Just possibly there is a double meaning here involving the money-oriented Barrios, with "let" meaning "rent." I.e., since the People are the possession of their leaders, would the leaders be so kind as to rent them out to another purpose for money -- which is exactly what they unwittingly do with every wage payment to the socialist People. On this level, Barrios' retort that Nostromo is "conceited" could refer to that presumption of monetary value in himself.