The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-26
j. P Morgan and Lyman Ab-
bolt Write On Congo
SITUATION IS APPALLING
Letter to Secretary Root Sets Forth
That Flagrant lnhumanity Exists
and Urges the United States
to Take Some Action.

New York, December PA letter signed
by j. Pierpont Morgan, DIR. Lyman Alb
bot and other prominent citizens of New
York, was addressed to Secretary Elihu
Root secretary of state, directing his
attention to conditions in the Congo Free
State, where 1t is asserted "Flagrant
inhumanity exists" and urging him on
behalf of the American people, to use
the moral support Of the United States
government to correct the amuses the
Congo natives are alleged to be suffering
FROM The communication is as follows:
over year has passed since the COM
mlttee chosen by the Congress of Belgium
and by King Leopold, virtual owner of
the Congo, to investigate conditions in
that state was published. In spite of
their natural desire to give all possible
credit 70 their sovereign, the commits
sioners felt constrained to report the ex-
istence of measures and practices of fla
grant inhumanlty. Among these measures
and practices are the following;
q. The exaction of a labor tax so op-
pressive that many natives on whom 1t
falls have little if any freedom.
80 Appropriation of land to such an ex-
tent that the natives are practically prls-
oners within their own territory
% The employment under authority of
the government as sentrles of cruel, brut-
ish blacks, chosen from hostile tribes
who murder pillage and rape the people
for whose protection the the govern
ment is avowedly established.
81 ha Of bo bx, x.r1,it 20
representatives of officially recognized
commissioners.
''5. The binding of little children to
years of labor at uncertain wages by con-
tracts they don't understand, and even
more serious maltreatment of children
supposedly under the immediate core or
the government.
"6 Great injustice in the admnistra-
ton of courts so that the natives dread
the name OF Bona, the place where the
judicial system is centralized.
II The sending out of punitive expedi-
tons not for the purpose of establishing
peace and order but for the purpose of
terrifying the natives into paying tax,
which administered. even the COM
missioners regard as inhumane.
ut is to be remembered that these are
not charges brought against the Congo
government, but findings of the commit
tee, Wnlcl WAS appointed by the chief
executive of the government to investi-
gate and report on the facts. Acting upon
these findings, a second committee, also
appointed by the King, has recommended
measures of reform No steps have been
taken to adopt them. There is no evil
denee that the Congo government Is un-
dertaking seriously to remedy these evils
The power which created the Congo gov
ernment have clearly right to call that
government to account. In as much as
the United States gave its moral support
to the establishment of the Congo govern
ment 1t Is justified in giving its moral
support to any undertaking to secure
conditions in the Congo that will not dis
grace civilization. We wish to assure you
that in any measure you may adopt in
order to give the powers such moral sup
port of the United States, you will have
our earnest and urgent approval"