The San Francisco call., 1906-12-26
ASK ROOT To HELP
CONGO STATE
j. Pierpont Morgan, Lyman
Abbott and Others Appeal
to Secretary of State
SPECIFY CRUELTIES

NEW YORK. Dec 25.-A letter signed
by j. Pierpont Morgan. DR.. Lyman Alb
bott and other prominent citizens OF
New York was addressed to Secretary
of State Elihu Root today directing his
attention to conditions in the Congo
Free State, where, 1t was asserted, fla
grant inhumanity exists" and urging
him on behalf of the American people
TO use the moral support Of the United
States Government to correct the
abuses the Congo natives are alleged
TO be suffering from"
The communication is as follows:
over year has passed since the re-
port OF the commissioners chosen by
the chief executive and virtual owner
or the Congo to investigate conditions
in the State was published. In spite
or their natural desire to give all pos
sible credit to their sovereign, the COM
missionerS felt constrained to report
the existence of measures and prac-
tices of fragrant inhumanitv. Anon G
these measures and practices are the
following:
The exaction of a labor tax so
oppressive that many natives on whom
it falls have little if any freedom.
appropriation OF land to such an
extent that the natives are practically
prisoners within their own territory.
S-The employment under the author
lty of Government as sentries of cruel,
british blacks chosen from hostile
tribes. who murder, pillage and rape
the people for whose protection the
Government is avowedly established.
4-The abuse of the natives by white
representatives of officially recognized
companies.
53The binding of little children to
contracts that they do not understand
and even more serious ma1treatment
of children supposedly under the i'm
mediate care of the Government.
e-Grnof in in bn 6naf inf f,~o
tion of the courts so that the natives
dread the name of Bona, the place
where the judicial system is central
lied.
The sending out of punitive ex-
petitions. not for the purpose of estab-
fishing peace and order, but for the
paving a tax which. as administered.
even the commissioners regard as in
human.
WANT ROOT TO ACT
Tt is to be remembered that these
are not charges brought against the
Congo Government, but fndin~S of
commissioners that were appointed by
the chief executive of the Government
involved in the investigation
Acting upon these findings, a sec
ond commission, also appointed by the
King. has recommended measures of
reform. No steps have been taken to
adopt them. There is no evidence that
the Congo Government is undertaking
seriously to remedy these evils.
The powers that created the Congo
Government have clearly right to
call that Government to account. In
asmuch as the United States gave its
moral support to the establishment of
the Congo Government, it would be
justified in giving its moral support
TO any undertaking to secure conditions
in the Congo that would not disgrace
civilization. We wish to assure you
that for any. measure you may adopt
in order to give the powers such moral
support of the United States you will
have our earnest and urgent approval.
The letter is signed by the Rev.
Lyman Abbott, Henry Mottet, Will
ford L. Robbins. George William
Knox, Charles H Parkhurst. John P.
Peters. William r. Richards, Anson p.
Atterbury, Percy s. Grant and William
Jay Schieffelin. William H. Douglas,
Charles A. Schieren, Spencer Trask.
George Haven Putnam. Everett P.
Wheeler, Robert c Ogden, J. Pierpont
Morgan, ID. Wills James, R. Fulton
Cutting. ]. Cleveland Cady and w. j.
Havemeyer.