History of the Pan-African Congress, George Padmore (editor) 1947

Fraternal Greetings.
The last session of the Congress was given over to a crowded mass meeting, marked by the exchange of many fraternal greetings. On the previous evening a banquet was held at which many complimentary speeches were made.

Mr. T. R. Makonnen, Treasurer of the Pan-African Federation, presented Dr. W. E. Burghardt Du Bois, on behalf of the delegates, with a silver cigarette box as a small token of the affection and esteem felt towards him and the great Africo-American people he represented.

Greetings to Afro-Americans.
This ceremony was associated with the following resolution conveying the greetings and support of the Congress to National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People of America: “The Fifth Pan-African Congress greets the heroic struggles of the thirteen million people of African descent in the United States in their fight to secure the rights of full citizenship, political, economic and social. Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the world will continue to support their Afro-American brothers in their fight for their rights by intelligent organised planning, legal contention and political pressure. This Congress endorses Afro-American opposition to unequal distribution of wealth, the rule of wealth and the conduct of industry solely for private profit. This Congress supports- the attitude of Afro-Americans in offering- to unite their effort with trade union labour. This Congress believes that the successful realisation of the political, economic and social aspirations of the thirteen million people in the United States is bound up with the emancipation of all African peoples, as well as other dependent people and the working class everywhere.”

Greetings to the masses of India.
Mr. George Padmore, on behalf of the Standing Orders Committee, proposed the following resolution conveying solidarity with the Indian struggle, which was seconded by Mr. Ken Hill and adopted by the Congress with loud acclaim: “We, the representatives of African peoples and peoples of African descent assembled at the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, do hereby send fraternal greetings to the toiling masses of India through the Indian National Congress and pledge our solidarity with the Indian struggle for national freedom and social emancipation.”

Greetings to Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Fifth Pan-African Congress, representing people of Africa and African descent now in session in the City of Manchester, extends its fraternal greetings to the struggling peoples of Indonesia and Viet-Nam in their struggle against Dutch and French Imperialisms, and pledge solidarity with them in their fight for national freedom and economic emancipation.

HANDS OFF INDONESIA! HANDS OFF VIETNAM!

Messages.
From Africa – Gold Coast.
A cable was received from the President of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society of the Gold Coast, instructing the delegates from that territory that there must be no compromise on the question of independence of the Colonies. The cable said: “We request you to emphasise that in considering any proposal or scheme for self-government, emphasis should be laid on two facts that are often overlooked, namely; first, that Africa was self-governing before Europe tampered with her usages and institutions; secondly, that self-government need not be according to English models or ideals. It is not true that responsible and representative government is the invention of British statecraft. The British are notoriously incapable of recognizing democracy in any country unless it wears an English garb or expresses itself in terms intelligible to the English mind. But the English form of democracy cannot work in non-English countries, Even the American variant differs essentially from the English. Provision should therefore be made in every constitution for the control of the legislature by a supreme court with wide powers, which can pronounce as to the validity or invalidity of questionable or unconstitutional measures.”

From the Secretary of the Joint Provisional Council of the Gold Coast. “I have been instructed by the Joint Provisional Council of the Gold Coast to wish your congress all success.”

South Africa.
From Professor D. D. T. Jabavu of South African Native College, President of the Non-European Convention: “It is absolutely impossible for an African to get a passage to England within so short a time. Nevertheless, both my wife and myself wish the congress all success and prosperity.”

From the Secretary of the African National Congress of South Africa: “I can assure the Congress that my organisation appreciates your kind invitation. We are already making preparation and arrangements to attend if we can an obtain passports. These arrangements are being made in conjunction with our President-General of the African National Congress, Dr. A. B. Xuma.”

(Unfortunately the South African delegates were unable to obtain passports and could not attend. – Editor).

West Indies (Jamaica).
Mr. T. E. Sealy, Coordinating Editor, The Daily Gleaner, Jamaica, British West Indies: “My message to the congress, one which I hope is consistent with your programme, is that respect will come to us Negro peoples, fully, only when we have won the fight for political self-determination wherever we may be. Where we are numerically in the majority we must have a correspondingly preponderant influence and power in a self-governing authority. Where we remain a minority we must have protection and privileges equal to those demanded by and afforded to the dominant majorities. I believe that until the world becomes a rational Utopia people will always have racial and other prejudices. But prejudices must not be allowed to have legal, political or economic status, must not be permitted to deprive of us of full opportunity. Give us-we demand it-educational, economic and political freedom, and we will by our own constructive lives prove fraudulent and empty the social prejudices of the ‘superior peoples’.”

