New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-08
THE CONGO SLAVE TRADE.
VIEW OF A DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMAT.

OMISSIONS OF THE BRUSSELS ANTI-sLAVERY CON-
FD8ENcE-pRoMINEST PART TAKEN BY REP
RBsnNrAAIvEs OF THE UNITED STATES
ONLY THE NETHERLANDS WITHHOLD
AsspNr-THE REASONS WHY THEY
STAND AGAINST THE REST OF
THE CIVILIZED wORLD-IN.
TBREsTING FACTS ABOUT
THE CONGO TRADE.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYE]
Washington Nov I'm conversation with Tribune
correspondent to-day the subject OF the congo Save
trade, a distinguished diplomat said
at hone that in the course Of his lectures In this
country Mr. Stanley will take occasion TO express his
views respecting the African slave trade and the
necessity of giving the Congo State the power TO impose
reasonable imposts In order to raise the revenue neces
sary TO enable il 10 wipe that blot on nineteenth
century civilization In letter published III England
some ten days ago. Just before his departure for the
United States, Mr. Stanley declared that 1T woud DC
the everlasting disgrace of the century II the decisions
of the Powers should not be carried out, and II the
Congo State should not be authorized to levy duty on
articles of merchandise He also stated that III the
moderate import duties proposed are not levied ue
suppression OF the slave trade on the upper Congo
will never take place except paper fully agree
with him in that matter which, 1t seems to me- is one
In which the people of the United States Will take
deep and peculiar interest their attention
shall be drawn to IT..
"what is the present status and what are the ID
sacles in the way of carrying out the policy indi-
Gated ~
"Ihe matter stands where it was left by the Anti
Slavery Conference OF the Powers, which was III ses
sion at Brussels from November 1s, 1850, 10 July :.
1900. That Conference, in the deliberations OF whc
the representative of the United States took pfohi
nent and honorable part, laid down the rules which
should be followed In the definite abolition OF the AZ
rican slave trade. To become operative however u'e
rules acts require the assent Oh all the foweis'
Have any OF them refusedi"
"The only Power which has not yet signed tue gen
erai act Of Brussels is the Netherlands 1t was DC
cIded by the Conference that these two subecs-tht
suppression of the slave trade and the Ievylng O
duties which inseparably connected should Torn
single act which. such. should be siencd oy all IN
Powers In view Of the persistent obecton OF te Neth
erlands to sign this combined act, period OF SIN
months-to date from July 9. 1e0o-was granted u
that country in order TO give Its Government time
reconsider its decision, and. IL was hoped, approve
the act, so far however, the Netherlands have
taken no steps In that direction In order fully u
understand the objection raised by the Netherlands
II will be necessary give brief review Of the
alterations which have led to the adoption By tn
Conference OF the combined act:
.From time immemoria the basin Of the Congo
has been the great hunting ground for slaves and tn
principal seat and stronghold Of the African slav,
trade and a careful estimate places the number o
human beings led into the most abtcct and crle
slavery from that region at 100000 per annum
Truly, 1t was high time for concerted action by al
tho Powers not only TO limit but absolutely 10 IDOL
fish this nefarious trafic, as only upon that basi
could civilization make sure advances into the vas
regions OF Central Africa and open this productive
country to the trade Of the world. The character o
the present ruler Of the independent state OF Congo
King Leopold Of Belgium. one Of the most liberal
phiianthropc and progressive monarchs OF our times
was sure guarantee that the measures adopted by tn
Conference would be faithfully carried ont In fact
he enthusiastically declared his willingness to snbscrb
- The resolutions Of the Conference and to carry gu