New-York tribune., 1903-10-07
KING LE0POLD'S LETTER.
As Ruler of the Congo He addresses
Note to the United Stotes

a ms,
to the note OF the British Government ntt,A y. -
received some four months ago - -. iiiCH ne
English Secretary of State for Fo-e,,, ,sI
caHeo ms attention 10 the many fragrant violations
or the treaty whicn have occurred in the Fres
State the systematic cruelties prac+isad - -
natives by the Congo officials 49, -, t,, NpOn eie
ment in the State of a system n. oo-t,
monopoies which. in defiance OF treatv obI,+tos
practically closes the door to the traders of foreign
nations It was pointed out In the note that the
government OF the Free State had failed 10 hiring
about that material and moral tnnn-ov.-,.,, a. +L
condition OF the natives which was ona o- Tho
primary objects IN the creation OF the S+.+a rLfl
the free trade provisions OF the treaty have been
nullhed by the granting OF concessions for the ex
ploitation OF the country.
AS the British Government addressed q co,, ~
Its note to the King TO all the s.gnatory powers of
the Treaty Of Berlin. so in the same wav has King
Leopold addressed TO these same governments his
response TO the charges made by Great Britain
Briefly speaking, Leopold disputes the facts and
refuses the demands set forth in the English note
and takes such a nrm and uncompromisng stand
on his sovereign rights ruler Of the Congo as
TO hold out little prospect OF any satisfactory set
tlement.
His memorandum is divided into two parts The
hrst contains arguments drawn from International
law and from the special acts which govern the
Congo, while the second part deals with questions
Of fact He rejects the charges OF crIaltv made
against the administration OF the Congo on the
ground that they are based on untrustworthy evi-
dence. while he repudiates the idea of arbitration
altogether incompatible with his pre-ogatves &C
monarch OF the Congo. He lays stress on the fact
that the objections respecting land concessions and
monopolies are applicable 10 all the other powers in
Central Africa, not excepting Great Britain and
IN conclusion he declares himself convinced that
after the explanation and evidence furnished in
the memorandum the United States and the other
signatory powers VIII recognize that there is no
necessity for the intervention demanded by Eng
land.
This reply. while a disappointment to the powers
generally, is rebuff in particular for Great Britain
which, 1t must be remembered. is one OF the four
powers under the protection of which the neutrality
OF Belgium is placed which guarantee the inde-
pendence and integrity Of the kingdom and to
which, therefore Leopold is virtually indebted for
his Belgian crown. But while there is little pros
pect OF any Joint solitary Intervention OF more
active character. that is say Wis ct arnse" IN
the Congo Free State. it is likely that the English
note VIII have the excellent and beneficial result
Of Fastening the transformation Of the Congo Free
State into Belgian colony. thus putting end
TO the many incOnveniences and disadvantages of
the personal rule OF King Leopold over this be-
nighted and sorely afflicted portion OF Africa
Sir Michael Herberts premature death in Swift
erland serves TO recall the fact that his eldest
brother. the late and thirteenth Earl Of Pembroke
and Montgomery. succumbed 10 the dread
malady-namely consumption. He too was a
most brilliant and popular man, and travelled far
and wide in search OF health, under the medical
care Of DR.. George Henry Kingsley. Of three
clever brothers. the other two. Henry and Charles
Kingsley. being better known to fame. The trav-
els of Lord Pembroke and of his companions in
many instances took the form Of cruises on board
the formers steam yacht in all sorts OF remote
portions Of the globe. such as. for instance, the
Southern Pacific and one of the most successful
books Of travel ever written that Of which
they were the joint authors, entitled South Sea
Bubbles" by the Earl and the Doctor" The late
Lord Pembroke also the author Of a particu-
lary fascinating volume written in the most free
and unconventional spirit. entitled Roots" Both
OF these books the subject Of much criticism.
owing to the humorous approval expressed therein
Of the lax morals OF the South Sea Islanders. and
South Sea Bubbles in particular that
account barred from the circulating libraries in
England. Like Sir Michael. the late Earl had Rus
sian blood in his veins. his grandmother having
been the beautiful daughter Of Count Simon Wo-
renzoh the Nuscovite Ambassador in London
Princess Guy de Lucnge Faucigny. through the
death Of her stepmother, Sybil Sanderson. the
operate singer. acquires considerable addition
the already large fortune left to her by her father
the late Antonio Terry. Of New-York and Havana.
For Syhi Sanderso1 had life interest in sum
Of about 100000 francs, which at her demise
according the terms of Antonio Terry's will, TO
20 TO his daughter by his first wife who was a
Miss Grace secor. of New-York. Francis Egerton
Webb and Henry L. Sprague. of New-York.
the trustees Of the will, and have now turned the
money in question over to the young princess. who
was married only about a year ago.
The prince. her husband. has little money.
but is rich in ancestry and in nlustrious connec-
tons He IS descended from one Of the oldest
houses Of the nobility Of Savoy. and his family
tree shows many matrimonial alliances with the
now reigning dynasty OF Italy. The original name
was .'Fuciniaci" which has been Galcized into
''Faucgny." and the name Of "Lucinge" came 10
II three hundred years ago through marriage. The
prncely title is in reality one Of Sandman origin
and it was only in ISIS that the members OF this
house received the right OF styling themselves
princes in France by decree Of King Charles Y.
Prince Charles. the father Of Prince Guy is a
grandson OF the Duke de Berri and great-grand
son. therefore. Of King Charles Y Of France For
the mother of Prince Charles Of the two
daughters Of that royal French Duke Of Berrf by
his English wife. Amy Brown. and who when
about TO breathe mis- last, after being mortally
wounded at the opera by assassin confded his
two young daughters 10 his urcle, King Louis
XVIII. The latter conferred titles upon each OF
the girls and likewise invested a large sum Of
money in French funds for them The younger Of
the two was created Countess Yssoudun and
ried the late Prince Ferdinand Lucinge Faucigny.
while the other became the wife of the late Baron
de Charette and the mother OF the well known
French General de Charette, one Of the heroes OF
the war of 1870. who married Miss Polk. OF Ten
nessee-
one Of Prince Guys brothers. Ferdinand by
name IS now married 10 the daughter OF the
Odessa Hebrew corn dealer. Michel Ephrussi,
granddaughter Of Baron Alphonse Rothschild. Of
Paris. This princes first marriage 10 Raphaela
Cahen. daughter OF the Partisan banker OF that
name who was killed a couple Of years ago in
automobile accident. unhappy one, which.
after all kinds OF domestic and financial squab-
bles ultimately eliminated in a separation. the
prince taking the high and lofty ground that II
was perfectly preposterous TO contract mesah-
ance and 10 wed the daughter of a banker Of
plebeian origin. IL the latter would not even pay
his daughters bill The princess died about four
wears ago leaving a son. now i've years Of age.
-1,1-L rr-Ls t-.-. to