Message from India.
Mr. Surat Ali, Federation of Indian Associations in Great Britain, expressed pleasure in being able to address the Congress, in which he was interested for three reasons: he had worked a great deal with African seamen, he was a working man, and he was an Indian. Relations between Indians and Africans were not only those of the common struggle, they were also historic. An Indian philosopher had said: “As long as there is one man oppressed the whole Indian nation feels oppressed: so long as there is one man who is not emancipated, I do not feel that I am emancipated.” This is the message he brought to greet the Congress on behalf of the Indian people in Britain. This common struggle should bring Indians and Africans closer to realising their ancient relationship, so that coloured people would no longer be oppressed.

British Political Organisations.
Communists.
From the District Secretary, Communist Party (Lancashire and Cheshire District): “I have been instructed to convey to you our sincere fraternal greetings, and to say that we believe the following two points should be the basis of a campaign in the Labour Movement in this country on the problems with which you are dealing:

(1) A clear declaration from the British Government that the principles of the Atlantic Charter apply to the Colonial peoples, with special emphasis on Clause 3, as follows -’they respect the form of government under which they will live, and they wish to see sovereign rights and self-determination restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them.’

(2) A comprehensive programme of immediate reforms to be applied to each colony at once, such reforms to cover the removal of restrictions upon civil rights; freedom of organisation and press; the abolition of the poll and hut tax; the abolition of pass laws; the securing of universal adult suffrage to the Legislative Council and local government; elementary education to be made accessible and compulsory for all children of school age; the extension of secondary, technical and higher education; the introduction of adequate public health services; the introduction of minimum labour and social legislation; access to the land and comprehensive housing programme.

Allow me to wish you the very best success in your efforts.” – Pat Devine, District Secretary.

Lancashire I.L.P. “Sends fraternal greetings to the delegates and wishes the congress all success.”

Common Wealth Party.“Sends fraternal greetings and best wishes to the congress for every success. Common Wealth wishes to be associated with the colonial peoples in the common struggle for the common man everywhere.”

Socialist Vanguard Group.
“We are in complete agreement and sympathy with the basic objects and proposed activities of the congress and wish you all success.”

Support for British Political Prisoners.
The Congress welcomed Miss Dinah Stock, delegate from the Freedom Defence Committee of London. Miss Stock asked the delegates to give their support to a petition by the Freedom Defence Committee to the British Government, asking that certain political prisoners held under Defence of the Realm Regulation 18b now be granted amnesty. This petition the delegates later signed.

[continued]

Delegates and Organisations.
West Africa.
Sierra Leone:

Teachers’ Union Rev. HARRY E. SAWYER

Trade Union Congress I. T. A. WALLACE-JOHNSON

Youth LeagueI. T. A. WALLACE-JOHNSON

The People’s Forum L. SANKOH

Nigeria:

Trades Union Congress A. SOYEMI COKER

The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons MAGNUS WILLIAMS, F. B. JOSEPH

Nigerian Youth Movement O. AWOLOWO, H. O. DAVIES

Calabar Improvement League E. B. NDEM

Gold Coast:

Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society G. ASHIE-NIKOI

Gold Coast Farmers’ Association W. J. KWESI MOULD, G. ASHIE-NIKOI

African Railway Employees Union J. S. ANNAN

Friends of African Freedom Society B. A. RENNER, Mrs. RENNER

Gambia:

National Council of Gambia J. DOWNES-THOMAS

Trades Union E. GARBA-JAHUMPA

Liberia:

Progressive Society J. TOBIE, R. BROADHURST

East and South Africa.
Uganda:

The Young Baganda I. YATU

Tanganyika S. RAHINDA

Kenya:

Kikuyu Central Association African Union JOMO KENYATTA

Nyasaland:

Nyasaland African Congress Dr. HASTINGS K. BANDA

South Africa:

African National Congress MARKO HLUBI, PETER ABRAHAMS

West Indies.
Antigua:

Workers’ Union R. G. SMALL, W. R. AUSTIN

Barbados:

Progressive League E. de L. YEARWOOD

Workers’ Union A. MOSELEY

Bahamas:
R. JOHNSON, J. McCASKIE, R. D. WATSON, J. M. KING

Bermuda:

Workers’ Association G. R. TUCKER

British Guiana:

Trades Union Council D. M. HARPER

African Development Association W. MEIGHAN, Dr. P. MILLIARD

British Honduras:

Workers’ League G. CARGILL, H. DAWSON, H. T. WEIR

Grenada:

Labour Party S. J. ANDREWS

Jamaica:

Trades Union Council KEN HILL

People’s National Party L. A. THOYWELL-HENRY

Ex-British West Indies Regt. Assn.

