The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-26
HENSON REPEATS
HIS CRITICISMS
Rubber Directors Assail Preach
err for His Structures on AL
legged Atrocities.

London. August 25.-some interest
ing correspondence was published yes
terday which passed between the solic-
tors of the former directors OF ths
Peruviau-Amazon Company and canon
Herbert Hensley Henson regarding
the outspokcn sermon preached by Tho
latter on August at Westminsters
Abbey on the Peruvian rubber atroc-
tiles.
In his sermon Canon Hcnson dwelt
on the responsibility OF thu former d.
rectors OF the Peruvian COMPANY. OF
whom three We're Englishmen. whom
he mentioned by name
The actual perpetrators of the crimes
described in Sir Roger Easements re-
port were. he said. beyond reach. but
their employers, with whose guilty
even II knowing connlvance. the crimes
were committed and who share the
ploodstained gains which We're trans
mitted. arc here among u.s. Is it not
right to demand Justice from these
NEIL and notably that their leader.
tho arch-orgnnizer Of tho whole ,rag-
edy at Arana. be arrested ana brought
TO public trial?"
TO these structures Ashurst. Morris.
Crisp < Co. solicitors for Sir John
Lister Kaye. Mr. Gubbins and MIR
Read. the three former eN-directors.
whose names wore mentioned wrote
canon Henson letter. tn which they
described his statements as absolute
hntruths ana outrageous SANDERS and
as constituting an outrage upon every
precept OF fair play and justice. Thov
accused him OF attempting 10 screen
himself behind the sanctity OF tho pull
Pit OF Westminster Abbey. and con
Guided by asking in behalf Of their
clients what he proposed to do to make
amends for his conduct which. they
said. their clients were tustiAes as
describing MS unworthy of n Clergyman
OF the Church OF England unworthy Of
gentleman and unworthy OF a man.
They pointed out that their clients
were not directors Mt tho timo tho
atrocities were committed. and assert
that for some time the directors woro
ignorant OF the methods By which the
business was being conducted. and that
as soon as they knew they did what
they could TO put a stop to them.
The directors. so the solicitors
state. sent commissioner to Pu-
tumayo. and as a result report was
sent homo by him. Such drastic steps
were taken to alter tho conditions OF
the labor market that tho supply a.
rubber practically ceased ana the com
pnny went into liquidation.
Canon Henson. In hts reply to the
solicitors. maintained the justice OF
his criticisms. lie wrote:
II differ SO completely from your
clients in the view OF what is be-
fitting a clergyman. a gentleman. and
. man that you Will not be surprised
TO learn that I think nothing is re-
CURED from me In any OF those char
actcrs. which would abate anything of
tho severity and censure which I con
ceivcd myself called upon to pass on
the directors OF tho Peruvian Amazon
Company"
The canon referred with sat,sfac-
ton to the appointment OF a select
committee of the House of Commons
to Investigate the measure OF respon-
sibiliiy o. the English directors
For the directors to confess ig-
noranco' wrote the canon, lis to
acknowledge neglect OF duty. and In
this case very gross neglect"
Replying again to Canon Henson
the solicitors regretted that in place
of making amends. which an honorable
man would be anxious to make. you
attempt 10 justify yourself by quib-
bles and untruthtui statements"
They reiterated their contention that
the commission of inquiry to which
STR Roger Easement was attached by
the Foreign Office. was sent out by the
company spontaneously, and not as
Canon Henson alleged. under strong
pressure from the Foreign Office The
conduct of the directors OF 1908 was
condemned. the solicitors state be-
cause the statement was not based on
facts. 1t was demonstrated for the
first time by sir Rogers report In
1911 that the directors in 1909 did not,
in fact believe the alleged atrocities
and were justified in their disbelief by
the facts and circumstances. which
were duly placed before the Foreign
Office at the time and which show how
entirely the suggestion OF connivance
was negative