New-York tribune., 1907-12-30
DENY PIENAAR'S STORY
Portuguese Legation Sag Blacks 4re
Treated HumanelY.

Washington. Dec 29.-The Portuguese Legation
tonight replied to the statements recently made
by Joubert Pienaar, a former officer IN the Boef
army. to the existence of the slave trade In
Portuguese West Africa. The statement issued by
the legation is follows:
''Joubert Pienaar refugee in Portugal dur
ing the closing stages of the Boer war. Whet
peace made he. in common with many other
Beers, settled in the south of the Portuguese col
ony of Angola. 1t soon became apparent that these
Beers. ousted from the Transvaal by the British,
had plan foot to seize part of the portuguese
colony in West Africa and TO set up there new
independent Boer republic This was in accord
ance with their constant practice of trekkng
further aield in order to establish a new state
each time conditions became unfaVorable in their
old haunts for their peculiar mode of existence
1T was further ascertained that Pienaar was the
prime mover in this conspiracy. For this reason.
and other, he expelled from Portuguese
territory. Even in Penaar's statements there
is internal evidence Of the accuracy OF these re-
ports as he declares that If the British govern
1nent does not assist him TO get back his lands he
can get sufficient help from his brother Bocrs IN
Angola take them back by force of arms
''Pienaars complaints to the arbitrary con-
hscaton of his property and cattle are fnerely te
va porings Of his defeated ambitions In the foftu-
suese African colonies there laws and courts
which protect efficiently as in any other CIVIL
lied country the rights of private property.
1T is evidently unnecessary TO notice seriously
such ludicrous stories the thrusting by Portu-
cuese officials of redhot irons through the arms
and limbs of the natives In order 20 get them TO
bring in increased amount of rubber, especially
when IL is attempted 10 foist them upon the pupLc
from such a prejudced source.
while il IS Just within the limits of possibility
that sume isolated instances of wanton cruelty 10
the negroes may have occurred In the wilder parts
of the interior, as it might in any other country
similarly situated ii is absolutely certain that no
such case has been credbly reported TO the gov
ernment. Should any instance OF the kind be roa-
sonably substantiated. prompt punishment and
redress would follow matter OF course. for in
no country is public opinion more sensitive to the
miseries OF human suffering than in Portugal
which the first among the civilized nations of
world 10 abolish slavery Incidentally it may
be mentioned that, according 10 the Lisbon papers
the chief official III staff of the Minister OF the
Colonies is leaving Immediately for Angola in
to investigate personally whether there is
the slightest foundation in fact for the stories
which are being so industriousy bruitcd abroad
by interested parties
mo information has been received at the Iega-
ton to the alleged mortality among a batch OF
five hundred laborers sent to the Island of Prin-
cipe, of which only twelve survived at the end OF
ten months according TO Penaar's story. II is
possible that vessel taking natives the
island may have been wrecked on the coast and
that only twelve managed to get a. hore. it
may be that of the epidemics which have
sometimes wiped out whole villages in equatorial
Africa. broke among the men. To that extent
the story may be true But it is simply absurd on
the face of it to say that any such loss of life
could have occurred normally or through prevent
able causes. Even setting aside all considerations
of humanity. would incur the heavy ex
pense entailed in transporting Iaborers to the
islands were they rule, exposed TO become
unht for work almost soon they arrived.
That little is left undone the Island of ST
Thome 10 insure the health and comfort of the ma
tive laborers. is the opinion given to the world by
nearly all the distinguished foreigners who have
lately visited the island and among others by
such Michael Chevalier. Gravier Schultz
Spenger Montet. and by that distinguished British
official and explorer, Sir Harry Johnston
The mortality among the natives. only on
the islands but all through the length and breadth
Of equatorial Africa where the laborers come from
is very high; IT is appallingy SO. compared that
of temperate zones Whether this arises
from the natural features of the country, from
some peculiar disability of the by which II IS
inhabited. il is evident that Improvement in the
conditions only gradually be achieved sup
posing improvement is possible.
The death rate among the native laborers on
the much abused Island of ST. Thome is no higher
than that of the natives working in the mines of
perate climate. Even the most unhealthy plan
tations of island death does not exact heavy
a toll as Il does on the Central African natives en-
ploved in those mines"