The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-28
BELGIUM WILL REPLY TO
MISSIONARIES CHARGES
King Leopold Has Mailed All
Documents Regarding the Con-
go Free State.
TELEGRAMS ON SUBJECT

LONDON. March 27.-The following tel
egrams have been exchanged between the
Associated Press and King Leopold, of Bel
GUM:
ITO His Majesty Leopold ii, King of the
Belgians. Brussels:
1.-THE Associated Press, representing the
newspaper press of the United States,
would be happy to cable TO the United
States any statement your Majesty might
see mt to make In relation TO the charges
against the government of the Congo Free
the natives made TO President Roosevelt
and Secretary of State Hay by delegation
from the missionary congress.
The American press is anxious to hear
both sides of the case, and would welcome
any reply from your Majesty 10 the allega-
tons of the missionaries that their rights
are not respected, and that the natives are
now in a worse condition than under the
Arab slave regime.
MANAGER. The Associated Press"
King Leopold replied, through his secre-
Manager The Associated Press:
The King attaches great Importance to
the impartial sentiments of the American
press. / have mailed you official docu-
meEts from the Congo Free State. in which
you will find all the facts essential TO full
and truthful statement Of the case.
CARTON DE WIART,
Secretary to the King"
Representatives OF the American Baptists
the Southern Presbyterian and the Disciples
of Christ Africa missions called on Pres
ident Roosevelt and Secretary Hay Fri
day last and described the affairs in the
Congo country viewed from the mis-
sionary standpoint. The principal feature
OF the conferences between the President
and the secretary and the missionaries
consisted of stories by the latter OF
atrocitiN practiced on the natives by their
Belgian rulers. The missionaries said the
work was rendered nearly valueless by their
attitude of the Belgian officials who monop-
olized all the food supplies. making it diff
icult for the missions TO procure vegetables
or fowls or anything to eat from the ma
tives, who were obliged to turn their pro-
duce into the hands of the officers. Then
by the cruelties practiced upon the ma
tives the latter were driven away from the
missions. and the schools were emptied
In addition IL was pointed out that nc
respect was shown for the property rights
OF the missionaries, and IL was on this last
ground that the delegation thought the
United States government might interfere
Secretary Hay asked the missionaries Il
reduce their views TO written memoran.
dunn. which, he said, he would consider
though he could not hold out any definite
promise OF relieving the situation so fan
as the natives were concerned. because the
United States was not one of the signato.
ries TO the treaty under which the Congo
Free State came into existence. state.
ment of the events leading up TO the pres.
ent condition of affairs was subsequently,
TO the State Department In which il was
declared that as a result of the absolut,
power of the King OF the Belgians the free.
dom OF trade guaranteed by the conference
OF Berlin was now thing of the past Tn.
President promised TO give the matter care,
ful consideration and asked that he be sun.
rIied with an accurate and detailed state.
ment.