Universal Negro Improvement Assn. Miss ALMA LA BADIE

Garvey’s African Communities League L. A. THOYWELL-HENRY, V. G. HAMILTON, K. BOXER

St. Kitts:

Workers’ League R. JOHNSON

St. Kitt-Nevis Trades and Labour Union E. McKENZIE-MAVINGA, J. A. LINTON

St. Lucia:

Seamen’s and Waterfront Workers’ Union J. M. KING

Trinidad and Tobago:
Federated Workers’ Trade Union G. PADMORE

Negro Welfare and Cultural Assn. C. LYNCH

West Indies National Party C. LUSHINGTON

Labour Party E. McKENZIE-MAVINGA

Oilfield Workers’ Union JOHN ROJAS

Trade Union Congress RUPERT GITTENS

GREAT BRITAIN.
The Negro Association, Manchester C. PEART, M. I. FARO, F. NILES, Dr. P. MILLIARD, F. W. BLAINE

The Negro Welfare Centre, Liverpool J. E. TAYLOR, E. J. DUPLAN, C. D. HYDE, E. A. COWAN, K. E. TAYLOR

Coloured Workers’ Association E. P. MARKE, E. A. AKI-EMI, J. NORTEY

United Committee of Coloured and Colonial People’s Assn., Cardiff A. E. MOSSELL, S. J. S. ANDREW, J. NURSE, M. HASSAN, B. RODERICK

African Students’ Union of Edinburgh J. C. de GRAF JOHNSON

The Young African Progressive League R. FINI, E. BROWN, G. NELSON, A. AGUNSANYA

League of African Peoples, Birmingham Dr. C. J. PILISO

West African Students’ Union, London F. R. KANKAM BOADU, J. E. APPIAH, F. O. B. BLAIZE

International African Service Bureau T. R. MAKONNEN, Mrs. ASHWOOD GARVEY, G. PADMORE, P. ABRAHAMS, F. K. NKRUMAH

African Progressive Assn. London K. O. LARBI

Assn. of African Descent, Dublin JA-JA WACHUKU

Fraternal Delgates and Observers:
Committee of Cyprus Affairs L. JOANNOU

Somali Society ISMAIL DORBEH ALI MEBAH

Federation of Indian Organisations in Britain SURAT ALLEY

Ceylon Lanka Sama Samaj T. B. SUBASINGHA

Women’s International League Miss H. BURTON

Commonwealth Miss LEEDS

Independent Labour Party JOHN McNAIR

Negro Welfare Assn Miss LEVY, Miss R. B. ROSE, Miss A. B. BLAINE

Committees.
The following committees were appointed by the Plenary Session of Congress:

Standing Orders Committee:
G. PADMORE, Chairman.

B. A. RENNER, Secretary.

E. A. AKI-EMI, J. S. ANNAN, T. R. MAKONNEN.

Credentials Committee:
J. KENYATTA, Chairman.

F. B. JOSEPH, Secretary.

E. A. COWAN, A. S. MOSSELL, J. TAYLOR.

Publicity Committee:
E. ABRAHAMAS, Chairman.

K. F. NKRUMAH, Secretary.

E. de L. YEARWOOD, E. K. TAYLOR.

Resolutions Committee:
I. T. A. WALLACE-JOHNSON, Chairman

KEN HILL, Secretary.

G. JAHUMPA, Dr. W. E. B. DUBOIS, Mrs. A GARVEY,

G. ASHIE-NIKOI, E. J. DUPLAN.

Platform Committee:
Dr. W. E. B. DU BOIS, Chairman

Dr. P. MILLIARD, Secretary.

Mrs. A. GARVEY, MARKO HLUBI, A. S. MOSSELL, I. T. A.

WALLACE-JOHNSON, G. ASHIE-NIKOI.

Entertainment Committee:
Miss A. ROSSALL, Chairman.

Mrs. A. GARVEY, Secretary.

Miss V. THOMPSON, Miss R. B. ROSE, Mrs. A. B. BLAINE,

Miss LEVY, Mrs. PRICE, Miss E. DORMAN, Miss DRONAH

PETROFF, Mrs. RENNER.

