New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-18
THE CONGO CONFERENCE
PRINCE plsMARoKs OPENING SPEECH
.,.~.,,oss 10 M coSaiprnrp-nfrf w '""
sV''' nn,f,sH COMMISSIONER

- a.. eoxa,pfnrp-nrriy or THE
nnifisH COMMISSIONER
u..,y Nav. i7-rrinc. bismarck IN his speech
a. .ha onenins OF the Congo Conference on Sa'"r'
day ailu,iod la general terms 20 the h'e" "eh'".
..nt am; paenc aims which the conference hA"
h.fore II II had for Its object tho solution OF 'htee
main ouostions First. Free navigation WIN
t,eedom of trade on the Congo River; secondly
Free navigation of the Niger River; thirdiy'
Formalites of valid annexation of territory TO DO
observed In futur the continent OF Africa ih's
constituted the positive aim OF the conference
Negatively tho conference would not concern i,seh
with the present questions OF soVe'e'gnS'
Chancellor in conclusion said he hoped that the
labors of the conference would result IN iur'her
increase of peace and goodwill among nations.
Sir Edward Malct. the British Commissioner IN
,ep,vinc 70 the opening speech, echoed the sent
ments expressed by Prince Bismarck aud accepted
The three points proposed the basis for discus
s;on with the following reservation England
he said was quite willing to see the princples oi
free navigation and the Ike extended TO the gcr'
but nevertheless she expected that the surveiaheo
over the exercise of these principles shoud hor o
made the business OF an err EngIand as she was
the chief. not the sole, proprietary ro"'' ." ''0
lower Niger" ,,,,r, % ho sinh.
mitted TO the conference, insisting on ncr rgh' W
,ha Congo and urging that Portuguese treasure ana
Lood had been freely spent to MAINTAIN orner on
the Congo for the benefit of the commerce OF all
nations Portugal. the memorandum SAYS luther
aamits the principle OF freedom of passaeo aions
the great African rivers. She has no intention oi
establishing on the Congo the restrictive tar when
prevails in her other colonies. She would merey
exact taxes from the trade such as would sulce io
the proper maintenance of the liberty and safety OF
person and property. ~,
BtRIIN. Nov 17.-Sir Edward Maet has tele-
rraphcd to Sir Travers TwsS, asking HIM TO come
,t.at .talA nfaa N
International law.
REPORTED CAPTURE OF TAMSC1 DENIED.
LONDON, Nov. 17.-The most recent Chinese
adyces that the reported capture OF Tamsu by the
French is untrue Admiral Courbet is awaiting the ar
rival renforccmcnts The Shanghai correspondent Oh
The Times the Chinese Government has arranged Tor
English and American vessels to the French blockade
of the Island of Formosa Thirteen Germans VINO nave
been engaged as officers for the Chinese army have ar
rived at Tentsin Forty-two expected Thirty
tbousand Chinese soldiers crossed Yangse River, going
eouthward. Poyang, in the month OF OCTOBER Al
the boats In that neehborhood are now impressed mo
the service of the authorities for use IN conveying troops
across the The Chinese have left chainel Only
$50 wide the WOosig bar. Ihe greatest car
is required by vessels wishing to enter the river anu
come up TO Shanghai
WAsIIIsGToS Nov 17.-Rear Admiral John Lee Davis,
commanding the United states naval forces on the ASIA
station in letter to the secretary OF the Navy dated
"Of Woo Sung Chiua October 10, lsSl, reports thaI
according report part of the French neet rs sui on
Masou and the other vessels operating on the coast OF
FornOsa has north OF the Island since the
engagement I'm the Min River At tho treaty ports every
thing has been quot except at Menchow, where rlo'
rs well as their own custom house but no one was III
lured II was quellcd by the authorities.