LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
PORTUGUESE SLAVERY IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
[To THE EDITOR OF TER "SPECTATOR:1
SIR,—Those of us who listened to the debate on this subject in the House of Lords on Wednesday last regard the discus- sion with satisfaction in many respects, and not least because several points were brought out by leading peers, the import- ance of which has been emphasized by the press, and which you, Sir, have repeatedly urged in the columns of the Spectator. Though, as Lord Lansdowne said, the speech of Lord Morley "might not be as reassuring as had been desired," it was not unsatisfactory, for he admitted that the conditions of labour in Portuguese West Africa were, "in effect, bondage," and no attempt was made by any speaker to minimize the facts of this slavery. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Lansdowne called attention to two points which the Anti- Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, as you are aware, has often insisted upon, viz., the unfortunate tone of apology which has characterized recent British despatches on this matter, and the dilemma in which Great Britain is placed through the Anglo-Portuguese alliance. No doubt one arises from the other, but what has left "a very uncomfortable feel- ing " on the mind of the Archbishop, and which has similarly affected many other readers of the last White Book, has filled the Portuguese planters with delight, and they cannot find words in too high praise of these despatches, filling the columns of their subsidized press with eulogies of the British Foreign Office. It may, of course, be only a coincidence, but the fact remains that with the publication of these despatches the shipping of people from the mainland to the islands has been resumed on a large scale.
Both Lord Lansdowne and Lord Cromer referred to the serious dilemma with which a future British Foreign Minister may find himself confronted if, on the one hand, he is called upon by treaty obligations to use the Army and Navy of this country in the defence of these slave-owning colonies, whilst on the other he has to meet " an almost irresistible out- burst of public opinion" at home against such a course. Our Society believes that this situation, admittedly grave, should be regularized without delay, by insisting on real freedom being given to the slaves. We can only hope that the debate will clear the atmosphere on this subject, and that there will be a general response to the Archbishop's appeal to " create and strengthen a widespread public opinion both in this country and elsewhere," so that those who are interested in maintaining the existing system in Portugal will realize the strength and resoluteness of British abhorrence of slavery.—
Denison House, Secretary.
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