Official Stenographer:
Mrs. DOROTHY LIVINGS. [I suspect that this is the white woman in the picture]

Select Bibliography.
Africa.
Aaronovitch, S & K, Crisis in Kenya, London, 1947.
Abrahams, Peter, Mins Boy, London, 1946.
Abrahams, P, Song of a City, 1947.
Awolowo, Obafemi, Path to Nigerian Freedom, London, 1947.
Blyden, Christianity; Islam and the Negro Race, London, 1887.
Buell, L, The Native Problem in Africa, 2 vols, Macmillan, 1928.
Burger, J, The Black Man’s Burden, London, 1943.
Campbell, Alex, Empire in Africa, 1944.
Crocker, W, R, On Governing Colonies, London, 1947.
Delafosse, M, Negroes of Africa, New York, 1931.
Dingwall, E, J, Racial Pride and Prejudice, London, 1946.
Du Bois, W, E, B, Color and Democracy, New York, 1945.
Du Bois, W, E, B, The World and Africa, New York, 1947.
Fabian Colonial Bureau, Co-operation in the Colonies, London, 1945.
Fabian Colonial Essays, London, 1945.
Fitzgerald, W, Africa, London, 1934.
Frankel, A, H, Capital Investment in Africa, London, 1938.
Frobenius, Voice of Africa, London, 1913.
Hailey, An African Survey, London, 1938.
Hinden, Rita, Plan for Africa, 1941.
Huxley, Julian, Africa View, London, 1931.
Leys, N, Kenya, London, 1924.
Lugard, The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa, London, 1929.
Mair, L, P, Native Policies in Africa, London, 1936.
Middleton, The Rape of Africa, New York, 1936.
Miller, W, Have We Failed in Nigeria?, London, 1947.
Nwafor Orizu, A. A, Without Bitterness, New York, 1944.
Olivier, Lord, Anatomy of African Misery, London, 1927.
Orde-Browne, The African Labourer, London, 1933.
Padmore, G, (Editor), The Voice of Coloured Labour,
Padmore, G, How Britain Rules Africa, London, 1936.
Padmore, G, Africa and World Peace, London, 1937.
Padmore & Cunard, White Man’s Duty, 1946.
Perham, M, Native Administration in Nigeria, London, 1937.
Russell, A, G, Colour, Race and Empire, London, 1944.
Simon, Lady, Slavery, London, 1929.
Smuts, J, C, Africa and Some World Problems, London, 1930.
Thwaite, The Seething African Pot, London, 1936.
Williams, E, Africa and the Rise of Capitalism, Howard University.
Wolton, D, G, Whither South Africa?, London, 1947.
Woolf, L, Empire and Commerce in Africa, London.
Wright, M, The Gold Coast Legislative Council, London, 1947.
Wright, M, The Development of the Legislative Council, 1946.

The Americas.
Drake, St. Clair, and Clayton, Horace, Black Metropolis, London, 1946.
Du Bois, W, E, B, Black Reconstruction in America, New York, 1928.
Freyre, G, The Masters and the Slaves, London, 1946.
Logan, R, W, Editor, What the Negro Wants, 1944.
Myrdal, G, An American Dilemma, 2 Vols, London, 1944.
Tannenbaum, F, Slave & Citizen, New York, 1947.
Wright, R, 12 Million Black Voices, New York, 1946.

West Indies.
Caribbean Labour Congress: Official Report of Conference at Barbados, 1945, 1947.
James, C, L, R, The Black Jacobins, London, 1938.
Lewis, W, Arthur, The West Indies Today, 1938.
Macmillan, W, M, Warning from the West Indies, London, 1936.
Olivier, Jamaica, London, 1936.
Roberts, W, A, The French in the West Indies, New York, 1942.
Royal Commission Report on West India, 1945.
Simey, T, S, Welfare and Planning in the West Indies, London, 1946.
Williams, E, The Negro in the Caribbean, London, 1945.
Williams, E, Capitalism and Slavery, 1945.

Congress Resolutions.

West Africa:


1. Political.

(a) That since the advent of British, French, Belgian and other European nations in West Africa, there has been regression instead of progress as a result of systematic exploitation by these alien imperialist Powers. The claims of “partnership,” “trusteeship,” “guardianship,” and the “mandate system,” do not serve the political wishes of the people of West Africa.

(b) That the democratic nature of the indigenous institutions of the peoples of West Africa has been crushed by obnoxious and oppressive laws and regulations, and replaced by autocratic systems of Government which are inimical to the political wishes of the peoples of West Africa.

(c) That the introduction of pretentious constitutional reforms into the West African Territories are nothing but spurious attempts on the part of alien imperialist Powers to continue the political enslavement of the peoples.

(d) That the introduction of Indirect Rule is not only an instrument of oppression but also an encroachment oil the rights of the West African natural rulers.

(e) That the artificial divisions and territorial boundaries created by the Imperialist Powers are deliberate steps to obstruct the political unity of the West African peoples.

