The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-10
Forced Labor i'm Africa

NEW YORK-The February number Of 1.-THE
International Negro Workers Review" contains
an expose by Comrade j. w. Ford OF the role
played by the European social fascsts and re-
formists in the Second international and the
Amsterdam International in support OF forced
labor and slavery in the African colonies of the
imperalists.
Comrade Ford points out that "Year after year
Albert Thomas, director of the International La
Dor Office, has tried without any shame to do
everything in his power to conceal the existence
of forced labor amongst Negroes and actually I'M
der the direction and influence of the Second
International and the Amsterdam International
has carried out policy of perpetuating slavery
and forced labor"
Ford completely shows up the hypocrisy and
deceit of the International Labor Office and the
refornists in che manner in which they handled
and finally killed the various fake commissions
appointed by the League of Nations to inquire
into" the question of forced labor and slavery in
the colonies. He thoroughly unnasks the be-
travail of the colonial masses by the leaders OF
the Amsterdam International:
an Jouhaux Secretary of the General Con-
federation of Labor of France and leader in
the l. L. o. declared in LIE Peuple,' the issue
of october II, 1927:
"In those countries with a backward popu-
lation one can hardly count on the voluntary
labor of natives in order to lay roads, for the
extension of enterprises in the interests OF pene-
trating into the country and its development.
The future advantage of this work, described by
U.S. is a still smaller Indictment.
"'From the philosophical point of view the
inadmissibility of forced labor may be recog-
nized. In reality, however,-and this is the
whole crux of the colonial question-in sonme in
stances the necessity of forced labor is indis-
putable. From the purely philosophical point
of view the colonial system as a whole is con-
demned 1t is clear. however, that the tendency
towards new possessions and riches will not hes
itate before these arguments. In the same way
it is impossible to expect that the industrialists
will stop utilizing the distant countries.
After quoting this reformist, Comrade Fore
points out that Belgian socialists are stock
holders, bankers and even managers of exploit
ing concerns in the Belgian Congo. What are
the facts about forced labor conditions amongst
the Negro toilers Even here the no has been
forced because the conditions are so well-known
to make some pretense of exposing them. Some
of the effects of slavery can be enumerated as
follows: (a) the violation of contract agree
ments' is criminal offense in South and East
Africa; natives must carry passes showing that
they have done the work agreed upon, without
these they are thrown into prison as criminals
and prosecuted accordingly; Cb) governmental
apparatus is used in all parts of Africa to re-
cruit native labor; Co public assembly is pro-
hibited; Cd trade union organizations are pro-
hibited for settlers and contracting companies;
(e) wages do not exist, so-called wages where
they do exist are fixed arbitrarily by the bosses
and the natives have no say-so in the matter;
% in the mine regions of South Africa there
has not been an increase in the so-called wages
for the past 80 years From their brief summary
alone the Negro toilers can see how ruthless
and hypocrtical the Great Powers are and what
a tool the International Labor Office is of the
Powers"
spite of the high economic level attained the
intellectual level is that of Gotham
With the aid of the same scientific methods as
those employed for the decision Of biological
questions by the small minds instigating the
monkey trial, commission appointed by the
American parliament today undertakes to form
Judgment on questions touching the develop
ment of the world and the tremendous contradic-
tons which this development involves.
The results of the work of the Commission,
barely outlined here, offer excellent material for
a comic Wild West film.
1t is, however, TO be regretted that the mental
level evidenced by the work of the Fish Commits
sion forms danger to the relations between
two countries which, in spite Of the fundamental
differences of their social systems, could for a
long time develop their economic relations very
sccessflIlly There are prominent blIsiness cir