The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-19
The Congo Conference.


defined and clearly recognized. It Is true
that Prince BISMARCK, after prolonged ne
gotiations with the British Foreign Office
has agreed. 1t is said, that tho meet
Ing shall conflne Itself to the regulation OF
trade with the Congo. Tho representatives
OF other great powers, however. may refuse
to hold themselves bound by private I'M
Outstanding between two Of tho parties, and
even should the limitations OF the programme
DO observed. We imagine that the German
Chancellor. In convoking this congress. has
designs moro far-rcachlng than the sottlc-
ment Of the dispute between Portugal ana
the African International Association.
Tho first suggestion OF this meeting was
coincident with the inception OF BrsMARCK's
colonial policy, and 1t Is also noteworthy that
In tho earlier discussions OF Its purpose at
Paris and Berlin 1t was designated not as
tho Congo" but as the West Coast OF
Africa" Conference. There Is, indeed. but
little doubt that. had the temper Of the French
people encouraged N. FERRY to enter into
close relations with the ravsher OF Alsace. a
concerted effort would have been made to SGT
bounds to England's absorption OF tho dark
continent. and to parcel out between France
and Germany so much OF the African west
coast as Is not already occupied. in law and
in fact, by some civilized power. BISMARCK
desired not merely the formal recognition OF
his recent small acquisitions In that quarter
all the guarantees needed to that end
he could easily procure by treaty with
Great Britain--but to proclaim and fence off
colonial projects. On tho other hand, the
oh, ~ 1, In, ~,
or enforcement OF its pretensions to control
the whole valley OF tho Niger, to whose upper
waters it has long been steadily approaching
from Its posts on the Senegal. The English
people, however, would scarcely permit the
mouth and lower courses OF that great river
involving. as their possession would, COM
ple'e ascendancy on the Gold Coast-to pass
into French hands without a fight; and 1t
was the perception OF this fact which led q
part OF the French press to denounce tho
mooted Conference as trap oontrived by Bis
MARcK to embroil France with the solo coun-
try to which, in tho event OF q new plot for
her ACKNOWLEDGMENT she might appeal for aid.
Once awakened to the purport Of the conf
dental messages between Paris and Berlin,
French public opinion has pronounced with
80 much emphasis in favor OF cooperation
with England rather than with Germany,
that the scheme of Franco-Gcrman parti-
ton of tho African west coast seems to have
been definitely abandoned, and the FERRY
Cabinet would now DO satisfied could it OBJ
tain the extension to the Niger region OF the
international control to which it is proposed
to subject the Congo country.
What Is the precise position Of tho Congo
To xvhi ha dnl IF h,
Berlin Conference will professedly be limit
ed? The African International Association
claims authority over large part OF the
valley OF that river in pursuance OF treaties
made by its agent, STANLEY, with the native
chiefs, and us prerequisite to the de-
vclopment of its acquisitions it demands FREQ
access to tho coast. The rcasonablcncss of
these pretcnsions, based as they are on ac-
tual occupation and improvements, has been
officially recognized by the United States
No sooner, however, was it seen to be
possible to levy through Custom Houses
ON tho coast lucrative taxes on the
expected movement Of merchandise to
and from the upper Congo, than tho Lisbon
Government set up claim to the mouth Of
that river and the adjacent coast districts
founded on original discovery. This claim,
although it has indisputably been forfeited
by age-long non-user,' was acknowledged by
Lord GRANVILLE in a treaty supposed to
confer upon Great Britain exceptional ad-
yantagcs, but which has not yet been rati-
fled by the British Parliament. 1t Is prob
able enough that the alleged right
of Portugal to exercise fiscal control
over commerce with the Congo will DO
unequivocally denied by the Conference. but
it is by no means certain that tho African
Association will be intrustcd with all the
powers which our State Department seemed
willing to concede to it. Tho signs are that
the regulation OF tho Congo trade and the
maintenance OF neutrality in tho region
affected will be vested in an international
Board, modelled on the Danubian Commits
sion, and on which all the maritime powers
will be represented.
Even although thus restricted to the ad-
justment OF single controversy, the de-
| csions OF BIsMARCK's Conference, IL firmly
| carried out, will deal q blow at tho tradi-
| tional maritime omnipotence OF England
For upward OF century the fate OF all tracts
OF the earth's surface unclaimed by any
| civilized power has been arbitrarily deter
| mined by Great Britain, without the least
thought of seeking tho approval OF the
world. But, after a precedent has been
established by the German Chancellor, inter.
national opinion will become accustomed to
see such questions settled at Berlin instead
OF ut London, and by the concerted action
OF all the nations Interested rather than by
the unbridled usurpatiOns OF single power
Already wo notice that Lord GRANVILLE, In
compliance with hint from BISMARCK, has
agreed to narrow the range OF the contem
plated annexation In New Guinea; and there
are other indications that the time Is not fal
off when England must forego some Of hel
autocratic ways and be content with join
tenancy instead OF the empire Of the seas.
| Our Opinion of His Work.
/ A Young man who has q great deslre Z