RUBBER SCANDALS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1487, 9 July 1912, Page 5

RUBBER SCANDALS.

APPALLING CONDITIONS IN PERU. By Telegraph—Press Association—Odpyrlßht London, July 7. The "Daily Chronicle" states that Sir Bogcr Casement, British Consul at Para, has presented to Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of Stato foT Foreign Affairs, his report on the Peruvian rubber scandals. Tho revelations are appalling. SLAVEEY AND' , BEU.TALITY. It is a ehock to our civilisation (says the London "Daily News") to hear it alleged that tho hideous regime which has so long disgraced the Congo has almost its replica in the treatment meted out to the natives of the forests of the Amazon in Peru by the agents of the rubber companies.These "Indians," as they are always termed, belong to the aboriginal tribes of the almost impenetrable forests at the source of the Amazon ou the eastern side of the Andes, and are a'vary different race from that conquered by Piznrro, whoso descendants, with their quaint, almost Tibetan features, form tho native population of the narrow but best known portion of ■ the Peruvian territory between the mountains and the sea.

In the fastnesses of their luxuriant forests, where the rank vegetation means fever and probably death to most white men, they have for centuries lived a quiet, unmolested existence, and are therefore by nature quiet and unwarlike, eo that thfy aro all the more likely to. fall the victims of barbarities, of which, it is said; rubber agents are guilty. The only town of size in ithis district isi Iquitos, where the headquarters of the rnbber industry are situated. Scattered throughout the forests are 45 other stations, to which the natives of the districts have to bring their toll of rubber gathered in the forests. Each sub-agent is assisted by a "number of armed "sentries," mostly low caste Peruvians, who, it is alleged,- if the required quantity of rubber is not brought in by -the Indians, mercilessly punish the offenders by flogging, mutilation, and even brutal murder. A missionary from Cuzco, the .nearest Protestant mission station to the forest region, speaking to a "Daily News" representative with regard to the alcgations of cruelty made against the agents of the rubber companies, said it was a difficult matter to know exactly what did take place in the unfrequented Montana (i.e., forest) region. It was commonly acknowledged, however, that a. very definite amount of slavery was in existence, the plan being to visit a native village, mako most of the able-bodied men drank, and before they recovered their senses to carry them off to tho forests to collect the .rubber. Scanty payment is made in goods, but euro is always taken to keep tiie natives in debt so that the agents, who unfortunately are mostly low-class Englishment and Americans, have a complete hold over the workers.