Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-18
THE QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY.
They Nant to Establish the couteu-
ton that LeOpoIds Rule is
lmpOteut
PRESIDENT INFORMED OF FACTS,
Reply Of tic Federation of Belgian In.
tercsts Abroad is Formally Present
cd at the White House

Washington, oct, H--At the request
OF the king Of Belgium, Henry /, 10.
walsky Of the San Francisco bar per-
sonal friend Of King Leopold, called
at che White House today by appoint
mont and presented the reply Of the
federation for the defense Of Belgiums
interests abroad TO attacks made ON
the government Of the Congo Free
State, Col. Kowalsky presented an au-
tograph picture OF King Leopold framed
In silver, In the course OF an extended
audience with the president, Mr.. Ko-
Walsky said
interested Briushcrs are endeavor-
Ing under the guise OF friendship for the
Congo Free State natives to open the
question of sovereignty OF those ma
dives by calling "a conference oy the
powers, at which II Is hoped by the
Bhtishers England may establish the
contention that Belgium rs absolutely
impotent TO maintain an effective gov
eminent I'm the Congo.
In an interview with the Associated
Press, Mr. Kowalsky said:
Il presented to the president a ielter
from King Leopold IN reply TO the base
less charges Of the British humanltar-
ians and also other documents stating
the Belgian side Of this controversy
THE testimony Of travellers, from the
DAYS Of Sir Henry Stanley TO the pres
emit time, is unanimous and emphatic IN
praise of the Congo Free state govern
ment. III IL we're necessary to dlsproye
such inconsistent and palpably false
charges as those which Try 70 make II
appear that the Belgian Officials in the
Congo chop of me hands OF the blacks
| whom they are trying 10 enslaye, we
| could bring the statements OF such eye
witnesses as Mai James Harrison Sir
Harry Johnston, Mr. Grenfell, Capt NJ.
ID Bell and Michael Holland them
selves all Engllshmcn, who assert that
the Congo Free state II far more adj
vanced I'm civilization than British East
Africa and Uganda. Cardinal Gibbons
has given his testimony also regarding
the great work performed by King
Leopold In Africa.
~ have called to the presidents at
tention the fact that all this uproar In
England over the atrocities on the Con-
go is fathered by missionaries whose
applications for big concessions were
turned down by the Belgian authori-
ties Not a single charge OF cruelty,
as / said 10 the president has been
made EXCEPT by those who have been
seeking material advantages IN that re-
gion. and who have not been permitted
10 exploit Il at the expense Of others.
] told him that this fact and the fact
that Great Britain has failed In her ef-
fort 10 open mp the Congo question, ac-
counts for the attempt now being made
10 work upon the sympathies OF the
American people by trumped up stories
Of cruelty to the Congo natives"
Mr. Kowalsky was crodlally received
bv the president who expressed his
pleasure that King Leopold has thus
hopored an American. After the mat
ta, has been carefully considered by
the president and Secy Hay a reply will
be made to the Congo Reform associa-
ton.
After his visit 10 the White House
Mr. KOWalsky sent Cablegram TO
King Leopold assuring him OF the
Presidents appreciation Of his majes-
tvs thoughtful consideration.
King Leopold. In his letter 10 Mr..
Kowalsky % COPY OF which was left
with the president. encloses a state
ment about the Congo from the feder-
alton for the defense OF Belgian in
terosts abroad. and says.
"You will In delivering this commu-
nlcauon TO the president reiterate 10
him ON my behalf me feelings Of esteem
/ have for him. and the mistaken coua-
dcuce / place IN his spirit Of Justice
and lmpartalty
~ have TO express the desire that. Mr..
Roosevelt viii kindly take cogni2ance
M this address In your presence, So
Tint YOU may be- afforded an opportn-
nifty 20 give him any further iuiorma-
ton be might wish 20 obtain from you,
"The foundation and fairness OF the
Cfa which YOU have been good enough
Go undertake 20 defend wlll supply you
with such numerous and conclusive ar
guncnts az % c0nfound the enemies
~ the Congo Free State"