New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-15
DEFENCE OF THE CONGO
Beigla1s ire Good to the Natiues.
Baron uoncheur Sags.

washington July 14-Condirions in the Congo
Free state. as the Belgians see them are de-
ser1oec IN a long report which Baron Nonch-ur
the Belgian Minister here. has received from Ia
Governor General OF the Congo through the Sso
ret"ry OF State Of the Congo IN Brussels. IT,
MINISTER u conversation to-day with a CORE,
spondent for The Associated Press read several
OF the more interesting portions OF the report
0eaHhs WITH the improvements OF conditions in
the Congo under Belgian rule. Commenting on
reports OF cruelty TO the natives on the part OF
the commercial company in the Congo. the Gov
ernor C~Tleral saws
The charge CT general iuhuuanttv which \.
s soIl-e1llles made against the agents OF the
@t1'e OF o. the company - shown be false by
the very fact OF the great increase in economic
prosperity. A system which depopulared ths
country and which drove the natives into ths
CUISINES could rot produce the steady and enor-
nous increase which has taken place IN the
commerce OF the Congo.
Touching on other subjects covered in the re-
port. Baron 4Ioncheur said.
The report further shows that the export Of
Euo9eF from the Congo. that being the chief
product OF the country, was negligible quantity
d IeW years ago. out that il has increased 10
such an extent that the Belgian rubber market
IlXes the price of rubber for the world The gov
eminent OF The Congo is taking great care thar
TINS industry shall be further increased and is
imposing strict rules for the replanting and for
Ihe preservation Of the rubber plants
gagged IN developing all other branches OF indus
Iry ana commerce The coffee and cocoa planta-
ions nave been greatly enlarged In 1898 thers
We're only ABOUT sixty thousand coffee trees on
lIe plantations, and now there are TWO million.
me production OF rice has also been increased
and the growth OF cotton has become so flourish
ing, especially in the northeast as to cause some
dis4uietude among the cotton growers OF Egypt
Not only have the railways been extended and
new lines projected, but roads have been bufIc
Tor automobile traffic and automobiles placed ia
operation ON them The ports and docks are in
course Of Improvement, the river commerca has
been developed by the feet OF government
steamers, telephone and telegraph lines OF con-
slderable extent are in operation, and even wire
less telegraphy has been installed
Smallpox and the sleeping sickness ara ths
Two diseases prevalent among the natives; bur
the Governor General says that the government
IS making some Roadway against smallpox BY
systematic vaccination though no cure has vet
been found for the sleeping sickness which
destroys whole villages The government iso-
laUes the cases as much possible, and has I.
commission al work investigating the disease.
Some Of the patients have been sent 10 England
IN order that the disease may be studied by :.
school OF tropical medicine there
Regarding the missionaries, the report says
that when the Congo state was first organized
+ there were only handful OF missionaries but
that now. according 70 the official report. thers
are 5tO missionaries and over 100 mission sta
/ tons