The Topeka state journal., 1900-12-31
PROFITS FROM THE CONGO.
brussels Cor. London Express.l

brussels Cor. London Express.1
It is enormously believed in many quar-
ters that King Leopold of Belgium. as
Sovereign of the Congo Free State. owns
it, or at least part Of it This is not a
true statement Of affairs at all, as the
government OF the Free State Is based
on much broader and more liberal lines.
First, IL must be remembered that ever
since King Leopold was chosen as ruler
contributed annually $4,000 toward its
support cut of his personal fortune.
He has thus paid G600000 pounds up ~
this year. and his contribution Of $40 600
pounds still figures In the budget of 1900
toward the defraying of the state ex-
IN return for this risk-for IN the be
ginning it looked to all as a very hope
less risk-there can be no doubt that he
made stipulations for certain concessions.
for he has the reputation Of being one of
the day. - -
That the Congo has turned out to be a
gold mine to those Belgian merchants
and bankers who were hardy enough to
risk the first venture has proved FORUM
ate for the king, who. as a private indI-
vidual. has naturally and justly taken
advantage of the Congo market in order
to reimburse himself. II possible. for the
tremendous outlay he has guaranteed to
the state for the last fifteen years.
- Recently it has been stated that NO
is invested in the Congo only to be lost.
and so on
This is entirely inaccurate, for no enter
prlses OF the present day are paying bet
ter than the companies in the Congo Free
This must be said in justice to King
Leopold. its founder. for with the idea
that the Congo is a total failure. the be-
lief that King Leopold makes millions out
OF II cannot fail to place the sovereign in
very false light A few figures only
are necessary to dispel this false light
flrst there IS the railway. opene IN
lSSs- IhiS company issued shares at G2A.
and their present actual value on the
market is considerably over 600 The
Ang1o-Belgium India Rubber company a
short time ago, paid a dividend Of 100 per
cent Dividends in the various other COM
pa-lies vary all the way from 80 1-3 To 80
and 70 per cent.
The Belgians are a thrifty and uracfica1
people. and their commerce and Industry
unanimously uphold the Congo. not from
sentiment or patriotism. but for the very
loglcaI reason that to them the Congo is
4 per cent bonds obtain more for their
money than holders of Belgian state or
city bonds.
In 1856 the exports of the Congo Free
state amounted to something over 965, 00G;
N 1886, ten years after. to ESQ O00. and in
1893 to 91-625, 900, bel : $500 600 in excess
of the imports
There is a belief prevailing that the
Congo Free State Is in some way or other
a dependency of Belgium
This is not so: it is an absolutely fnde-
pendent state, and nothing need prevent
h1ng Leopold from abdicating the throne
OF 6etBluIn and retaining the sovereignty
Of the Free State in the event of F3eIa-furn
which VIII come up before parliament this
year for by virtue of a treaty dated
! July l. 1ssO,the Belgian government agreed
70 loan the sum of 91. 600 900 to the Congo
Free. State, 600 900 to be paid down and
4so.000 per annum for ten years
Six months after the last paynent-that
is this year-the BELGIAN government re
served the right to annex the entire state