New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-27
CONGO CRUELTY.
Baron Monchear Sure Investigating
Commission Will Tell Worst.
EFnoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAu.I

tFROM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU1
Washington. March 26. - Baron Moncheur,
the Belgian Minister who has Just returned to
Washington. after brief absence in New-York,
has had his attention attracted TO a clipping
from The Tribune of several days ago In re-
gard to Lord Mountmorres's investigation of the
Congo on behalf of a London newspaper.
1t is very interesting" said the baron. ito
see that Lord Mountmorres takes such favor
able view of the general condition of the state,
especially as L told that he went out there
with rather anti-Congo opinions. It appears
that. like Balaanl he wenr to curse the Bel
gian officials, but has ended up blessing them
1 have read some of his letters in The London
Globe. He seems to be very fairminded, and.
as one of his compatriots expressed it in an
Irish bull. he has apparently tried not TO lean
toward partialty on the one hand, nor toward
impartaty on the other
How about Lord Mountmorres's statements
in regard to crueltes practsed by the agents of
the ABR Company?'
Il do not know what his experiences were in
that part of the country" said Baron Moncheur.
and have not seen any letter of his about the
Abr concession but, at any rate, it will not
be long before all will know about the con-
ditions prevailing in that district from the
royal commission which is now investigating y
The commissioners will see the seany side II
thltSs N tie CenSo. 1h5y have gone Jat, as
you would say. hunting for trouble and when
one goes on such errand one is apt to find II
There are imperfections to be found under
every government, and If cruelties have bee,
committed in the Abr district or anvvbara
else in the Congo the commissioners will re-
port it."
Does the commissions Investigation incIuda
the whole country?"
Yes said Baron Moncheur: ,hut If will
pay special attention to those districts about
which complaints have been made 1t Is like
a health commission investigating a disease: the
doctors would not waste their time among the
well, but would go into the slums and among
the sick. And the royal commission goes
into the regions OF the Congo which are said to
need reform. It's work is not with the bright
side Of Congo administration. but with the
dark spots The commissioners have not taken
any 'whitewash brush with them. and conse-
quently their report. when published. will be the
worst that can be said of the country. You
simply looking at photograph of it's slums and
reading its police records and in the same way,
while unfortunate events have doubt, hap
pened in parts Of the Congo, it would be mis-
leading to imagine that they numerous or
general Cases of cruelty occur but rarely,
and it is generally found that they have been
committed by agents of private companies and
not by agents of the State. 1t is. of course,
greatly to the interest of the government to sup
press such abuses, and it is for this purpose that
the royal commission is investigating. But
1t must be borne in mind that these crimes are
the exception and that Lord Mountmorres
and other travellers have shown. the rule of the
Congo Free State is benefcent we'll just