2. Economic.

(a) That there has been a systematic exploitation of the economic resources of the West African territories by imperialist Towers to the detriment of the inhabitants.

(b) That the industrialisation of West Africa by the indigines has been discouraged and obstructed by the imperialist rulers, with the result that the standard of living has fallen below subsistence level.

(c) That the land, the rightful property of West Africans is gradually passing into the hands of foreign governments and other agencies through various devices and ordinances.

(d) That the workers and farmers of West Africa have not been allowed independent trades unions and cooperative movements without official interference.

(e) That the mining industries are in the hands of foreign monopolies of finance capital, with the result that wherever a mining industry has developed there has been a tendency to deprive the people of their land holding (e.g. mineral rights in Nigeria and Sierra Leone are now the property, of the British Government).

(f) That the British Government in West Africa is virtually controlled by a merchants’ united front, whose main objective is the exploitation of the people, thus rendering the indigenous population economically helpless.

(g) That when a country is compelled to rely on one crop (e.g. cocoa) for a single monopolistic market, and is obliged to cultivate only for export while at the same time its farmers and workers find themselves in the grip of finance capital, then it is evident that the government of that country is incompetent to assume economic responsibility for it.

3. Social.

(a) That the democratic organisations and institutions of the West African peoples have been interfered with; that alien rule has not improved education, health or the nutrition of the West African peoples but on the contrary tolerates mass illiteracy, ill-health, malnutrition, prostitution, and many other social evils.

(b) That organised Christianity in West Africa is identified with the political and economic exploitation of the West African peoples by alien Powers.

In view of these conditions, the Congress unanimously supports the members of the West African delegation in declaring:

That complete and absolute Independence for the Peoples of West Africa is the only to solution to the existing problems.

The Congo and North Africa.
1. This Congress views with great concern the deplorable conditions imposed upon the Africans by French and Belgian Imperialisms in the Congo and Equatorial Africa, and demands that immediate steps be taken to remedy conditions in these territories.

2. That the demand of Egypt for the removal of British armed forces be conceded without delay, and that the Condominium over Sudan be abolished and the Sudanese granted complete independence from British and Egyptian rule.

3. That the demands of the indigenous peoples of Tunis, Algeria, Morocco and Libya for democratic rights and independence from French and Italian rule be recognised.

East Africa.

That this Congress of African peoples demands democratic rights and self-government for the people of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyasaland, Somaliland and Zanzibar.

That this Congress calls upon the Secretary of State for the Colonies to implement the following immediate demands of the people of East African territories.

The principles of the Four Freedoms and the Atlantic Charter be put into practice at once.
The abolition of land laws which allow Europeans to take land from the Africans. Immediate cessation of any further settlement by Europeans in Kenya or in any other territory in East Africa. All available land to be distributed to the landless Africans.
The right of Africans to develop the economic resources of their country without hindrance.
The immediate abolition of all racial and other discriminatory laws at once (Kipandi system in particular), and the system of equal citizenship to be introduced forthwith.
Freedom of speech, press, association and assembly.
Revision of the system of taxation and of the civil and criminal code.
Compulsory free arid uniform education for all children up to the age of 16, with free meals, free books and school equipment.
Granting of the franchise, i.e., the right of every man and woman over the age of 21 to elect and be elected to Legislative Council, Provincial Council and all other Divisional and Municipal Councils.
A state Medical Service, Health and Welfare Service to be made available to all.
Abolition of forced labour, and the introduction of the principle of EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

Union of South Africa.

This Fifth Pan-African Congress, representing millions of Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the world, condemns with all its, power the policy towards Africans and other non-Europeans carried out by the Union of South Africa which, although representing itself abroad as a democracy with a system of parliamentary government, manifests essentially the same characteristics as Fascism:

(a) the Herrenvolk ideology which has transformed itself into a mania;

(b) the ruthless trampling underfoot of all human rights;

(c) the erection of one system of law and of morality for the “Aryans” and a different system of law and of morality for the non-white “non-Aryans.”

This Congress demands for the non-European citizens of South Africa the immediate practical application of the following ten fundamental democratic rights.

The franchise, i.e.. the right of every man and woman over the age of 21 to elect and be elected to Parliament, Provincial Council, and all other Divisional and Municipal Councils.
Compulsory free and uniform education for all children up to the age of 6, with free meals, free books and school equipment for the needy.
Inviolability of person, of one’s house and privacy.
Freedom of speech, press, meeting, and association.
Freedom of movement and occupation.
Full equality of rights for all citizens, without distinction of race, culture and sex.
Revision of the land question in accordance with the needs of the Africans.
Revision of the civil and criminal codes to accord with the foregoing demands.
Revision of the system of taxation to bring it into line with the above.
Revision of labour legislation and its application to (he mines and agriculture.
This Congress pledges itself to work unceasingly with and on behalf of its nun-European brothers in South Africa until they achieve the status of freedom and human dignity. This Congress regards the struggle of our brothers in South Africa as an integral part of the common struggle for national liberation throughout Africa.

