New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-05
that which they have enjoyed for the last th'r'y
A CRISIS ~ THE CONGO.

Tho Congo State Is evidently In an evil plight.
Svmptoms indicate that something serious Is
likely to happen soon. Just what Ii would DE
rash TO predict. But it would not be surprising
II the Independence OF the state came 10 III
ABRUPT end, and its sovereignty or ownership
were transferred from the King or the Beiglahs
70 some other Power or Powers. IT Is JUST ABOUT
ten years since King Leopold assumed the u'ie
Of Sovereign OF the Congo. He became pr"c-
ticolly the personal proprietor Of that vast 10
main and undertook TO cvize it and 10 de
vclop its resources at his own private expense
He was n very rich man, but he soon fo'ind TIC
State n greater financial burden than he couid
carry. and he was obliged to make loans TO carry
ON its Government and Industrial enterprises
We need not discuss the story that he used IN
this way the fortune OF his unhappy sister Car
lotta That accusation has been widely crcu-
lated but Is denounced as utterly false. But his
own fortune. at any rate, was exhausted anu
ho borrowed S5.OOO,OOO from Belgium, on the
condition that Belgium should have the optloh oi
ronovnent or annexation Of the Congo State as
a colonial empire
A few months ago the question definitely came
I'm I'm the Belgian Parliament whether 'he
conpo should be annexed or not. AFTER MUCH
discussion a small majority was found 10 De III
favor of annexation. The Minister FOR foreiSh
Affairs NJ. de Merode negotiated treaty Witn
France on the basis Of impending annexa'ioh'
ond tho general conviction was that before the
ord NJ the wear all the formaties would be con-
o,udod and Belgium would be the owner or an
African colony about eighty times her own size
rho King was supposed TO he glad OF II, ana
.,o rroiect was regarded with a considerable
1ocroo NJ nopIlar favor. Small as II Is. Belgium
70 r,ch and powerful and could we'll afford to go
,,,o tho colonial business. Moreover, as she Is
already practically responsible for the state she
MIGHT rs we'll have the game and not merely the
name
Than suddenly, at the end Of last May. the
r.ho,o situation changed The Belgian Govern
mont decided 10 postpone the matter untl
noxt wear or later and the Foreign Minister re-
SIGNED his portfolio. 1t was said that the King
wos responsible for this right-abont-face. FER
bans no WAS But no authentic explanation or
II has eyer been offered. Since then the State
has fallen into financial straits, and the King IS
soid 70 have been offering to sell it TO any one
who would take 1t off his hands. Nobody seems
eager TO take It. France has the first claim upon
If but she is already burdened with too much
colonial EXPANSION England and Germany
would both like to get It, but stick at the price
rs well as at the certainty of mourning Still more
Of Frances i-will. Leopold is said therefore,
10 have scheme for the partitlOning OF the
State among these three That would perhaps
be the best possible solution Of the problem,
England taking, OF course. the extreme inland
or eastern portion, and France the northern and
Germany the southern part Of the remainder.
In any case, shall probably have to aban-
don all the daydreams which were INDUCED IN
when the Congo State was founded Philan-
thropy and all such things will have to stand
aside. They have been tried and have failed.
The territory will 60, as the rest OF the CONT
nent Is going or has gone, 10 the great land
grabbers. to be worked for their selfish profit.
But even that is better than to fall Into bank
ruptcy and anarchy, which now seems the sole
alternative.