Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-09
srANbEY,s CONGO UTOPIA.
The gent Of the Belgian King Ac-
cuscd Of Misrepresentation

cuscd Of Misrepresentation.
iron. tie Mem York Herald.
WASHINGTON, May 30.-Mr. W. p.
r,sdel. late agent of the United States to
ma states of the Congo Association,
writes from Buenos Ayres to Secretary
Bayard. in answer to the attacks upon
nm in a letter from Henry NJ. Stanley,
criticising unfavOrably the official re-
norris of Mr.. Tisdel. The late agent
niicDes into Mr.. Stanley and the Congo
hubble and fortifies his assertions by
references TO many letters and publica-
itious OF persons whose VeracitY is ac-
credited. SANKEY'S bitterness is traced to
the fact that he fOund it impracti-
cable TO use Mr.. Tisdel to puff his
scheme. He says: sin my reports 10 the
government have stated PLAN facts as
t5ey came under my observation, and
from reliable officials of the African In
ternationa Association, and you, Mr.
Secretary, have seen the evidence of my
statements. l thought this my duty,
whereas Mr.. Stanley and certain of his
associates thought | should serve their
echemes. | might have been blessed with
the smiles ana approval OF these gentle
men had | but allowed Mr.. Stanley so re-
heye me from the trouble OF preparing my
reports; indeed, l fear | neglected a fine
opportunity, for when | arrived in Brus-
sells 1 was invited to Chateau Ginge-
lon. the residence of eX-United
States Minister Henry 5. Sanford,
where was unfOlded before me the
scheme of the Great Semi Political Com
mercial Trading Company of the Congo
(eaptal to be raised in England with
the intimation that my fortune would be
assured if | should make prudent and
practicable report in harmony with the
proposed scheme. When it was known
that | bad neglected so fine an opportu-
nitv, and had made my reports on the
basis Of unadOrned facts and unVarnished
truth | at once Inherited the hatred,
malice and Vituperation of Mr.. Sanford
and Mr.. Stanley, and press, cable, tele-
graph and platform were used against
me. EX-Minister Sanford was 80 good al
to write me, at the same time, a letter of
regret, that | had not allowed him to ex-
anime and revise my reports before send
ing them TO the department.. This letter,
with many others from MIR. Sanford, are
at your disposal.
INVESTIGATION INVITED.
"let me suggest, Mr.. Secretary, that
YOU investigate the subject and ascertain
just why the United States took such an
important part in the Berlin conference
States became sponsor for this so-called
Congo Free States which, in fact, had
10 existence. l know that every gentle
man within the executive and legislative
departments OF the government who par
tcipated in the consideration of the
Congo question acted with the best inten-
tons and from the purest motives. The
information upon which Congressional
action was based came from one man,
bat =
ford, exhibited States Minister to
Belgium. While he resided in
Washington, urging the passage of
the bill which gave recognition to States
not In existence. his blue ribbon dinners
were the talk OF the town. do not mean
TO insinuate that an American legislator
can be Influenced by dinner, far from il.
But have heard the eX-Minister OF the
United States declare time and again that
he wrote the clause about the Congo
which appeared in President Arthur's
message; that he supplied the information
TO the Department of State about the
Congo; lathe passed the bill in Congress
which gave recognition to a State having
no existence; and that he brought about
the call for the Berlin Conference. The
Information which you would obtain by
such an investigation would at least
make an interesting chapter in the his
IOTN VI ObnSO leglbldJlOH.'
STANLEY DRAWING THE LONG BOW.
Mr. Tisdel dscredits SANKEY'S state
ments OF the wealth Of the Congo region,
and cites the fact that it has long been ae-
cessible to European commerce. If it
had presented such pri2ss as Stanley
claims, English, Dutch or Portuguese en-
terprise would have secured them long
ago. Stanley gives as the ocean frontage
Of the Congo States $50 miles. Tisdel
IS il is only So miles. He SAYS Stanley
has mapped ont country covering an
area Of 1000 900 square miles without
ever having left the river which flows
through its centre. MIR. SANKEY'S writ
lngs are romantic. to say the least, and
his Across the Dark Continent and The
Free ; ates of the Congo. and How They
Were Founded, can hardly be accepted as
proof positive that he is right and l am
wrong, since his works are openly de-
nouuced by African explorers Of charac-
Ter as gross eXaggerauons. 1t
Is all very we'll tor Mr.. Stan
ley to tell what he might write
about. lfhe were to write less fiction and
more truth should have some nope that
the Congo States might succeed under the
wise and judIcious administration of sir
Francis de Wintou. DO not question the
wealth OF the Upper Congo coun-
try. Other travellers dc, however. l
SIMPLY say that the country through which
travelled is worthless after passing Nivi
ana that white men cannot live there.
with money it is possible to build rail
way around the rapids or even across to
zanzibar. But venture TO say that TO
take our one dollars worth OF produce by
means of this road the cost will be S."
DE Brazza's appointment as Governor
Oh the Congo Free States by the King OF
the Beigians is cited by Mr.. Tisdel as an
Indication that his Majesty has become
iully convinced of SANKEY'S true charac-
Ter, N. DE BrazZa having been the theme
ol the great explorers especial yitupera-