The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-01-30
The United States and The Congo.

WASHINGTON, January 29.-In re-
Spouse to the House resolution, calling
for information respecting 1.-THE particl-
patton of the United States in the Congo
conference, the President to-day sent to
the House a report submitted by the
Secretary of State to the President.
The Secretary says that some time
must elapse before full docu-
mentary history of the transaction
can be laid before Congress, but in view
of the general interest taken in the SUBJ
iect, he submits preliminary report,
leaving the transmission of papers to
follow. He then gives in detail the
causes and motives OF the participation
of this government in the Berlin con-
ference, all of which are well-known to
the public.
ut being ascertained," the report
proceeds, THAT the conference was not
to have plenipotentiary functions, no
special credentials were needed to enable
Kasson to attend as a delegate of this
government, he being already accredited
as minister to the imperial court. The
instructions sent Kasson were brief, but
precise, as to the exclusion of the ques-
lions of Territorial jurisdiction"
By direction of the President, Mr..
Henry Sanford, whose relation to the
International Association representing
tine free States of Congo, seemed to fit
him for the work. was appointed asso-
eiate delegate on behalf of the United
States, his course to be governed by
the instructions sent KasSon. San
ford not being an officer of this
government, he was accredited by letter
~, &A
minister of foreign affairs in Germany,
as associate delegate. The resolution OF
the House calls for the text of the Gre
Sentatiyes of the United States, and the
letter accrediting Sanford will be trans
mitted with the rest of the correspon-
dence at an early day. 1t was, how
ever, he here mentioned, that it confers
no definite powers on him. 1t merely
recites the proposal of the imperial gov
eminent that the associate delegates,
having special knowledge of the condi-
ton of affairs in Western Africa, and
especially in the region of the Congo.
should assist at the meetings of the con-
ference, and formally accredits Sanford
as such associate delegate on behalf OF
the United States. Subsequently, :"
the report says, Henry M.
Stanley was invited by the con-
ference itself, to appear and give
Information touching the Congo
region, as to which he is admitted by
original and sole authority. SANKEY'S
name appears in the protocols of the
proceedings as associate delegate of the
United States, but he was not accredited
otherwise than by Kasson's personal
introduction. Neither Sanford. nor
Stanley have had vote in the proceed
ings. The voting had been by countries,
the delegation of each voting as a unit.
AS a fact, the voting is quite a
matter of form" The latest dis
patches received from Kasson, Secretary
Frelinghuysen says, being the proceed
ings to December 18th, on which day
the conference adjourned until January
5th. Up to that time the Department Of
State has no reason to feel other
wise than satisfied with the dis
cretion, prudence and ability with
which Kasson has carried out the in
structions given him, besides limiting
the position of the United States to one
of commercial interest disassociate
from the question of territorial con-
troll. He has been attentive that
no act on our part shall
deYiate from consistent national policy.