The Washington times., 1904-06-05

! the same time avoiding Interference with
! controversies between other powers. as
well as alliances with other nations, the
/ Government Of the United States an
! nOunces its sympathy with and approval
Of the humane and benevolent purposes
OF the International Association of Con-
go, administering. as it does. the inter-
ests of the free states there established,
and will order the officers Of the United
States, both on land and sea, to recog-
nize the flag Of the international associa-
| ton as the flag OF a friendly govern
j ment."
] This action. taken at this critical
] tuncture, proved determinative Of the IS
sue presented in the claims preferred by
| the international association The gov
| eminent of Germany soon assumed
! favorable attitude. The Anglo-Po-tu-
guese treaty was withdrawn. Conven-
lions were made with the association of
! Great Britain and other powers Mean
/ while a conference, in which fourteen
states were represented. including the
American Go JeIument, was convened at
! Berlin, as a result Of which in January.
1855. definite sanction was given 70 the
! establishment Of a free state in the
/ basin Of the Congo, and principles reg
| ulative Of its powers were adopted. Six
months later. on the LIST of August 1SS5
! the association adopted formally the
new title Of the Independent State of :he
/ Congo. Thus a new state, Of which
| Leopold II was recognized as sovereign
and sole administrator. was constituted.
Such is the remarkable story Of the
1 way by which an individual attained
10 power. unlimited by internal Iegisla-
tive or judicial restraint, over a terri
tory four times as great as that OF
/ Fra ha
Territory and People.
] The Independent State of the Congo
/ includes a territory upward OF q million
| square miles in extent Having a front
/ age Of about 400 miles upon the Atlantic
! coast, it broadens vastly in the interior.
| comprising nearly all the basin of the
| Congo River. This great river. second
/ only to the Amazon in the volume of
its waters, with innumerable tributary
streams, both enriches the land and
| affords access to all sections of the great
| area.
The climate in the coast district is I'M
favorable for protracted residence. but
! the elevated plateaus Of the interior dis
tricts offer an attractive temperature
| and conditions in general favorable 10
| health Grazing for cattle is found on
the grassy plains. and the timber lands.
] when cleared. proved at once reasonably
fertile, producing the vegetables common
In our markets, while the forests abound
In tropical fruits. The most valuable
product Of the forest is supplied by the
| india rubber vine. the Independent State
Of the Congo leading all other sections
or the earth in its supply Of this com
mercial product. It IS evident that the
% -
served and developed, would secure for
it wealth indefinitely great and a cor
responding position in the worlds com
merce
The native peoples. Of many tribes and
languages, are variOusly estimated as
numbering between 100000 and 90
100000. The earliest white visitors N
the country give pleasant testimony 10
the traits of native character. As a rule
they were welcomed and found the peo-
pie ready TO receive instruction. In GER
tain sections considerable progress had
been made in the development of the
arts. Doctor Hinde. for example. who
| accompanied the expedition Of Baron
! Dhanis for the overthrow Of the Arab
slave power, speaks Of his surprise in
finding "masons. brickmakers. aRric-
/ culturists. and ironworkers' Independ
| ence, alertness of mind, curiosity, and
readiness TO adopt new customs are
noted by travellers as characteristics OF
the people. In no country has mission
airy work found a people more hospitable
or more responsive.
A Breach of Contract.
The government Of the Independent
State Of the Congo undeniably has fol-
| lowed courre which involves appar-
emily central breach OF faith with the
powers creating # and with the native
people whom IL was appointed TO serve.
| The root Of administrative evils in thu
government Of the Independent State Of
the Congo Is in its monopolization Of the
| territory and the resources Of the state
The astonishing claim leading 70 this
action is now traceable I'm n document
issued July l. 1885. which at the time
was supposed TO be dictated by con-
Germ for the rights OF the natives. 1t
! declared that mo one may dispossess
any native Of lands occupied by him"
| ccding that "all vacant land is con-
sidered as belonging 70 the state"
| Later. through successive public edicts.
IL became clear that the term vacant"
was 70 be interpreted as meaning all
territory in the state with the excep-
! tlOn or the sites or the native villages
and the gardens Of such villages. Thus
vas contaminated, without offer OF
| compensation 10 the natives. this ap-
| preparation by the government OF ali
| the vast Congo territory save the little
areas occupied by villages and gardens.
! Certain monopolist companies have
! been created. in which the King has
controlling financial interest. either
| through ownership of a majority Of the
| stock or through demands upon the
! revenues; but more than 10000 acres
| are set apart as belonging 20 the
/ domaine prive" OF the King. Forest
and plain hill and valley. the river and
its afhuents. are his private possession. |
And the claim applies not simply 70
the territory. but all products of this
! immense region, native or developed by
cultivation, are claimed as the Kings
personal property even the produce OF
the gardens. The natives may not trade
/ IN these products; they may Only bring
them 20 the Kings agents for such
compensation as the agents choose TO
allow.