Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-26
In Ame|iorating the Con-
ditions in the Congo.
Have No Legal Right to Inter-
fere with That Nation.
Sec. Roofs Letter 10 Rep. DENLY Explains
the Exact Situation.

Washington, Feb. 25.-The attitude of
the American government toward the
conditions in the Congo Free State and
the American desire for some plan for
the administration Of all of Central At
RIGA by the several powers ruling or eX-
ercising a controlling influence there
are stated in a Letter sent by Sec. Root
to Rep. DENLY of Michigan. Sec. Root
says this government has no Opportun-
iiy Of power to investigate Congo con-
ditiOns. His letter follows:
Il have your Letter of the 18th regard
ing the widespread feeling among your
constituents that our government
ought To do something to bring about
an international inquiry with a view
to authoritative adjudication of the is
sues to which the conditions supposed
TO exist in the Congo Free State are re-
lated.
Your inquiry expresses the difficulty
in the way. 1t is not clear that the
United States is in a position to bring
about such an international inquiry
and adjudication. We are parties to d
general act for the suppression of the
St"NC tlsiNt anu luc ICE VI the
firearms and liquor traffic in Central
Africa, but that act relegates and con-
fines all power and functions to those
ends to the several powers having pos
sessions on spheres of influence in At
RIGA. The United State has neither
and its participation in the general act
was on the distinct understanding that
we had no territorial or administrative
interest iii that quarter. Our only po-
tential function is in relation to the
search and capture of slave vessels
within certain waters of the African
coast and no occasion has risen to eX-
ercise that junction. We are not par
ties to the other more commonly cited
general act of the Congo, (Signed at
Berlin on Feb. q, 1850.
"Our treaty relation to the Congo
state is that of one ta.,ereign to an
other, wholly Independent of any rela-
tons created by or deducible from the
general act Of Berlin. which applies
only to it's signatorieS. 1t is question:
able whether the treaty rights of the
signatOries extend to Intervention 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 signatories ap-
pears TO controvert that denial. How
ever this may be, it is certain that the
United states has no treaty right of in
terventiOn. We could not rightfully
summon or participate in any interna-
tional conference looking to interview
tinn nHiIyd:oo
general accord by other foreign powers
against the Congo state.
Moreover, we are without OppOrtun-
ity 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 consent of the
government of the COngo-tO do other
wise would be an invasion of it's SOY
ereignty. Other powers being parties
to the general act of Berlin. have made
Investigations through their authorized
representatives and the Congo govern
ment also has sent investigating COM
missions. The information we have on
the subject of Congo misrule comes at
second hand through opposed channels.
by American interests in the Congo
that Tn" administrative conditions there
impair American rights or endanger
American establishments the matter
has been brought promptly and forciblv
before the Congo government and has
been met with due assurance of inves-
LEGATION and if substantiated. full re-
dress. In taking this course we act
within our sovereign rights. directly and
without subordinating them to the
Judgment of any third party. So far as
we have rights Of our own in the Con-
go. it would be impossible to submit
them to an international conference.
Il almost sincerely wish that some
way could he found by which the whole
OF central Africa could be rightly adj
ministered by the several powers, rul-
i;g or exc rcising a controlling influence
therein. so a.; to realize the intention
of th"s" powers when they framed the
general act Of the Congo. Much NAV
be and doubtless is desirable in the WAY
Of good government in that vast region
else where in the Congo. If the United
states had happened to possess in
darkest Africa a territory five times as
great and pOpulous as the Philirrines
We too might find good government
difficult and come in for our share of
just Or unjust criticism. No such re-
sponsibility fails upon lis. That per-
tains to the powers who have asslm-
ed control and undertaken by mutual
agreement to regulate it's exercise"
Austin II. Fiske. manager of Hotel