MAYI BUYE I AFRICA!

The Protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland.

Since the Union of South Africa became a Dominion there has been developed an insistent urge to gain possession of the Native Protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, covering a total area of 293,420 square miles, with a population of over 1,000,000. Control of these territories is desired in order to (1) exploit the mineral, (2) secure more land for agriculture and farming purposes, and (3) obtain additional supplies of cheap labour by taxing the natives.
In recent years this desire for expansion has assumed an aggressive form and has created great alarm among the natives of the Protectorates for they are the last remaining Africans in the southern part of the continent who own land and enjoy a nominal independence.
The Government of the Union of South Africa is demanding the immediate transfer of the Protectorates to the Union and is in correspondence with the Imperial Government on the subject. The Colonial Office has already set up a Joint Advisory Commission of South African and British officials to examine the question and propose ways and means of effecting transfer if and when Parliament agrees.
The African people object bitterly to being used as pawns in bargains between different member states of the British Commonwealth as a means of settling imperialist adjustments. Africans are not chattels to be bartered like cattle in the markets of white nations, where statesmen and diplomats, like brokers, do their trade in the name of Democracy and Peace.
The natives of the Protectorates look with horror upon such a proposal for they know of the slave conditions under which 8 million Africans in the Union live, who bear the brunt of taxation and other burdens but have no representation in Government. Eighty per cent of their lands have been taken away from them. They are denied the most elementary democratic rights – freedom of speech, press, assembly and movement. They are debarred from Trade Unions and excluded from skilled occupations by the Colour Bar. They are saddled with Pass Laws and other forms of repressive legislation. Recording their opposition to transfer, the Chiefs of Bechuanaland have adopted the following resolution: “This meeting of Chiefs and Councillors present on behalf of their respective tribes of Bechuanaland Protectorates records its protest and objection to the incorporation of the territory in the Union of South Africa.”
The natives of the Protectorates demand that the British Labour Government honour the promise of Protection made to their Chiefs by Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Government during the latter part of the last century in return for their allegiance to the British Crown.

The West Indies.

We, the accredited and recognised representatives of the people of the British West Indies and British Guiana in attendance at this Fifth Paul-African Congress, do hereby demand for our people:

Federation of all British West Indian Islands on a voluntary and equal basis founded upon complete Self-Government.
Self-Government based on universal Adult Suffrage for each island as a condition precedent to the establishment of such Federation, removal of all property and income qualifications for election to Public Offices.
The establishment of new industries and the development of existing ones and adequate legal protection therefor.
Opportunities for promotion and adequate facilities for native men and women to qualify for tie highest offices and positions in the Civil Se vice and private industry.
Creation of a real Banking system to finance agricultural and industrial projects by presiding cheap long-term credit,
Implementation of a Policy designed to make available, bring under useful cultivation and cure proper and efficient use of all arable land in order to obtain (a) production of food of sufficient quantity, quality and variety to secure good health for all the people; (b) the maintenance and extension of principal export crops and research for new crops as well as profitable markets; and (c) provision of the basis for industrial use and development, proper marketing facilities, guaranteed fair minimum prices, Extension Services.
Immediate introduction of all forms of modern social legislation in existence in metropolitan areas, e.g., old age pensions, family allowances, national health and unemployment insurances, wages Courts of truly representative character, Employers’ Liability Acts, as well as improvement of existing Workmen’s Compensation Laws.
Immediate implementation of slum clearance and Housing Schemes designed to provide a sufficient number of good houses at economic rentals for workpeople, especially in rural areas.
Compulsory free education for all, both elementary and secondary, with provision of free books for all as well as free lunches for needy children. In any event, elementary school leaving age to be raised to 16. Vocational and Technical training to be provided. Compulsory training in domestic science in all elementary schools. Immediate establishment of proposed West Indian University.
Immediate overhauling and bringing up to date of all health laws and services.
Immediate establishment of Juvenile Courts and introduction of modern system of reformatory schools, orphanages and children’s homes with sociological treatment.
Equal pay for equal work regardless of nationality, creed or sex.
Removal of all disabilities affecting the employment of women, e.g., removal of “marriage bar” for women employed in government services.
Modernisation of existing *******y Laws, with legal provision for registration of fathers with adequate safeguards.
Raising of the Age of Consent to 16 (or 18).
Abolition of school-girl system in domestic services.
Legal enforcement for trades unions of all the rights and privileges enjoyed by trades unions in industrial countries including fair labour code and adequate and proper permanent machinery for the fair, speedy and effective settlement of all trades and industrial disputes.
Creation of special departments for the development of all natural resources to provide (inter alia) regular employment at adequate living wages for all men and women able and willing to work-including establishment of organised water supplies in rural areas; irrigating and drainage schemes and provision of cheap electric light and power projects for agriculture and industry etc.
Immediate geological surveys to determine natural resources of each territorial unit and of British West Indies and British Guiana as a whole.
Nationalisation of all basic industries vital to life and welfare of the community and the de-casualising of Labour in Government as well as private undertakings.
Public ownership of all public utilities, e.g., transportation.
Proper and adequate system of gratuities and compensation for all demobilised service men and women and a comprehensive scheme for their re-absorption back into civilian life on equal basis with European service men and women.
Development and encouragement of village and cultural life by provision of Community centres, playgrounds and libraries, etc.
Increase of rate of taxes on higher income groups.
And we further declare that owing to the lack of travel facilities and the fact that West Indian Islands are over-populated, that West Indians domiciled in Europe and U.S.A. consider the formation of a West Indian Development and Welfare programme and the creation of a West Indian Development Fund for purposes of the education and industrialisation of the West Indies and to assist the progressive movements in the respective West Indian Territories is necessary.

