Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-10
LEOPOLD SPEAKS
FOR CONGO BLACKS
Declares Belgium is Doing
All II Can to Prevent
Atrocities
KING LAUDS OUR PRESIDENT

Copyrighted by the Publishers Press.
December, 1906
All Rights Reserved.
BRUSSELS. Belgium. Dec. 1O-In a
sensational interview given personally
to-day to the CORRESPONDENT of the
Publishers Press, King Leopold Of
Belgium, denied categorically the re-
ports which have been circuiatea so
widely OF atrocities practiced in the
Congo. His common sense would have
kept him from indulglng in the cruel
ties such as those he is accused OF
practicing, the Kink declared, even If
he was not moved by humanity to do
so.
The old King also paid a high tribute
to America and Americans, especially
to President Roosevelt. whom he de-
scribed as a splendid type Of the
splendid American nation"
The King said:
"The whole of America is full OF
wonder to me- I have often wished
to visit the United States to see all
for myself. lbub fear that dream viii
not be realized. I am an old man now
and no longer have my former strength
There are many great men in America
to-day. In the two Houses Of Con-
gress are many brilliant minds. Oc-
casionally it has been my good fortune
TO meet American legislators in Bel
gium and I highly prize the remem-
brance of these gentlemen. Any
country mightsbe proud Of such men.
Esteems Roosevelt.
president Roosevelt I esteem highly
for his great qualities. He is a splendid
type of the splendid American Ma
ton"
The conversation turned on the sub
ject Of the charges Of cruelty and mis-
government in the Congo and Leopold
said:
1T is curious what satisfaction GER
tain people get spending their lives
libelling others. I suppose there is
nobody in Europe painted as a monster
/ Of such blaclxness as am. The words
used in picturing my perfdy cannot be
repeated in polite society. Nero, It
/ is said, was q saint compared to me-
/ I am an ogre who delights to torture
I helpless African negroes"
Denies Atrocities.
Recently a certain American mis-
sionary made sensational Congo
/ charges and bitterly attacked me
Someone wrote him protesting agains
the vehemence Of his language and .e-
ceived a letter from him saying he had
never been to the Congo. All his
charges were based on hearsay. II
this manner many reports as to the
i Congo circulate while those who spesl
from first hand evidence magnify par
ticular incidents into generalities
j Charges about Congo cruelty have beer
so often repeated that I believe theil
constant reiteration leads those spread
ing the false reports finally TO believe
they are true.
Il do not deny that there have beer
4 cases Of misiudgment on the part ol
the Congo officials. Most likely cruel
ties. even. crimes, have been committed
There have been a number Of convic.
tions before Congo tribunals for these
offenses. I do deny that every effort
as far as possible. has not been made
to stop the ill-treament Of natives, ho
only by white people but by natives
themselves.
Leopold dwelt at some length OF
what has been accomplished in th'
Congo. saying: 1--WE have been fortuI
ate in reducing smallpox in Contra
Africa by the introduction OF vaccine
We have stopped the Congo slave trade
and prohibited alcohol from enterinl
the country. put steamers on the rivers
have built and are building railways
and added the telegraph. Now We are
sending out motor cars and this is onl,
the beginning OF our work.