The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-05
Charge Of Ma|adninistation in
Congo is Exaggerated
NATIVES SWEAR FALSELY
Only Forty Hours Labor Is Required
of Them Each Month to Help
Support the
State.

Washington, April Ain view of the re-,
cent charges made against the adminis-
tration of the Congo Free State, the As
ISOLATED Press cabled King Leopold for
his side of the case. In a reply a num-
Der of official documents have been for
warded by mail, and in addition the Con-
go Free State has cabled authority to
Mr.. James Gustavus Whitley to give the
following resume of the Brussels note
which has been issued in reply to the
charges made in the recent report of the
British consul:
The Brussels note, after taking up one
or two minor details o the British con-
suIs report. proceeds to consider the
main point of criticism which Is the treat
ment of the native population by the
Congo authorities. The consurs report
contains a number of stories of cruel
treatment told him by the natives which,
| for the most part, are vaueless as evil
| dence on account of the fact that he d.d
not investigate them nor obtain corrobo-
rative testimony Although his charges
are of a most serious nature, In the ma
joiity of cases he has failed to give the
names or places. This seems an unfair
mode of attack as 1t gives the Cango
| State no opportunity to disprove the as
| sertions.
4
One case however, which the consul in
vestigated and which he gives as most
| fragrant example, was brought to the
| knowledge of the Congo authorities, and
was Investigated by them This Is the
| case of the boy Epondo who claimed
that his left hand had been cut off by
native sentry in the service OF La Lu-
Tonga Rubber company The consul ac-
companied by two missionaries went to
| Of Doe and nrOCppd-
ed to hold an impromptu court of inquiry.
| The injured boy accused the sentry kel-
| engo to his face The consul then ques-
toned the chief and number OF the
head men They replied by accusing the
sentry. Most of them declared that they
had been witnesses of the deed
The consul asked whether there were
any- more witnesses and aarly al those
present, about forty persofff shouted ont
with one voice that 1t was Kelengo that
did It, The accused sentry denied the
| charge. Other natives came forward with
various charges of robbery and wrong
doing against the sentry and nnaliy the
consul, considering the evidence conclu-
sive, announced TO the assembled multi
| tude that Kelenwo deserved severe pun
ishment for his Illegal and cruel acts.
| The boy afterwards said he had lied and
added that he had lost his hand In ma
| tive boar hunt When asked for an ex-
planation for falsifying against the sentry
he said he had done II at the instigation
| of the natives, and to secure the interven-
| ton of the British consul and release
! from the necessity OF gathering ruppei :
| Most of the natives who had accused the
sentry before the consul. took to the
woods Those who were caught admitted
| that they had given false testimony. Otn-
| er witnesses who were called, corroborat-
ed the boys confession that his hand mad
been lost in a boar hunt AS MI Arh-
strong. one of the missionaries VINO ac-
companied the British consul conciseiy
put it, the natives are capable OF any
plot to avoid work, and especially TO
avoid the gathering of rubber.
Treated at Great Length.
The case of Epindo is treated at great
length In the Brussels statement, not on
account of the fact that the British con
sui, trusting In the statements made by
the natives and not waiting for the JUDI
cial inquiry, has put forward this case as
most damning proof against the Congo
state. It is one case which he thougn'
he had investigated thoroughly.
The British consul's chief case, lnVes.i-
gated by himself, and supported py
| crowd of witnesses having thus falien
| through. shows there Is little desire 10
nIace confidence In the declarations or ma
| tives unsupported by corroborative eVi-
dence and uninvestigated. There IL no
/ Doubt that The consul Is looked upon py
| the natives as a representative OF
mighty power which could relieve then'
| from work and his presence excited .he
| neonle 10 make extravagant representa-
tions and false charges. 1t appears that
the hoy. Epndo, was twice Photographic
bv the English and was told to hoid hlF
| stump'' well in the foreground, wnlcn re-
| veals the fact that the adversaries Oh th'
Congo have recently circulated mum
ber of photographs of mutilated na.ive'
who have been held up as Victims VI .i'
administration. This Is great inJust,ce
Almost anywhere In Africa. one may nne
l..',as ,,Sho have been mutilated by thetl
| ealIo,v horbarians In inter-tribal wars ds
for example. in the British possession o.
Iroanda where, according to recent tes
tirnony. natives may frequently DC sew
without either ears or noses. -,
In response to the British consuls criu
cism on the work required Oh the ma :.
bv way of tax the Brussels note poihts gu
that a Ia a necessary tax which compels
tha native TO contribute something to th'
sunnort of the state. and which aise
teaches him habits Of industry. Even th'
pritish government demands such taN
In labor or In kind in its African possess
sions.
.If there are any defects In the ADMIN
istration's system, as may happen -
colony. 1t should be corrected In the inter
est of both. the government and the peu
nle. but such redress of grievances WI
be made by the government without ,h'
Intervention of foreign powers, as Urea
Britain did in the recent case OF the SIERRA
Leone insurrection. /.
.The labor required Of the natiVe II
the Congo is only forty hours per month
1t is a moralizing force as well as lesa
tax. and constitutes system winch
| also in use in British possessions.
.It should be remarked that In the dis
,rict over which the company known al
the Abr exercise sway. the British con
suI coudl not find any cases of crueit,
| ,n,n,,table to the commercial agents, AM
vet the Abr is one Of those concession
companies which are accused OF bringinl
disaster upon the native community.
This company. like the other rubbe
companies, employees number OF fores
guards whose duty 1t Is to superinten
. the gathering Of rubber, to see that tn
natives perform the work properly and I
take care that the vines are not injured
The consul endeavors without justifica
, ton to represent them as agents OF or
preston