Special Supplementary Resolutions presented by the delegation representing the Universal Negro Improvement Association of Jamaica.

1. Whereas racial discrimination has been meted out to the Negro race in every walk of life throughout the world, i.e., in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Universities and Colleges, hotel accommodation, employment, and in other economic and social respects:

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association of Jamaica, respectfully ask this Congress to place before the Authorities concerned, our resentment at such discrimination against the Negro race and our desire for its elimination as unjust and uncivilised.

2. Whereas there are outstanding barriers connected with transportation, especially where African descendants are concerned; and whereas there are other signal impediments and restrictions to entering our Motherland, the Continent of Africa; and whereas it is the desire of African descendants, especially in the West Indies, to enter and domicile in Africa;

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the U.N.I.A. of Jamaica, respectfully ask this Congress to place before the Authorities concerned our demand for immediate removal of ail such barriers and restrictions.

3. Whereas it is the desire of the Colonial Office and the inhabitants of the British West Indies that there should be a Federation of the British West Indies; and whereas there are overpopulated areas in some colonies while there are uninhabited areas in others; and whereas the development of intercommunication among the islands would create better understanding and relationship; and whereas there are many economic-benefits to be derived therefrom:

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the U.N.I.A., request the Fifth Pan-African Congress to impress upon the Colonial Office the urgent necessity of bringing- into operation the proposed federation.

4. Whereas World War No. 2 was fought, as expressed in the Atlantic Charter, for the freedom of all peoples:

BE IT RESOLVED that this Congress impress upon the Governments concerned that independence to African peoples throughout the world be given great and urgent consideration at the Peace Conference.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these Resolutions be placed before the proper Authorities for immediate consideration and action.

Ethiopia, Liberia, Haiti.

This Fifth Pan-African Congress sends fraternal greetings to the Governments and peoples of Ethiopia, Liberia and Haiti, and pledges its support in mobilising world public opinion among Africans and peoples of Africa descent in defence of their Sovereign independence. We assure the Governments and peoples of these States that we shall ever be vigilant against any manifestation of Imperial encroachment which may threaten their independence.

We take this opportunity to inform the Imperial powers that we look with jealous pride upon these nations and regard them as symbols of the realisation of the political hopes and aspirations of African peoples still under Imperialist domination.

Additional Resolution on Ethiopia.

This Fifth Pan-African Congress sends its warmest greetings to the Emperor and peoples of Ethiopia, one of the three free states in the world that are controlled by African people. It pledges itself to guard with jealousy the interests of Ethiopia.

This Congress condemns the suggestion that parts of Massawa and Asmara should be put under international control. It further condemns most strongly the attempts of the European Powers to impose conditions of Trusteeship which suggest that Ethiopia cannot be fully trusted to look after her own affairs.

In the interest of justice as well as of economic geography this Congress supports most heartily the claims of the Somalis and Eritreans to be returned to their Motherland instead of being parcelled out to foreign powers.
This Congress demands the immediate withdrawal of the British Military Administration from Ethiopian soil.

