LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

SLAVE-GROWN COCOA.

[To THIS EDITOR Ole TII SI' ICOTAT011.".1

Sin,—We have pleasure on behalf of the firms interested in enclosing a statement on the above subject, which we trust you will find of sufficient public interest to merit reproduction in your paper.—We are, Sir, Ste., Bournville, near Birvtinghant.

CADBURY BROTHERS, Ltd.

"Mr. William A. Cadbury returned to England last week from a journey, extending over five months, to the Portuguese Islands of S. Thome and Principe, and to the mainland of Angola, in which he was accompanied by Mr. Joseph Burtt. The object of his visit was to ascertain to what extent the promises of reform made to him at Lisbon in December, 1907, by the Portuguese Government had boon carried out. These pro- .mises were the result of the presentation to the Government and the Estate Proprietors of the report of Mr. Joseph Burtt and Dr. W. Claude Horton. It will be remembered that these gentlemen were sent out in 1905 by the three principal English cocoa firms and a leading German firm to investigate the conditions of indentured labour in S. Thome and Principe, and the methods by which it was recruited in Angola, and that their enquiry lasted nearly two years.

Mr. Cadbury has found that no adequate steps have yet been taken to remedy the evils proved to exist. He intends very shortly to publish a full narrative of his investigations.

His report has been carefully considered by the three firms on Whose behalf he went out :—Messrs. Cadbury Bros., Ltd., Bourn- vibe ; Messrs. J. S. Fry and Sons, Ltd., Bristol ; and Messrs. Rowntree and Co., Ltd., York. These Erma have come to the conelusion that the time has now arrived when they must mark, by definite action, their disappointment at the failure of the Portuguese Government to fulfil the pledges of reform, ou the strength of which they agreed for a time to continue commercial relations with the islands.

They have therefore decided not to make any further purchases of the cocoa produced in the islands of S. Thome and Principe.

They will watch with sympathetic interest any efforts which may be made by the Portuguese Government or by the Estate Proprietors to remedy the °vile of the existing system. They will be prepared to reconsider their decision as to purchase when they are satisfied that such reforms have been carried out as to secure to the indentured labourers from Angola, not merely on paper but in actual fact, freedom in entering into the contract of service and full opportunity of returning to their homes when the con- tract expires."

[We publish this statement with the greatest possible satis- faction. Since its receipt we are glad to bear that one of the most important of Continental firms, Messrs. Stollweroks of Cologne, has united with the British firms in the above state- ment. We are asked to state, however, that Messrs. Stoll- • wercks, while joining in the action as to San Thome and Principe cocoa, wish to acknowledge the efforts they feel the planters are making in the direction of reform. The firms, British and foreign, which have thus pledged themselves not to use the slave-grown cocoa of San Thome and Principe are :-

Army and Navy Stores.

Cadbury Brothers.

Co-operative Wholesale Society. Epps and Co. Pry and Sons.

Rowntree and Co.

Stollwercks.

Such arc'.

Van Houten.

The public may now feel that in using the cocoa manufactured by any of these firms they will not be indirectly sanctioning and encouraging slave-raiding, slave-trading, and slave- keeping. That the remaining British manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate will quickly follow the example set them we cannot doubt, and we hope by next week to be able to add many names to the list of firma who refuse to use

slave-grown cocoa. We must note, however, that the manu- facturers named above have made no attempt to base any claim for preferenee on the ground of their action. That action is caused solely by their desire to put an end to slavery. They have done their duty, and it is now for the public to do thei

to mark their sympathy with those manufacturers who refuse to continue the use of slave-grown cocoa and their diaappro- bation of those, should there be any, who refuse to admit that the origin of the raw material is any concern of theirs. In the last resort it is a consumer's question, and the consumer must find the remedy.. We cannot leave the subject without expressing our deep sense of gratitude to Mr. William Cadbury for the self-sacrifice which he has shown in giving up many months of a busy life to learn the facts at first hand. Travelling in Portuguese West Africa is no holiday task.— En. Spectator.]