The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-25
BRITAIN MOVES IN CONGO Case,
ANNOUNCES HER BELIEF IN
TRUTH OF CRUELTY CHARGES.
Calls on Powers VINO Participated in tho
Berlin Treaty to Confer ~ 70 Methods
Of Ref0rm-Trade Monopoly Was
Granted in violation Of the Treaty.

Granted in violation Of the Treaty
Special Cable Despatch to THE sun.
LONDON. Oct 2A.-The British Foreign
Office yesterday issued q despatch in ro'
gard to the ill-treatment Of natives and the
existence OF trade monopolies in the Congo
State to the representatives of this Govern
ment accredited to the Powers which par
ticipated in the treaty OF Berlin, under
which the Congo Free State was consti.
tuted.
Taking into consideration The diplo-
matte language in v hich such documents
are usually couched, this despatch must be
described as very forcible. 1t refers to the
debate In tho House Of Commons on May 20
when, it says:
1T was alleged that the object Of the
Congo administration was not 30 much to
care for the government Of the natives a.
for the collection OF revenue. This object
WINS pursued by means OF system Of forced
laOor, differing only in name from slavery
The demands upon each village were ex-
acted with strictness that constantly de-
generated into great cruelty. and the men
composing the armed force Of the State
were recruited from the most warlike Of
the savage tribes. who often tsrrorized their
own officers. maltreated the natives and
had no fear OF punishment
The despatch also refers to the fact that
many cases Of cruelty have been proved
beyond the possibility Of contradiction.
1t lays stress on what IL calls .the most
serious allegations in regard TO the sys-
TEN of administration; namely. that no
efforts were made to fit the natives for in
dustrial pursuits 1t declares that the
method Of obtaining laborers was similar
to that formerly applied to obtain slaves.
Force was as much required now to take
natives to place of service a. was formerly
necessary to convey captured slaves.
The despatch quotes the British Consul
as Bona and also tho British officers in
territory adjacent to the Congo Free State
to show that Notwithstanding the obliga-
tions which were accepted under the Berlin
treaty no attempt at any administration
for the natives has been made, and the
officers of the Government are devotlng
all their energy to the collection OF revenue.
The Congo stations are stunned, the only
natives seen being soldiers. The result II
that neighborhoods which were populous
few years ago are now uninhabited. the
natives averring that they have been driven
from their homes by tyranny and sx-
actions"
The despatch then expresses tho deep
conviction OF England that the charges are
founded on truth. For this reason HIS
Majesty's Government is OF the opinion
that it is incumbent upon the Powers who
were parties to the Berlin treaty to confer
and consider whether the Congo Free
State has fulfilled it's obligations and. II not,
TO secure the carrying out Of the same
The despatch asks for suggestions which
might constitute subject for reference
to the Hague Arbitration Tribunal.
1t also draws attention to the action
Of the Congo Erect State in establishing
a trade monol oly and restricting trade. in
direct cont avention to the principle OF the
open door provided for in the Berlin
agreement.