HIS VISIT TO ARANA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 12, 14 June 1913, Page 9

HIS VISIT TO ARANA.

"Have you ever met Senor Arana?" "Yes, 1 met Mm at Iquitos, when I related our experiences to him; he only smiled, and seemed to think we ought to be thankful we were still alive; I left him disgusted, and convinced that if any improvement in the treatment of the natives were to be secured, public opinion in England must be awakened. Not having, however, sufficient means to proceed at once to this country, I stayed at Iquitos, and taught the English language to Peruvians iu order to obtain money to pay my passage here. At Iquitos, too, I collected many sworn affidavits, some of which appear in my book, and the. material in support of my charges against the company, of which material there is only too much easily obtainable. On arriving in London I went to several newspaper offices and to one publisher, but editors and puhlishers alike thought my story too terrible to be creditable, and declined to publish it. I was recommended to Mr. F. W. Hirst, the editor of the Economist, who sent me on to the Rev. J. W. Harris, now of the Anti-Slavery Society, and it was through this society, and thanks to the splendid courage of Truth, that my articles were published, and that I received support." . is now your immediate purpose?" "I have come to England," said Mr. Hardenburg, "for three things: First, to confront my accusers; second, to appear before the Select Committee of the House of Commons in order to answer any questions the members may wish to address to me; thirdly, to speak at the annual public meeting of the Anti-Slav-ery Society. BUTCHERED LIKE SHEEP. "I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the British public and the Press of England for the way in which they have come to grips with the Peruviant Amazon Company, generally known as the irana Company. The best news I have received for a long time was the cable I got in New York before sailing, saying that Arana had been removed from his position of liquidator to the company by Mr. Justice Swinfen Eady, whose impressive judgment, now published in pamphlet form, I understand, by the Anti-Slavery Society, should be read by all who want to know how it is that some 40,000 Indians have been destroyed in about 10 yeads to produce some 4000 tons of rubber, sold in the English market for just over £1,000,000. The natives of Putumayo are a most gentle, inoffensive people, and have been butchered like sheep. The one instance of any momentarily effective resistance to their tortures was that of the Boras Indian Katenere, who, because his wife was seized by the infamous scoundrel, Bartolome Zumaeta—another of Arana's brothers-in-law—and added to his harem. ■Waylaid and shot him." '"Did Arana know of the atrocities?" "Of course he knew; he was the head of the business, its guiding spirit, and there is plenty of evidence that he knew. In those regions his word and will were law, and no one could pass without his permission. Did not the baeks of his slaves bear his sign manual branded on them? How could he have escaped knowing?"