But this defalcation is only the beginning of the system
of fraud. The fund, allowing for the ordinary accretions and for a rate of interest of only 24 per cent.—for some pre- posterous reason no interest at all has been paid—should amount now to a quarter of a million sterling. Yet Mr. Wingfield has informed the British Government that it amounts to only £125,000. If the British Government admitted that there is slavery in Portuguese West and East Africa they might be excused from pressing the Portuguese Government for explanations, on the ground that slaves have no rights. But as the Government, in their more recent per- formances in shilly-shallying, apparently do not admit the existence of slavery, it is impossible to justify their contention that the cheating of contract labourers—who, of course, have legal rights, and some of whom are British subjects—is only a matter of domestic concern for the Portuguese planters. We sincerely hope that when the Foreign Office Vote is discussed in the House of Commons next week those who are conscious of our heavy responsibilities through our alliance with Portugal will resolutely force the Government to declare their convictions one way or the other.
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