Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-20
ATROCITIES IN CONGO
BELGIAN AMBASSADORS RECENT
INTERVIEW.
Secretary of the Balolo Mission Says
Guilty Persons We're Not
Punished.

Alleged atrocities in the Congo Is the
subject of communication received by
The Star today from Mr.. f. d. Morel in re-
ply to an interview printed several days
ago with Baron Moncheur, the Belgian min
lister.
In the course of his communication Mr..
Morel says: Perhaps Baron Moncheur VIII
explain why twelve Belgians are at present
incarcerated in Bona prison. condemned for
atrocities upon the natives. and why two OF
them-Caudron and de Tiege-were con-
demned this year for such atrocities. the
former. among other counts. for having.
In the words of the public prosecutor. muir
dered one hundred and twenty-five 1noffen
sive persons. whose sole crime was short
age in their supplies of india rubber.
THE accuracy of the charge which Baron
Moncheur brings against certain British
missionaries of the Congo Balolo mission
may best be estimated by the following
official statement issued by the executive of
the mission in question. The extract is
from the London Daily News:
William Wilkes Views.
Mr.. William Wilkes. secretary of the
Congo Balolo mission, writes to the press
in reply to an allegation recently published
that the missionaries now in London con-
nected with this society, when invited to at
tend in Brussels to be examined before the
congo commission. left sneaked off, al
though they had asked to be present. He
denies that they ever presented such a re-
quest, and says it was found impracticable,
at the last moment, to accept the invita-
ton.
Furthermore in the absence of any
clear indica ton from the British govern
ment as to its views the subject of the
Congo commission, the same reasons which
doubtless opera ted with the Congo Reform
Associa ton induced the mission to decline
To md of re mis- iona ria N GO
to give evidence in camera before commits
sion which could not be regarded with con-
fde3ce.
Repeatedly continues Mr.. Wilkes, had
the missionaries appeared before magis-
trates or commissioners appointed by the
Congo government to investigate reports
made by them of atrocities some most dia
bolical, until they had become almost tired
of doing so, especially they had been told
on more than one occasion that although
the charges were correct, having been con-
clusively proved. the magistrates had not
the power or authority to arrest those re-
sponSible for them
Earns No Wages"
$50 far as Baron Moncheurs attacks
upon myself personally are concerned they
| are beneath contempt. 1 will merely say
that l earn no wages in my efforts to
| arouse the conscience of the world to the
iniauities of King Leopold's African rule.
The Congo Reform Association was found
ed by myself last February and has no
paid officers. In conclusion / would remark
that this grave question which the inter-
national peace congress recomm ended by
unanimous vote the other day should be
referred to another conference of the pow
ers concerned in the foundation of the
Congo Free State or to The Hague tribunal,
|, is not a matter between my word and that
of Baron Moncheur. What men of honor
have to ask themselves is not whether the
Belgian ambassador to the United States
or the honorary secretary of the Congo
Reform Association is the more entitled to
belief. but whether the selfish and callous
3 policy as to which overwhelming testimony
has been adduced within the last eight
years and which holds in cruel bondage
some fifteen million human beings, should
be reversed by the collective pressure of
civilization or allowed to continue"
In a communica ton to Col. Henry kow-
Glsky. who recently presented King Leo
pold's side of the question to President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Thomas S. Barbour of Bos-
ton, in behalf of the conference of societies
represented in missionary and philanthropic
work in the Congo state, suggests a joint
debate in a public hall in Washington. by
means of which the people could hear both
sides freely and fully discussed and judge
for themselves.