The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-22
KING OF BELGIUM
MAKES PROTEST
Answers Attacks Made on Govern"
ment of Congo Free State.
SAYS STATEMENTS ARE FALSE
Col. neHry l., howiAEy, of san Fran.
cisco, IA Friend of hinK Leopold,
Presented the Kings Letter
tn President Roosevelt.

az President Roosevelt.
Washington. Oct 1S.--At the request
OF the king of Belgium, Col. Henry /,
Kowalslly, OF tho San Francisco bar.
and Il personal friend OF King Leopold.
called at the White House, Monday, by
appointment, and presented the reply
Of the federation for tho defense OF
Belgian interests abroad to attacks
made IN the government Of the Congo
Free state. Col Kowalsky presented
to the president an Autograph picture
of King Leopold, framed in silver.
In the course of An extended audi
cnCe with tho president, Col. kowaIsky
said:
Interested BrItisherH arc ondeayor-
ing, under tho guiso of bouefactorA
Of the Congo natives. to open tho
question of Sovereignty oven those w
giOns by calling a conference of the
powers at which, II IL hoped by the
Britishors. England may establish the
contention that Belgium is inpoterR
60 maintain an effective government
In the Congo.
Statement ny Coz. Rowt-ky.
In the interview, Col. KowalsIty
said. ~ presented to the president a
letter from King leopold in reply TO
the basrlosa charges Of the BritIah
humaultartans. and also other doGu-
meuts stating the belgian side of this
controversy.
"Thc testimony Of travellers from
tho day OF Sir Henry Stanley to the
present time IL unanimous aud
phatic IN praise of the Congo Free
State government, II IL were neces-
sary to disprove such inconsistent and
paIpabty false charges as those which
try to make It appear that the Belgian
officers in the Congo chop off the
hands of blacks whom they are trying
10 ensiaye, would bring the statements
of such ey~e.wltne8sea as Nal. James
Harrison, Sir Harry Johnston, ldr.
Grenfell, Capt. NJ, d, Holl and Michael
Holland, themselves all Englishmen,
who assert that the Congo Free State
Ia far more advanced In civilization
thnn East Africa ana Uganda. Car
dlnal Gibbons has given his Testimony
also regarding the great work per
formed by Hing Leopold in Africa.
Il also called to the presidents at
tentlon tho fact that all this uproar In
England over the fearful atrocities In
the Congo Is fnthered by missionaries.
whose applications for big concessions
were turned down by the Belgian au
thorltIes. Not a single charge OF cru
city, as | said to the president, has
been made except by those who have
been seeking material advantages In
that region, and who have not been
permitted to exploit It at the expense
of others. | told him that fact, and
the fact that Great Britain has failed
in her effort TO open up tho Congo
question, accounts for tho attempt now
being made to work upon the sympa'
, thies of the American people by
, t%rumped.up stories of cruelty 10 the
8 Congo natives"
T Cordially Received ny Prcsiacnt.
/, Col. Kowaisky was cordially re-
ceived by the president, who ex'
pressed his pleasure that King Leo
/ pold had thus honored a n American,
, After the matter had been carefully
considered by TIE president ami Se2-
rotary Hay, a reply will be made to the
Congo Reform association.
After his visit to the White House,
Col. Kowalsky sent d cable to King
Leopold, assuring him OF the presi-
dents appreciation Of his majeaty's
, thoughtful consideration.
. King Leopold, in his letter to Col,
Kowaisky, a copy of which was left
with the president. encloses a state
ment about the Congo from the fed
GRAFTON for the defense OF Belgian In
terosts abroad. and says:
you will, In delivering this com,
munication TO President Roosevelt, re-
lterate to him on my behalf the feel
lngs of high esteem | have for him,
and the mistaken confidence ! place
in his spirit OF justice and Impair
,ialIty,
81 have to express the desire that
Mr.. Roosevelt will kindly take cogniz'
1 ance of this address In your presence,
7 20 that you may be- afforded an OPP
| portunity to give him any further IN
: formation he might wish to obtain
from you. The foundation and fairness
. Of the case which you have been good
enough to undertake TO defend Will
, supply you with such numerous and
= conclusive arguments as 10 confoin !
the enemies Of the Congo Free State"