The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-22
Leopold and the Congo Infamy.

There are at last strong indications
that the national conscience of Belgium
has been aroused to the atrocities which
have been committed in the Congo Free
State and that a determined effort will
he made TO put an end to them by the
Belgian Chamber Of Deputies in it's APP
preaching session. The day has gone
by when Belgians were disposed to re-
gard the revolting crimes imputed to
the agents of their sovereign as British
calumnies. That they have awakened
TO the shocking truth and recognized
their duty in the premises is evident
from the testimony, collected exclu-
sively from Belgian sources, which is
presented in the October number Of the
National ReUieW.
The main document relied upon is the
report of the commission of inquiry
which the Government of the Congo
State was forced by international indig-
nation to despatch in the autumn Of 1904
70 investigate the condition OF affairs
on the spot and to propose remedies for
such evils as might be found to exist.
This report, which was published in
November, 1905, constitutes the gravest
indictment OF the Congo administration,
and the damnatory effect Of it is increased
by the comments and conclusions of
competent Belgian authorities, and espe-
cially by members of the Belgian Cham
Der during the debates which took place
in March Of this year. These represent
atives Of Belgian sentiment include
Catholics as well al Liberals, Conserva-
tives as well as Socialists, professors and
Deputies from the French speaking as
well as the Flemish speaking portions
of Belgium, and we should add that many
of them were originally jealous defend
ers of King LEoPoLD's colonial enter
prise, which was launched with the pre-
tended phllanthropic aim Of suppressing
slavery and improving the physical and
moral well being Of the native tribes in
Central Africa.
The first question dealt with in the
report Of the commission Of inquiry is
that Of land tenure, which, in truth, is
fundamental, OF the huge area Of the
Congo State, computed at 9OO,O 900 square
miles, about one-half forms the domaine
prize, or, as King LEOPOLD has lately
rechristened it, the domaine national.
Another large slice, containing some Of
the most valuable rubber forests in the
State, forms the donGine de la couronne,
and is practically treated by the King as
his W private property. Other tracts
of land, almost equally vast, have been
handed over to chartered companies
styled societies concessiondires, in which,
however, the Congo State retains a con-
trolling interest as the holder Of more
than half the shares. The point to OBJ
serve = that under whichever of these
categories a given section Of the Congo
State may happen 10 fall, the method Of
administration is the same.
Everywhere the rights Of the natives
In the land have been eliminated ruth
lessly, except az regards individual
ownership Of huts in villages and the
ANAL cultivated plots Immediately ad-
joining them. The consequences Of this
wholesale cOnfscation are thus described
by the commission Of inquiry:
As the greater PARTON Of the land In the Congo
REGION is not cultivated. the Interpretation OF the
words vacant lands comedies to the State an
absolute ana exclusive ownership over virtually
the whole Of the soil. with the result that n can
i,ssif dlspoac solely OF all the products Of the soil.
prosecute as q poacher any one who takes from that
soil the least of It's fruits. or as q receiver Of stolen
goods any one who receives such fruits. and nnAlly.