There is every prospect of the arrangement being developed to the extent of enabling Angolan labour to be permanently dispensed with, and possibly superseding Mozambique importations as well.”

Colonel Wyllie then goes on to say:  “The company and its agents complain of the many obstacles they have had to overcome in the form of hostility and intrigue on the part of interested parties.  Systematic attempts have been made in Liberia to intimidate the gangs from going to San Thome by tales of cruelty practised by the Portuguese in the islands.”  More especially it would appear that the “missionaries” have been advising the Liberians not to accept the offers made to them.  It is not altogether surprising that they should do so, for the Portuguese have acquired an evil reputation which it will take time to efface.  To an outside observer it would appear that an admirable opportunity is here afforded for the Portuguese Government and the Anti-Slavery Society, who are in close relation with many of the missionaries, to co-operate in the attainment of a common object.  Why should not the Portuguese authorities invite some agents of the Anti-Slavery Society to visit the islands and place before them evidence which will enable them conscientiously to guarantee proper treatment to the Liberian labourers, and why, when they are once convinced, should not those agents, far from discouraging, encourage Liberians, and perhaps others, to go to San Thome?  If this miracle could be effected—­and with real good-will on both sides it ought to be possible to effect it—­a very great step in advance would have been taken to solve this difficult problem.  But in order to realise such an ideal, mutual confidence would have to be established.  When the affairs of the Congo were under discussion the Belgian air was thick with rumours that British humanitarianism was a mere cloak to hide the greed of British merchants.  Similar ideas are, it would appear, now afloat at Lisbon.  When men’s pockets are touched they are apt to become extremely suspicious of humanitarian intentions.  Mr. Wingfield, writing on August 17, 1912, said that the Portuguese Government was not “convinced of the disinterestedness of all those who criticise them,” and he intimated that there were schemes on foot on the part of British subjects to acquire “rocas” in the islands “at very low prices.”  It ought not to be difficult to convince the Portuguese authorities that the agents employed by the Anti-Slavery Society are in no way connected with any such projects.  On the other hand, it would be necessary that those agents should be very carefully chosen, that besides being humanitarians they should have some knowledge of business, and that they should enter upon their inquiry in a spirit of fairness, and not with any preconceived intention to push to an extreme any suspicions they may entertain of Portuguese acts and intentions.  It is suggested that the adoption of some such mode of proceeding as is here indicated is worthy of consideration.  The Foreign Office might very properly act as an intermediary to bring the two parties together.