National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-23

Important "vicws" Of the President and
OnicInl Documents.


Official Documents.
Tho injunction of secrecy was removed
yesterday from the resolution adopted by tho
senate in executive session April 10, author.
izing the recognition of the African Inter
national association, which is now opening
up to commerce tho valley of tho Congo
The resolution is as follows;
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SENATE OF THE USlTED
STATES, April Il, 1SSi.-ResOlUcd, That the senate
Of the United States In his last annual message TO-
congress- in reference 70 the Interests Of the United
States in the settlement of the Congo country in
Africa, aud in the opening Of that country to the
free access of the. people and lawful commerce
of all other countries.
And, that II is the opinion Of tho senate that
the flag Of the African International association
should DO recognized as the flag Of friendly gov
BY CHAs. W. JOHNSON, Chief Clerk.
Tho "views expressed by the President in
his last annual message were as follows:
The rich and popuous valley OF the Congo Is
being opened to commerce by a society called the
International African association of which the
king of the Belgans Is the president and citizen
Of the United States the chief executive officer.
Large tyUgts of territory have been coded to- the
association by native chiefs roads have been
opened steamboats, placed on the river, and the
nuclei Of states established at twenty-five stations
under one flag, which offers freedom TO commerce
aud prohibits the slave trade. The objects of the
society are phlnnthropic. IL does not aim at per
mancit political control, but seeks the neutrality
of the valley; The United states cannot be indii.
fcrcnt to this work nor to the interests of their
citizens involved in IL. IL may become advisable
for us to cooperate with other commercial pow.
Crs in promoting the rights of trade and residence
IN the Congo valley free from the interference or
political control ofany ono nation.
In view of the action of the senate in this
matter, as above shown, Mr.. Henry S. San
ford the representative of the African Inter
national association, yesterday executed and
laf.. AZ NJ, 70 In
ing official declaration by the Industrial asso-
citation Of the Congo:
The International association Of the Congo
hereby declares that by treaties with the legiti.
mate soycroigns in the basins of the Congo, and
OF the Nadi Kialun, and in adjacent territories
upon the Atlantic there has been cedcd to 1t ter
rtory for the use and benefit OF free states estab-
lshed, aud being established. under the care and
supervision of the said association in tho said
basins and adjacent territories, to which ccssion
the said free states of right succeed
That the said International association has
adopted for itself, aud for tho said free states as
their standard the flag of the Information African
association, being blue flag, with golden star
That the said association and the said states
have resolved TO levy no custom house duties
upon goods or articles Of merchandise imported
into their territories or brought by the route
which has been constructed around the Congo
catarncts this they havo done with Wow of en-.
qblng commerce TO penetrate into equatorial
Africa.
That they guarantee to foreigners settling in
their territories the right TO purchase, sell, or
lease lands and buildings situated therein, to es-
tabish commerc al houses, aud to there carry on
trade upon the sole condition that they shall obey
the laws. They pledge themselves, moreover,
never to grant to the citizens of one nation any
advantages without Immediately extending the
same TO the citizens of all other nations ana TO do
all in their power to prevent the slave trade.
In testimony whereof Henry s. Sanford, duly
empowered therefor, by the said association, act
ing for itself and for the said free states has here
unto set his hand and affixed his seal, this 22d
day of April, 1884, i'll the city of Washington.
H. s. SANFORD.
Upon receipt OF this declaration Secretary
Frelinghuyson, by direction of the President
made the following official announcement OF
the recognition of the flag Of tho 1nterna'
tionsl African association as the flag of a
friendly government:
Frederick 7. Frelinghuysen, secretary OF state
| duly empowered therefor by the President of the
| United States of America, and pursuant to the
! given, acknowledges the receipt of the foregoing
notification from tho International association o.
! the Congo, and declares that, III harmony with
the traditional policy of the United States
commercial interests OF their citizens while
at tho same time, avoiding interference will
| controversies between other powers, as well a.
| alliances with foreign nations, the government o
| the United States announces its sympathy with
| and approval of the humane and benevolent pur
administering. as 1t does the interests OF the FREE
states there established and will order the officer
| OF the United States, both on land and sea- 4
| recognize the flag of the international African
association as the Nag of a friendly government
In testimony whereof he has hereunto SCI. hi
hand and affixed his seal this 22d day OF April,
d. 1884, in the city of Washington.
| FREDERICK 4. FRELISGHUYsEN.