The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-26
CONGO FREE STATE
SECRETARY ROOT DISCUSSES sTO-
 RIEs OF MIsG0vERNMENT.
United States Has no Right to Make investigation of Condftiuns Pre- yaIIing in Central Africa,
 He Saya.

w tOHa E0s SUs-~-1AG dbtahuuS of the American government towards the conditions in the Congo Free State and thes American desire for somc plan for the administration of all of Central Africa by the several powers ruling or exercising a controlling in- fiuence there are stated in q letter sent by Secretary Root to Representative Denby of Michigan. Secretary Root says this government has no opportunity or power to investigate Congo conditions. His letter follows:
 Department of State. Washington February 20.--The Honorable Edwbi Denby, M C., House of Representatives
 Dear Sir~-I have letter Of the 18th regarding the widespread feeling among your constituents that our gov ernment ought to do. something to bring about an international inquiry with a view to authoritative adjudlra- ton of the Issues to which the condi- tions supposed to exist ia the Congo Free State arg related
 Your Inquiry expresses the dlfiieui- ty in the way. It Is not clear that the United States Is in a position to bring about such an international inquiry and adjudication. We are parties to a gen. eral act for the suppression of the slave trade and the regulation of fire arms and loquor trafic in Central Af- rica, but that act regulates and con- fines all power and functions to those ends to the several powers having pos sessions or spheree of influence In Ar rica.
 'The United States has neither. and its participation in the general act was on the distinct understanding that we had no territorial or administrative interest in that quarter. Our only po- tential function is in relation to the search and capture of slave vessels within certain waters of the African coasts and no occasion has arisen to ex- excise that function.
 eve are not parties to the other more commonly cited act signed at Ber- lin February 2s. 1sS5. Our treaty re- lating to the Congo-State is that of one sovereign to another whollyt independ- ent of any relations created by or de- ducible from the general act of Berlin. which applies only to It's signatories. It is questionable whether the treaty rights of the signatories extend to in- tervention by any one or more of them in the internal affairs of any of them. The Congo-State absolutely denies any right on their part to intervene in It's affairs. and none of the other sigma LOrX 8 pOW0ES appears LO COutION6EI ludI denial. However this may be, 1t Is certain that the United States has no treaty right .in intervention. We could not rightfully summon or partici- pate In any International conference looking to intervention, adjudication or enforcement of a general accord by other African powers against the Con- go-State.
 Moreover, we are without oppor- ks ts.1ta ka ha dition in the Congo We have no dip- Iomatic or consular representatives in that country. We could not send any one there except with the consent of the Government of the Congo-to do otherwise would be an invasion of it's sovereignty. Other powers. being par ties to the general act of Berlin, have made investigations through their au- thorized representatives and the Con- go Government also has sent investi- gating commissions. The information we have upon the subject of the Congo misrule comes at second hand through opposed channels.
 whenever complaint has been made by American interests in the Congo that the administrative conditions there impair American rights or endanger American establishments, the matter has been brought prominently and fOrclDly Derore the congo GOVeIuHlen~ . and has been met with due assurance of investigation. and if substantiated. redress.
 'In taking this course. we act with in our sovereign rights. directly and without subordinating them to the judgment of any third parties. So far as we have rights of our own in the Congo. it would be impossible to sub 1 init them to an international confer ence.
 T most sincerely wish that some way could be found by which the whole of Central Africa could be rightly ad- ministered by the several powers rul- ing or exercising controlling influ- ence therein so as to realize the in- tenton of those powers when they framed the general act of the Congo Much may be and doubtless is desir- able in way of good government in that vast region elsewhere than in the Congo. If the United States had happened to possess in darkest Africa territory five times as great and populous as the Philippines. we. too might find good government difficult and come out for our share Of just or unjust criticism. No sucn responsibili- ty falls upon us. Thal pertains to the uowers who have assumed control and undertaken by mutual agreement to regulate it's exercise,
 Very truly yours.