New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-05
THE CONGO SITUATION.
Defence of King Leopold by Presi-
dent of Belgian Union.
or OF The Tribune.


would like to make a few remarks.
Mr. Morel wants the American public to believe
that the war waged by his association is not
against Belgium but solely against King Leopold
and he assumes that the sovereign Of the Congo
does him the honor of replying to his personal
attacks.
But such not the facts; a letter from the
King to President Roosevelt. presented by Colonel
Henry l. Kowalsky, distinguished lawyer of San
Francisco was only introductory; the reply pre-
scented to the President issued by the Fed
Grafton for the Defence Of Belgian Interests
Abroad" association formed in Brussels in
August. 1903 In opposition to the so-caled Congo
Reform Association, formed in England This fed
GRAFTON is composed not only of Senators and Depu
Ties or the Belgian realm but also of all the promi
nent trade and Industrial associations OF Belgium
among whom 1 will cite the folowing The Bel
gian Society Of Engineers and Manufacturers. the
Union Syndicate. the Liege Union of Manufacturers
OF Arms. the Association of Belgian Manufactur-
ers OF Artificial Portland Cement, the Association
OF Masters Of Belgian Glass Works, the Maritime
Federation Of Antwerp. the Union of Coal Mines,
Metal Mines and Factories OF the Province Of Lege
the syndicate of Travellers Clerks. Merchants and
Proprietors; the Association of Forge Masters of
Charleroi. the Mons Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, the Syndicate of the Metal and Coal
Exchange the Commercial Maritime Industrial and
Agricultural Association of the Ostend District the
Chamber of Commerce of the Bruges District the
NcrV1eTs Chamber of Commerce. the Antwerp
change the Liege Chamber of Commerce etc
Sentiment in Belgium is unanimous on this sub
tect The Congo State is a Belgian undertaking;
1t Is the business of Belgians to defend it. and
amount of literary pyrotechnics will mislead the
American public in this respect
In his answer to the memorial presented to
President Roosevelt by Colonel Kowalsky. behalf
OF the Federation for the Defence of Belgian
ests Abroad, Mr.. More resents the accusation that
British business interests behind these attacks
FrAa Gtata EJa Nv
upon that is this: The Congo Reform Association
numbers among its supporters fifty peers Of the
British realm. - Mr. Morel forgets that some
months ago We in the public press list OF
English peers interested in the liquor trade. The
list was so complete that of the New-York
dailies remarked that 1t looked like British peer
age directory.
If this is true about liquor why could It not be
true also about rubber? But, taking a more char
liable view of the matter, might Mr.. Mores
argument. set forth so fooshly in his letter
to Cardinal Gibbons: They misinformed. They
do not know the true facts" And in their 1t
Is probably true.
AS a second argument against the Congo adj
ministration Mr.. Morel cites the opinion OF Lord
Cromer. Consul Easement, the Rev. A. Ellington
and DR.. Lyon. The assertions OF maladministration
and cruelty advanced by these parties have been
often completely refuted, among others by DR..
Christy, who returned In June last from the Congo
where he had been to study the sleeping sickness
in behalf of the School of Tropical Medicine. The
closing remarks of this British doctor fol-
lows
The conclusion to which I irresistbly driven
disinterested observer Is that the present
administration of the Congo is not only free from
cruelties. but IS Of the complete and efficient
description and counts for the fullest commercial
and industrial development of the Free State. I
am sure that that administration is doing its level
best in every way, from the highest to the lowest
otticer, to make the country prosperous and the
native happy and useful
2 OH tbo
ers, could also quote the testimonies of the fol
lowing Witnesses Tor the greater part Englishmen
Congo Free State: NJ. Grenfel. Mr.. Forfeit Sir H.
Mr. Holland. MI Van He's Messrs Asce6so aad
Rodaori Mi 1riso Magqire Mrs French Sheldon Sir
whose opinions are given at length in the two
Mr., MoreI quotes also the opinion of Mr.. Lorand.
a Belgian Radical This only shows that Mr.. Mo-
For the benefit Of the readers Of The Tribune. it is
well to state that Mr. Lorand represents about
IN Belgian POLITICS as Mr.: Epgene " Debs here;
resent any foreign Intervention in the Congo just
as much as all Americans would be opposed to in
philippines The government is in the hands Of
Ptons Of the administration of the Congo than the
speech Of Mr. Henr aader 0 of the he s
cialsts in the Belgian Senate at the Peace Congress
said am 1a Socialist ddh and the Senator
wish to point out that all the governments of the
world which have colonies are the trustees of those
q9ire into the Congo Free State government.
claim it is only fair and just that You should
investigate every other case where colonistio rela
In the third part of his letter Mr. More criticses
the commission Of inquiry recently appointed by
the government Of the Congo, and in connection
letter e6dresie bS Twh amnbe N na recent
rotary OF the Foreign Office, to Mr.. Fox Bourne.
secretary for the Society for the Protection OF
the inquiry commission gives entire satisfaction,
and that there is every to believe that it's
concludes as follows: Under the circunstances
the government Of his majesty deems it only Just
been offered to observe in what manner the com
conferred upon it by the Free State"
This attitude taken by the British government
sented his memorial to the President 1t would of
course have been foolish for him to ask the
British government itself does not favor such in
In winding up, Mr. Morel comes out Indignantly
against the great profits derived from the rubber
KING Leopold and the Belgians poured their mill
ions into the state and no British Reform Asso,
expenses! Nobody thought then of interfering with
He was then accused of spending his fortune and
the fortunes of his relatives in the useless task
CIVILIZATION But the King persevered, and to-day
ae e ce the Of he has has
been established between Antwerp and Bona;
Congo 800 niles of railway are in operation and
hundreds of others are being built IN several direc
have been stretched between the principal towns
the postal service has been organized roads have
been oDened. bridges built churches and schools
erected on all sides. etc.
other great benefactors Of humanity, has been
often grossly and shamefully misrepresented and
tory Of this generation should assail him for the
names Of Morei Morrison and Burrows will have
been swept into oblivion the name Of Leopold II
monuments Of marble and bronze. but in the hearts