walker (of Papua), Mr. Baillie Weaver, Miss Winterbottom, Mr. Forbes Moncrieff, Mrs. Mounsey and Dr. Philip Wicksteed.

Meetings.

During the year a large number of meetings were addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary in many different parts of the country, including Bristol, Lincoln, Lancaster, Folkestone, Cambridge, Darlington and Manchester.

Finance.

The growth in the work of the Society, and the fact that no legacies have been received for several years, makes it the more necessary that, in view of the important demands which are made upon it, its regular income should be increased. In order to avoid the annual appeals which are necessary at the end of every year to our chief friends and supporters, if we are to avoid a deficit in the Society's funds, we earnestly ask all who desire to see justice done to Native Races to come to our help and become regular subscribers.

Barbour, Miss M. S.

Barbour, Mrs. R. W.

Barclay, R. L., C.B.E.

Barrow, Miss

Basden, D. F.

700

000

6099900