The Washington times., 1903-06-14

20 1899
| The following IS the opinion of D.
Mohun. eX-consul of the United States,
as published in the Times" of Novem-
| Der &c, 1901:
/ L can assure you that, in my opinion,
| 1t would be impossible for anyone to
I give other than favorable report on
the work of the Free State in the eastern
province. The administration is excel
lent. The country is quite quiet from the
Falls to Tanganika The native tribes
seem contented and happy and are paid
by the government for every stroke of
work they do The price OF rubber has
increased and every man who brings in
rubber receives pay for it. Formerly
robbery and murder existed to a great
extent among the native tribes, but are
now quite rare
M. Lebman's Comment
former officer of the Austrian army,
NJ. Lehman. makes favorable declara-
ton in these words:
Il consider it my duty to render JUS
tice TO the Belgian officers so unjustly
accused. 1 spent fourteen, years with
them, and 1 learned to esteem them.
deliberately state that I refuse 10 be-
hcve the assertions of irresponsible in
dividuals who attempt in rapid inter-
view to estimate the great work OF
your officers in Africa" q
Major H. H. Gibbons writes his opiu-
ion to the Egyptian Gazette on Sep
tember 3, 1900, as follows:
81 consider it my duty to deny in
toto the statement attributed to me
apropos of Belgian colonization.
Questioned on this matter said that,
having had the opportunity OF, knowing
several officers and having visited their
stations in the Congo State, was con
vInced that the conduct of those gentle
men had been grossly misrepresented by
the press, 1 quoted, as proof of this.
my own experience, which is opposed
TO the version recently published in
tie English press accusing them of
gross cruelty. 1t is possible and even
probable that native sergeants in COM
mand of small detachments abuse their
authority; but as soon as these ex-
cesses come to the knowledge of the
white officers, the most severe punish
ment is dealt out to the culprits.''
d. Mohun, former consul of the United
States, whose opinion has already been
cited, writes TO the Times" on No
vember &c. 1901:
1T has been the fashion during the.
past for travellers who have been in the
Congo state to run 1t down in every way,
but it gives me the greatest pleasure to
be able to affirm that only a most cap
tious critic would be able to find fault
with its administration today"
Excuses Severely Punished.
From all this testimony it results that
if certain employees or soldiers in the
Congo have committed some cruelties,
these excuses were exceptional and in
eyitable IN a new country of immense
extent, the greater part of which is
still wholly wild. But such excuses
have been severely punished each time
the superior authorities of the Congo
have had knowledge thereof
King Leopold. in working for the foun-
dalton and organization of the Congo
independent state, has had in view, be-
cation and humanity. From the begin
ming the principal object of the Kings
efforts has been the abolition and abso-
lutte suppression of the slave trade
In this. success has fully crowned his
efforts. The work in the Congo has
given results which have surpassed all
expectations. not only from the humani-
tartan point of view but also from the
economic and the commercial. 1t Is on
the latter ground that one can explain
the campaign which is now being carried
on against the Free State. AS was stat
ed in this regard by Baron van Eet-
velde. secretary of state. in an interview
granted to newspaper:
THE proceedings are rather common
ones. They tend to create difficulties for
the COMO State as well in Africa as IN
Europe. to discredit it by exaggerattne
certain isolated events. and to prepare
for the time when the financial and the
territorial iealousies that are concealed
now behind the attacks made Will be
able TO satisfy themselves.
Space IS lacking for the reproduction
OF numerous citations which appear in
the second part or the volume In queS-
ton They give complete details, from
the testimony Of persons wholly disin-
terested in the question. of the measures
taken by the Congo independent state to
ameliorate the moral and material con
ditions of the country.
Attacks On the Congo Refuted.
Finally. in the third part. there is a |
special refutation of the attacks direct |
ed against the Congo by Messrs. Morri- !
son. Burrows, Parminter, ard others |
This refutaticn is borne out by the re-
production of various interviews with |
persons, some of whom are |
and whose competency can
not be contested.
This short synopsis may be Terminated /
by quoting the following appreciation
given to the work in the Congo from !
the newspaper La Politiquo Coloniale. +"
by NJ de Lanessan. formerly French |
minister OF the navy:
Undoubtedly Belgium has, in its |
congolese enterprise, set an example TO |
France and even 10 English which both