National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-23
PRESIDENT AND KING.
Correspondence between the Belgian
ana United States Chief Executives on
Tho Congn Isran qtoto

Correspondence Between the Belgian
ana United States Chief Executives on
the Congo Free State.
Included in some diplomatic correspond
ence recently sent TO Congress Is the follow
ing letter from King Leopold Of Belgium to
President Cleveland, written at the time the
King assumed the title of sovereign Of the
independent state of the Congo
OsTEND Aug. T. iss5.-VERY DEAR AND
GREAT FRIEND The government of the repub.
lie of the United states of America was
pleased TO recognize the flag of the lnterna.
tionel Association of the Congo rs that of n
friendly nation. AZ the time Of the signing of
the general act of the conference OF Berlin, the
president and the members Of that high as
scmbly, on receiving tho adhesion of the as.
ISOLATION to the acts of the conference mani.
tested their sympathy for its enterprise, 10.
day that the position of the association Is liked
in an international point of view, that Its terri.
toral constitution Is established, and That its
mission has received valuable announcements
lam prepared to bringto your, notice and TO
America that the possessions of the Interua-
tiOnal Association OF the Congo will hereafter
form the Independent stateoithe Congo. | have,
az the same time, the honor to inform you and
The government olthc republic of the United
states of America that, authorized by the
Belgian legislative chambers TO become chief
of the new state, have taken, in accord with
the association, the title of Sovereign of the
Independent State Of the Congo
The union between belgium and that state
! am firmly convinced, will fulfill the expccta.
tons OF those powers which have in measure
greeted in advance its entry into the family of
nations. shall endeayor to guide it in that
course, and entertain the hope that you will
be pleased, rs well as the government of there
public of the United States of America to
facilitate my task by giylnga favorable re.
ccption to the present notification.
eagerly seize this occasion to offer you the
expression of the high esteem and Of the in.
yiolable friendship with which am, very
gear ana great friend, your sincere friend,
President Cleveland was absent from
Washington when the above letter was re-
ceived, and upon his return sent the follow
ing reply
ESTEENED ANp GREAT FRIEND. have had
much pleasure In receiving your Majesty's let
ter of the LIST of August last announcing that
the possessions of the International Association
of the Congo Will hencoiorth form the indie.
pendent state OF the Congo aud that your Mai.
esty, under the authorization of the Belgium
legislative chambers, and in accord with the
association, has assumed the title of sovereign
of the independent state of the Congo. oh
serve your Maiesty's further statement that the
convention between Belgium aud the new state
Is exclusively personal, This government at
theoutset testified its lively interest IN the we'll
now committed to your Nlejestys wise care by
being tho first among the powers to rccog-
nize the flag of the International Assocla-
tion of the Congo. as.that of n friendly state;
and now that the progress of events has
brought with II tho general recognition of
the jurisdiction of the association, and
opened the way for It's incorporation as an in.
dependent and sovereign state, have great
satisfaction in congratulating your majesty on
being called TO the chief magistracy Of the
newly-formed government, The government
and people of the United States, whose only
concern lies in watching with benevolent ex-
pectation thelgrowth Of prosperity and peace
among the communities to whom they are
under your majestys good government the
peoples of the Congo region will ADVANCE in
the paths Of civilization, and deserve the good
Will OF all those states and peoples who may be
brought into contact with them
am, my esteemed and great friend, your
faithful friend, GROVER CLEVELAND.
Done at Washington this nth day of septom.
Der, 1885.
BY the President.
4. f.. BAYARD, Secretary of State