New-York tribune., 1884-03-26
FU1URE or THE CONGO.

makes q shlill demand for international inter
ventiOn in regard to the Congo country. 1t pro-
poses that France, Germany, Holland and the
United States shall unite in remonstrances
which may defeat the treaty recently concluded
between Great Britain and Portugal. The tra-
ditional policy of this country would preclude
its entering into engagements of this sort with
European Powers. The Rotterdam journal
has included, and not without reason the
United States Government in its proposal.
President Arthur in his last message made an
explicit reference to the diplomatic cOmplica-
tiOns in question. "Ihe United States" he
said, "cannOt he indifferent to this work CMr.
"Stanlcysl nor to the interests OF their citizens
involved in it, 1t may become advisable for
{" lis to cooperate with other commercial Powers
4" IN promoting the rights Of trade and residence
- in the Congo Valley free from the interference
" or political control of any one Nation" AS
the treaty negotiated in London recognizes the
sovereignty of Portugal over the Lower Congo
region. the Presidents antecedcnt protest is
not without significance. The fact that the
leader of the International African Association,
which has opened to commerce the upper waters
of this great river, is an American also warrants
the assumption that the United States will not
be Indifferent to this international question.
II is scarcely more than seven years since Mr..
Stanley arrived at the mouth of the Congo after
his memorable journey across the Dark CONT
nent At that time the most remote trading sta
ton was only eighty miles from the Atlantic
coast. What commerce there was-and 1t was
inconsiderable-was in the hands of a single
Dutch company. The Portuguese Government
had no stations on the river, and apparently
had abandoned its ancient claims as OF no
practical importance There was not q single
Christian mission in that quarter An English
gunboat occasionally dropped anchor in the
river to impose some restrictions upon slavery.
Otherwise Europe was Indifferent to the present
and the future of the African Danube. Mr..
StanIeys achievement suddenly pened Central
Africa to the commerce of the world He had
demonstrated that when once the rapids were
passed there was a waterway nayigaOle Tor over
a thousand miles. His discoveries were fol-
lowed by increased activity on the part of the
Dutch traders, by the revival OF the Portuguese
territorial claims By the organization of the.
International Association at Brussels, and by
the rival French expedition headed by an ltal-
ian adventurer. To-day there are at least
twenty-five trading stations above the rapids,
steamboats, are plying regularly on the rlVer,
and trade routes have been opened, not only
from Vivi to Stanley Pool, but far into the in
terror and along the great branches OF the
Congo. Mission stations have also been opened
by the American Baptists, the English Church,
and by the Roman Catholics.
The gateway of the broad highway leading to
the centre of Africa had never been controlled
by any European Power. The mouth of the
Congo lay between the French GabOOn and the
Portuguese settlements in Angola. The French
and the Portuguese became rival claimants
while the Dutch trading companies were
actually in possession OF both shores. Mr..
Stanley, in opening the uppcr valley, discamed
any intention of securing permanent political
control, and proclaimed the neutrality OF the
waters He looked with contempt upon Euro
pean claims of sovereignty knowing that it was
to his own energy, supported by King LeOpOlds
influence and enterprise, that the work OF COM
merce and civilization was attributable. The
Dutch traders meanwhile assumed hostile at-
titude and sent to Europe exaggerated accounts
of his dealings with the natives The French
occupied Ponta Ncgra on the coast and at
tempted to open a road across country to sta
ton of their own on Stanley Pool. The Portu-
guese also continued to press their claims,
based upon discovery, conquest and treaties, to
the seaboard where the Congo discharges its
waters
These claims the British Cover nment have
finally recognized. The treaty to which Lord
Granville has assented declares that the sov-
eregnty of Portugal must be respected within
the.limits of the fifth and eighth parallels, and
as far inland as NOkki. This treaty confers the
political control Of this important gateway upon
a single Nation, but not without imposing stTin-
gent restrictions. Freedom Of commerce to all
Nations is secured, and missionaries of every
creed are protected. Portugal has exclusive
rights of jurisdiction over limited area, and
the privilege of maintaining river police at the
mouth of the Congo. A British-Portuguese
commission is authorized to devise regulations
for the control of the river. Where the treaty
is weak is its failure to recognize the anomalous
position of the international Association
While it may be for England a convenient
solution of an awkward diplomatic problem, it
is less satisfactory to the friends of pacific pro-
gress and industrial development. Portugal
has many possessions on the African Coast, but
nowhere has its rule been beneiicenT nowhere
has It made strenuous efforts to break up the
slave traffic.