27 JULY 1918, Page 12

THE GERMAN EAST AFRICAN SLAVES.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR,"] Sza,—Every lover of Africa is indebted to you for so boldly stating the moral obligation and the political wisdom of setting free the slaves of German East Africa. There is yet another con- sideration—viz., the economic one. German East Africa is no exception to the rule that slavery leads to economic disaster. German statesmen and colonists advanced every reason for the economic failure of German East Africa except this, the true one. Whatever the political future of this territory, the first step towards progress and stability is the abolition of slavery, whilst the political wisdom of setting the slaves free Would, as you rightly say, strike the imagination of the native tribes throughout