The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-27
!. 5. HAS No AFFAIR
IN THE CONGO MUDDlE
Secretary Root States Uncle
Sam Only Party to Suppress
sion of Slavery.

OF the American Government toward the
conditions In the Congo Free State and
the American desire for some plan for the
administration for AL OF Central Africa
by the several powers ruling or cXercis-
fIng a controlling influence there arc
stated ir letter sent by Secretary Root
TO Representative DENLY OF Michigan
Secretary Root says this Government
has no power TO investigate Congo ,ondi-
lions. His letter follows:
II 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 inter-
national inquiry relative to authoritative
adjudication of issues to which the cond.-
tions supposed To exist I'm the Cor Gu Free
StGtc arc related
Your inquiry expresses tho difficulty
In the way IL is not clear that tne
about such an international inquiry and
adjudication
Suppression of Slave Trade.
we are parties TO n general act for the
suppression of the slave trade and the
regulation of the firearms and liquor tra(-
f1cs In Central Africa. but that act rele-
gates and confines all power and functions
TO those ends to the several powers hav-
Ing possessions or spheres of influence in
Africa.
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 potential func-
ton is In relation TO the search and cap
turc of slave vessels within certain
waters OF the African coast, and no occa-
sion has arisen 10 exercise that function.
We are not parties to the other more
commonly cited treaty of the Eongo
tsigned at Berlin on February %. 1888!
"Our treaty relation TO tn. Congo State
wholly Independent OF any relations
created by or deduciblc from the general
act OF Berlin, which applies only TO its
signatorIes Ii Is questionable whether
the treaty rights OF the signatorcs eX-
tend to Intervention by any one or more
OF them In the internal affairs OF any of
them.
We Have No Business There.
The Congo State absolutely denies any
right on their part 10 intervene in Its af-
fairs, and none OF the other signatory
powers appears to controvert that denial.
However this may be. II Is certain Tint
the United States has no treaty right of
intervention. We could not rightfully
summon participate In any interna-
tional conference looking to intervention
adjudication or enforcement or a general
accord by other African powers against
the Congo State
Moreover. we are without opportunity
or power to investigate conditions In the
Congo. We have 10 diplomatic OF con
sular representatives I'm that country. We
could not send any ono there except with
the consent of the Government OF the
Congo-to do otherwise would oe an in
vasion Of its sovereignty.
Secondhand Information.
Other powers. being parties to the gen
eral act OF Berlin. have made investiga-
tions through their authorized reprcsen-
tatives. and the Congo Government also
has sent investigating commissions The
Information we have on the subject of
Congo misrule comes at secondhand
through opposite channels.
Whenever complaints have been made
by the interests In the Congo that the ad-
mInistrative conditions there impair
establishments the matter has been
brought promptly and forcibly. before
the Congo Government and has been met
with due assurance OF investigation and
II substantiated full redress.
I'm taking this course we act within
our sovereign rights. directly and without
subordinating them to Judgment OF any
third parties. So far as we have rights OF
our own In the Congo. IL would be impos-
sible to submit them 10 an international
conference.
could be found by which tho whole OF
central Africa could be rightly admins
tered by the several powers ruling or ex-
crcising controlling influence therein so
as 10 realize the intention of those pow
crs when they framed the general act Of
he Congo.
Much may be and doubtless Is dcsIr
able In way OF good government In that
vast region clsCwh.re than In the Congo,
II the United States had happened to pos
sess in darkest Africa a territory hre
times as great and as populous the
Philippines we. too, might find good gov
crnmont difficult and come In for our
share of Just or unjust criticism.
mo such responsibility falls upon us,
That pertains TO the powers who have
assumed control and undertaken by mu-
tual agreement TO regulate It's exercise.
Very truly YOURS EIIHU ROOT"
IVCLTuCD DCD0DT