The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-27
UNFOLDING A CONTINENT.

L.
A conference was opened at Berlin,
! few days ago, under the presidency
If Chancellor Bismarck, the object of
which is to deliberate over the des-
my of what is understood to be the
richest and most healthful region Of
lhe African continent. The Congo
river is said to drain country second
in area only to that drained by the
Amazon. This territory, embracing
[ 10000 square miles, teens, it is told,
with great variety of natural pro-
auctions, and is capable of sustaining
a vast population. England has in all /
the past taken the lead in questions OF |
territorial acquisition, and it is
turning the tables decidedly to hold
this conference in Berlin instead OF
London. This general assembly of
the commercial nations of the world
is the first to call halt to the tradi-
tional policy of the English, Spanish,
French and Portuguese in their deal
ings with the natives of Africa and
ASIA. Germany, Austria and the
United States are resolved that
trading post en- the coast and treaty
with an African king shall not give
valid claim of exclusive ownership to
vast and unexplored regions. Bis
marck defines the questions before the
conference to be the free navigation of
the Congo and the Niger rivers, and
the formalities, hereafter, Of valid an
nexation of territory. England
lays claim to the sole proprietor
ship to the region of the
Niger, and Portugal insists upon
her right to the whole OF the
Congo country by virtue of her settle
ments at its mouth and more or less
authentic treaties with African chiefs.
The English, Germans, French and
Dutch have trading houses on the
coast over which the Portuguese claim
exclusive jurisdiction. England has
agreed to Portuguese dominion of the
formulated matters of community relat-
ing to trade, but the other European
powers do not propose to submit to this
monopolizing of the Congo and Niger
regions, and intend to interfere and
break up this nice little African tea
party. These other powers are RICH; /:
they should, if possible, destroy ;he
monopoly of a continent, just in
folding to civilization, and should max e
this virgin region of the globe
unfettered by national restrictions.
The English have stipulated in the
Portuguese treaty for free commerce
on the Congo, but Germany. France
and Austr are not enthusiastic on
the subject of free trade in Africa
while restricting trade at home. Por-
tugal protests that she has no inten-
ton OF not sustaining African free
trade, but the Berlin conference is af-
ter seeing that commerce is not let at
the pleasure of either Portugal or
Great Britain. The real difficulty be-
fore the conference relates to the an
nexation of territory on the con-
tinent of Africa. England's claim
to jurisdiction over the region of
the Lower Niger is old, and
that of Portugal to the mouth
of the Congo is of more ancient date.
The mouth of the Congo was discov-
cred by Diego Cam, Portuguese nav
igalor, before Columbus discovered
America. These claims are hard to
disturb upon any rule governing terri
torial acquisition. But the question
before the conference is how discovery
and settlement on the coast give valid
title to vast and unexplored regions in
the interior of Africa. To two travel.
ers, Henry M. Stanley and De Brazza
the world is chiefly indebted for the
knowledge of the great Congo region
and they are neither English nor Por-
tuguese. England and Portugal car
have but a very shadowy claim t.
sovereignty over territory which these
men have discovered, and the aim OF
the Berlin conference is to establish
the rules under which future annexa.
ton and settlement on the Congo are
to be made.