Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-23
WASHINGTON NEWS.
correspondence Between King Leopold
and President Cleveland.

s'SSiucut SleVelaA0s
I,o,. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.
1nciuoed IN some diplomatic correspon.
oence sent to Congress is the following letter
ron hlng Leopold of Belgium to President
oie'eians, written at the same time the King
assumed the title of Sovereign of the Inde.
pendent State of COMO:
OsTEND, Aug. l, 1881.
very dear and great friend-The govern
lneht OF the Republic of the United States of
a"Trica was pleased to recognize the flag of
.ne International Association of the Congo as
tia' oi a friendly nation, at the time of the
signing OF the general act of the conference
vi Berlin The president and members of
that high assembly, on receiving the adha.
sion OF the association to the act. of that
conference, manifested their sympatby for its
enterprise. Today the position of the asso.
clatlon is fixed in an international po1nt Of
view. That its territorial constitution is es
taolished and that It's mission has need of en-
couragement, am prepared to bring to your
no'lce ana to that of the Republic of the
United States of America, that the possess
slons OF the International Association of the
Cohgo VIII hereafter form an independent
n'ate OF the Congo. have at the same time
t'ie honor TO inform you and the government
oI the Republic OF the United States of Amer.
ica that am authorized by the Belgian
legislative chambers to become chief of the
ne" otate l have taken, in accordance with
'he wish OF the association, the title of Sow.
erelgn OF the Independent State of Congo.
Inc union between Belgium and that State
Will De exclusively personal. The new State.
1 am firmly convinced, will fulfill the expec
tation OF those powers which have in a meas
ure greeted in advance its entry into the
family of nations. l shall endeavor to guide
1t In that course, and l entertain the hone
that you will be pleased as well as the gov
ernment OF the Republic of the United States
or America, to facilitate my task by giving a
favorable reception to the present notifica-
cation. eagerly seize this occasion to offer
you expressions of high esteem, and of in
violable friendship, with which | am, very
dear and great friend, your sincere friend,
LEOPOLD.
President Cleveland sent the following
reply:
Esteemed and Great Friend-I have had
much pleasure in receiving your majesty 8
letter OF the first of August last, announcing
that the possessions of the International AS
sociation of the Congo will henceforth form
the independent State of Congo, and that
your majesty, under the authorization of the
DeiSiuul itRlSlatlVe CnamOefS, and IN accord
with the association, has assumed the title of
Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo.
| observe your majesty's further statement
that the convention between Belgium and
the new State is exclusively personal. This
government, at the outset, testified its lively
interest in the well-being and future progress
of the vast region now committed to your
majesty's wise care, by being the first among
the powers to recognize the flag of the Inter-
national Association of the Congo, as that of
friendly State, and now that the progress of
events has brought with it general recogni-
ton of the jurisdiction of the association and
opened way for its incorporation as an in
dependent sovereign State, have great sat
isfaction 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 the growth of prosperity and peace
among the committees to whom they are
joined by ties of friendship, cannot doubt
that under your majesty's good government
the people of the Congo region will advance
in the paths of civilization and deserve the
good will of all these States and people who
may be brought into contact with them. |
am, my esteemed and great friend, your
faithful friend.
v