The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-26
POWER LIMITED IN
 CONGO FREE STATE
Root Outlines America's Posi-
 ton There
REDRESS ALWAYS SECURED
America Is Party to General Act, But Her Power Is Confined to Slave Trade, Liquor and
 Fire Arms.

Washington. February 25.-The attitude of the American government towards the conditions in the Congo Free State and the American desire for some plan for the administration of all of Central Afri- ca by the several powers ruling or exer- cising a controlling influence there, are stated in 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, D. C., Feb. 20. "The Hon. Edwin Denby M. C., House of Representatives.
 Dear sir-I have your letter of the 18th regarding the widespread feeling among your constituents that our government ought to do something to bring about an international inquiry with a view to au- thoritative adjudication of the Issues to which the conditions supposed to exist in the Congo Free State are related.
 Your inquiry expresses the difficulty in the way It is not clear the United States is in a position to bring about such an international inquiry and adjudication. We are parties to a general act for the suppression of the slave trade, and the regulation of the fire arms and liquor traffcs in Central Africa. but that act relegates and confines all power and func- tions to those ends to the several powers having possessions or spheres of influence in Africa The United States has neither 4s--s.. ...1 s,.aN was on the distinct understanding that we had no territorial or administrative in terest in that quarter Our only potential function is in relation to the seizure and capture of slave vessels within certain waters of the African coasts, and no oc- casion has arisen to exercise that func- ton.
 Not Parties to Berlin Act.
 ''We are not parties to the other more commonly cited act signed at Berlin Feb ruary 26, 1885. Our treaty relating to the Congo state is that Of one sovereign to another wholly independent of any rela- tions created by or dedueible from the general act of Berlin which applies only to it's signatories. It Is questionable whether the treaty rights of the signator- les extend to intervention by any one or more of them in the internal affairs of any of them. The Congo Free State ab- solutey denies any right on their part to intervene in it's affairs, and none of tho other signatory powers appear to con trovert that denial. However this may be, it is certain that the United States has no treaty right of intervention. Wo could not rightfuly summon or particl- pate in any international conference look ing to intervention adjudication or en- forcement of a general accord by other African powers against the Congo Free State.
 Moreover we are without opportunity or power to investigate the condition in the Congo. We have no diplomatic or consular representatives in that coun- try. 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 parties to the general act of Berlin, have made investigations through their authorized representatives and the Congo government also has sent Investigating committee. The informa- tion we have on the subject of the Con go misrule. comes at second hands or through opposed channels,
 Redress Always Secured.
 Whenever complaint has been made by American interests in the Congo that the administrative conditions there i'm pair American rights, Or endanger Amer ican establishments, the matter has been brought prominently and forcibly before the Congo government. and has been met with due assurance of investigation, and if substantiated redress.
 "1n taking this course we act within our sovereign rights, directly and without subordinatng 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 submit them to an inter national conference.
 q most sincerely wish that some way could be found by which the whole of Central Africa could be rightly adminis- tered by the several powers ruling, or exercising a controlling influence therein. so as to realize the intention of those powers when they framed the general act of the Congo. Much may be and doubht- less Is desirable in way of good govern ment in that vast region elsewhere than in the Congo If the United States had happened to possess In Darkest Africa, a territory five times as great and popu- lous as the Philippines, we, too might find good government difficult and come in for our share of just or unjust crti- cism. No suclA responsibility falls upon us. That pertains to the powers who have assumed control and undertaken by mutual agreement to regulate its eX- ercse. Very truly yours.
 "ELIHU ROOT"