This Congress calls upon the United Nations Relief Organisation to extend to Ethiopia the same aid as being afforded to the other victims of aggression.
Coloured Seamen in Great Britain.

This Fifth Pan-African Congress views with horror the treatment of disabled ex-Seamen, both African and of African descent, and particularly the case of B Johnson of Manchester and others in Great Britain, and that a Committee be set up by the Colonial Office with the least possible delay, with a view to their repatriation to the homeland.

Colour Bar Problem in Great Britain.

To secure equal opportunities for all Colonial and Coloured people in Great Britain, this Congress demand that discrimination on account of race, creed or colour be made a criminal offence by law.

That all employments and occupations shall be opened to all qualified Africans, and that to bar such applicants because of race, creed or colour shall be deemed an offence against the law.

That the Negro Welfare Centres, the League of Coloured Peoples, African Churches’ Mission of Liverpool and other African organisations (social and religious) which have been doing legitimate welfare work among coloured children, students, seamen and others, shall be given every encouragement and assistance by the responsible Authorities to continue the vital social work in which they are engaged.

Resolution to U.N.O. on South-West Africa.

In order to register their protest against South Africa’s demand for the abolition of the Mandate over South West Africa and the incorporation of the territory into the Union, the League of Coloured Peoples, the Pan-African Federation, the West African National Secretariat, and other coloured organisations in Britain, sent the following Resolution to the Trusteeship Committee of the United Nations:

(a) To reject categorically the claim of the Government of the Union of South Africa to incorporate the mandated territory of South-West Africa, (b) To request the surrender of the mandate of the territory of South-West Africa to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations Organisation by the European peoples of the Union of South Africa, (c) To investigate the conditions of life and work, the political rights and civil liberties of the non-European peoples of the Union of South Africa, and (d) to require of the Union of South Africa an undertaking to respect and abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter in the treatment of all peoples within the jurisdiction on pain of expulsion from membership of the United Nations Organisation.

As is generally known, the policy pursued by the Government of South Africa towards its subjects of non-European race is a direct negation of the principles of racial tolerance, justice and freedom. Since the year 1920 when the mandated territory of South-West Africa was placed under the Trusteeship of the Union of South Africa the Native Policy of the Union Government has steadily deteriorated. As the native in South Africa has become, in spite of Legislative and Administrative restrictions, more efficient in the field of industrial labour and more advanced in knowledge, so have the repressive measures directed against him been extended and intensified. The whole purpose of these measures is to make of the African nothing more than an “indentured labourer,” a being in perpetual enslavement to the Mining and Agricultural enterprises of the country.

In 1936 the passing of the Native Franchise Act, the Native Land Act and the Urban Areas Act deprived the natives of the Cape Province of the right to buy, hire or occupy land wherever they chose and confined them to restricted areas; the right to be on the Common Voters Roll, their representation being limited to three appointed European members in a House of Assembly consisting of one hundred and fifty-three members; their right to sell their labour where they chose by restricting their movements.
The Industrial Conciliation Act No. 36 of 1937 excludes from the definition of “Employee” over ninety per cent of the African workers merely because they are natives. The result of this Act is that the Minister of Labour refuses to recognize African Trade Unions or to implement any agreement negotiated between White employer and black employee under the terms of the Act. Under the covenant of the League of Nations the Mandatory Power was entitled to apply to the mandated territory the same law, as those in force in its own territory.
Thus by means of proclamations some of the restrictive laws of the Union have been extended to South-West Africa. For instance, The Native Administration Proclamation No. 11 of 1924 and The Urban Areas Proclamation No. 34 of 1924 followed closely the lines of Urban Legislation and enforced segregation of the African peoples.
In 1927 Proclamation No. 11 placed a restriction on the number of native squatters on farm and by the introduction of a system of “passes” restricted all movement including travel by rail.

There is little doubt that in its attitude to the territory of South-West Africa the Union Government has assumed a position which is not in keeping with that of a trustee but, on the contrary, in accord with that of a conqueror bent upon territorial aggrandisment and the spoliation and humiliation of the vanquished.

The question arises whether the Union Government is one that should reasonably be entrusted with the care (if subject and helpless peoples. The racial policy of this Government is a direct affront to the express determination the United Nations “to re-affirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women of nations large and small.”

Africans are not the only victims of this racialism, for the Indians, who number a bare quarter of a million, suffer discrimination in a similar manner. Incidentally, the latest manifestation of anti-Indian Legislation, the Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation Act forms the subject of a complaint to the United Nations Organisation by the Government of India.

We demand justice and social equality for the Indian community in South Africa.