The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-27
congo FREE STATE.
King LeODOId's Administration Defended
nv COnsuB-GsenerAI WhIteIey.

To THE EDITOR Up THE SCN-ST: ! aSk
you to publish this letter for the purpose or
correcting errors into which l think you have
fallen in an editorial Of October % upon
the Government OF the Congo Free state
based upon an article In the Notondl Reri'r.
! ask only enough OF your space to call atten-
ton to two points.
In the first place, | wish to say that in Bel
gium. from which | have just returned. pub
lie opinion upholds and approves OF kmg
LeoDold's administration OF the Congo. OPP
position to the Kings regime Ia limited to q
mail band Of Socialists and malcOntents who
never lose an opportunity 10 speak evil or
anything that may be considered the personal
work Of the King. 10 where You will In
Belgium outside OF this narrow circle
you ind that the Belgian people. from the
most distin guished statesmen down to the
small shopkeepers, stand solidly by the KiDg
in his colonial enterprise. and speak with
admiration and gratitude OF the great work
he has accomplished for Belgium and for
civilization in the Congo. The views Of the
Disconnected gentlemen should not be Caken
too seriously. They ought not to be oonsid-
cred as representing the general sentiments
OF the Belgian Parliament or OF the Belgian
people. Take. for example. MI, vandsryeldes
speech upon the Congo Free state delivered
members of the Belgium Parliament Of weight
and influence who were In London at the times
NerincI. the vice-President Of the House,
and NJ. Carton de Wharf. publicly DENOUNCED
Yandervelde's views and proclaimed their
confidence In the Kings administration OF the
Congo and their admiration. Of the way in
which he handled the diffcuities OF colonial
government.
In the second place, / wish 10 call year
attention to an error In surprising that Nprac-
tLcally nothing has been done" to carry out
Which ia%estisstsd the Congo. As a matter
OF fact. everything has been done. The
commissioners In their report said that the
dacinE SiSilIsatlon into africa in the short
space of twenty years; that his administers a
tiQn there compared fayOrabiy with any
other colonial government In Africa; but tnat.
reforms could be introduced. They recon-
probation Of the land laws. the strict enforce.
ment Of the law n regard to the Limitation Of
system, the withdrawal from the trading
companies Of the right to employ coercion;
the regulation OF. military expeditions and
the extension of the judicial system.
recommendations, and by the DEGREES OF
June 3. 1905, he has granted these reforms.
They are not on paper only. but are being
throughout the whole extent OF the Congo
Free State, which occupies a territory about
one-third the size OF the United States.
There is no doubt Of the good faith Of the
Congo administration In carrying out these
reforms. Practical statesmanship, as well
as humanitarian principles, dictates q policy
of mildness and justice toward the native, 80
with no grievances against the Government.
and may thus become q useful factor In work
ing out his own salvation and In helping to
introduce civilization into central Africa.
AME GUsTAvTs WHITLEY.
Consul-General, Congo Free State.
BALTIMORE. October rs.