The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
CARDINAL GIBBONS ON CONGO
REPLY TO SECRETARY MOREL or
THE REFORM ASSOCIATION.
The Cardinal Defends Both tho Adminis-
tration and the Courts OF tho Free
State. and says They Are Doing Tddir
Rest TO Correct Such Evils ~ May Exist.

The Cardinal Dofends Both tho Adminis-
tratiOn and the Courts OF tho Free
State, and says They Are Doing Tddir
Best TO Correct Such Evils ~ May Exist.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22-E. B. Morel,
honorary secretary Of the Congo Reform
Association, has received the following
reply from Cardinal Gibbons, to aoommuni-
cation from Mr.. Morel regarding the presen
administration of the Congo Free State.
baltimore. Oct. II. 1904.
Mr. e. B. Morel. Honorary Secretary, Con 90
Reform Association:
SIR: l will AVAIL myself Of the first op-
portunity which has presented itself to
acknowledge your letter. Of the 18th inst
in that letter you call my attention to
certain resolutions adopted by the Peace
Congress at Boston. fail to see in these
resolutions any vote Of censure upon the
Congo Free State. They express rather
desire for infor nation In regard to the
international statutes Of that State. 1t ap-
pears that those who voted for the resolu
tons We're In need of enlightenment on the
subject, but this information lies near at
hand There is no need to appeal TO any
tribunal.
Diplomatic history, diplomatic corre-
spondence concerning the independent
state of the Congo and the acts and the
prot ocols of the conference OF Berlin, as
well as OF the conference Of Brussels. all
prove conclusively that the Congo Free
state Is an independent sovereign Slate,
and hat the Powers have no right Of guar
dianship or intervention.
Your letter also refers to certain docu-
ments, such as the British Parliamentary
White Book, Africa No. Z (l9O4), which,
however, has not escaped my attention.
Permit me to say that this book, instead Of
proving your contention, proves the exact
contrary and shows that both the admin
istration and the courts Of the Congo are
using their endeavors to correct such evils
as may exist-for no human government is
perfect.
THE Interpolation in the Belgian Cham
Der OF Representatives, to which you refer,
seems to have been simply frllitless at
to annoy the Government. The very fact
that the Chamber considered Mr.. Vauder-
velde's charges against the Congo and
refused to sympathize with him in his
views is in itself a significant indication
OF the baselessness Of his accusations.
In your letter you are also pleased to
say that in speaking in defend eof the Congo
Government l have spoken unwittingly
and to imply that ] have not considered
the facts nor weighed the evidence. can
due consideration. AS to the evidence it Is
cyerwhelmingiy against your contention.
1T is only some SCORE OF disseminated
men, depending largely or! the untrust-
worthy hearsay evidence Of natives, who
have raised an out cry against the Congo
administration, out Of great band Of 500
or 900 missionaries, both Catholic and
Pro testant, who are working on the Congo
and who give thanks to the Congo ad-
ministration for its support OF the missions
and for its successful efforts to introduce
Christianity and civilization into Central
Africa.
Overwhelming evidence in favor of the
Congo Government has been given re-
Gently by missionaries and travellers, and
it is not only Catholic missionaries like
Mgr. Van Ronsle and Father Van Herex-
thoven who have spoken in praise OF the
State, but also The most distinguished Prot
estant missionaries such Us the Rev. Mr.
Bentley and DR.. Grenfell.
AS it is not likely that you will convert
me, and as l see no probability Of convinc-
ing you; /, for my part. think u best to con-
slider the correspondence closed Very
yours,
81. CARDINAL GIBBONS"