Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-26
ROOT WRITES OF THE CONGO
to Rcmcdy Existing Condi-
tfous.

WASHINGTON. res. 25.-The attitude OF
the American government towards the
conditions in the Congo Free state and
the American desire for some plan Of the
administration of all Of Central Africa
by the several powers ruling or eNercis-
ing a controlling influence there arc stated
in a letter sent by Secretary Root 10 Rep
resentative DENLY Of Michigan. Secretary
Root says this government has no op-
portunity or power to investigate Congo
conditions. His letter follows:
Dear Sir: | have your letter OF tho 10Th
regarding the widespread feeling among
your constituents thatI our government
ought to do something 20 bring about
an international inquirt with a view TO
authoritative adjudication of the issues TO
which the conditions supposed 70 exist
in tho Congo Free State arc related.
Your inquiry expresses the difficulty in
the way. II il not clear that the United
States is in = position 20 bring about sucn
an international inquiry and adjudca tion.
We are parties to a general act for the
suppression of the slave trade and the
regulation of the firearms and liquor
traffic in Central Africa but that act reg
ulates and confines all power and furlc-
tions TO those ends to the several powers
having possessions or spheres Of inhu-
ence in Africa. Tho United States has
neither. and its participation in the gen
eral act was on the distinct understand
ing that VIC had no territorial or admin
istrative interest in tina quarter. our only
potential function is IN relation to the
search and capture Of slave vessels within
certain waters of the African coast and
function. We are not rnrties to the other
more commonly cited Hact of the Congo.
tsigned at Berlin February 3 1850. our
treaty relation to the Congo state is that
of one sovereign to another. wholly indie
pendent OF any relations created by or de-
ducibe from the general act of Berlin,
which applies only to it's signatories. It
| Is questionable whether the treaty rights
| NJ the siRnatories extend to intervention
1 k. T.F 49, d. #1Ne fHnN -
national affairs of any Of them. The Congo
state absolutely denies any right on their
part to intervene in its affairs. and none
| OF the other sgnatory powers appears TO
controvert that denial. However this may
| be. II is certain that the United states
has no treaty right OF Intervention. We
could not rightfuiiy summon or participate
| in any interna tional conference looking to
| intervention, adjudication or enforcement
| of a general accord by other African
| powers against the Congo state.
Moreover we are without opportunity or
power TO investigate conditions in the
Congo. We have no diplomatic or consular
| representatives in that country We could
| not send anyone there except with the con-
sent OF the government q the Congo-to do
otherwise would he an Invasion of its SOW
| ereignty. other powerss being parties to
the general ace OF Berlin have made in
| vestigations through theft authorized repre-
/ sentatives and the Congp government also
/ has sent investigating commissions. The
! Information We have on the subject OF
! Congo misrule comes at second hand
| through opposed channels
Whenever complaint has been made by
| American interests in the Congo that the
| administrative conditions impair American
| rights or endanger American establishments
| the matter has been brought promptly and
| forcibly before the Congo government and
has been fully redressed.
| ! most sincerely wish that some way
could be found by which tho whole of Cen
| trail Africa could be rightly administered
| by the several powers ruling or exercising
| a controlling interest therein so to real
ize the intention Of those powers when they
framed the general act of the Congo. Much
may be and doubtless Is desirable in way ci
good government IN that vast region else
where than in the Congo If the United
States had happened to possess in darkes,
Africa a territory five times great and
| as populous as the Philippines. we. too
might find good govefpnn Spt difficult and
come In for our share of jnst or unjus,
criticism. No such responsibility falls upor
| us. That pertains TO the powers who have
assumed control and undertaken bv mu.
| tual agreement 10 regulate its exercise
| Very truly yours, ELIIIU ROOT.