The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-14
ANOTHER APPEAL
FOR CONGO STATE
Foreign Mission Boards Ask
Roosevelt and King of
England to Act.
STRONG LANGUAGE USED
TIME PASSING AND HORRORS
CONTINUE.

Philadelphia. Jan 13--At a confer
ence Of the foreign mission board Of
the United States and Canada here If
has been unanimously agreed TO for
ward to President Roosevelt, the Unit
ed States senate and King Edward IN
appeal on behalf Of the Congo Free
State. The appeal follows
The conference of the foreign mis-
sion boards OF the United States and
the Dominion of Canada respectfully
and earnestly bring to you an appeal
In behalf of the stricken people of the
Congo Free States. We do this in the
name Of forty missionary organizations
whose work is prosecuted in all sec
tons OF the world, and we are persuad-
ed that tho petition intCrprets faith
fully the sentiment of their constitu-
ency CT upward OF 10000. 600 OF Chris
tian men and women.
Promises Not Fulfilled.
1--WE are not forgetfuI that recoCni-
ton has been given by both govern
ments to international duty in relation
to this unhappy people. 1t is a source
Of keen satisfaction TO us that our gov
ernments are united in leadership in
work so closely affecting international
honor. But we are reminded by the
recurrence of our annual meeting that
weeks and months are raising white
to rest upon the Congo people, and we
recognize with profound regret that
the first definite step toward just ia
ternational action has not vet been
taken.
Proof Is Positive.
I'VE speak with deep conviction con-
corning this issue. because we are in
timately associated with many resi-
dents of the Congo state by whom the
conditions to which we refer have been
disclosed. But you will not need to
be reminded that other testimony than
ours has been given TO the chara ct,r
and the creditaSility OF these witnesses.
A commission selected by King Leo
pold himself has said of them and Of
their fellow missionaries in the Congo
that they constitute for the native the
sole representative of equity and jus
tee OF their testimony. dreadful IS
1t has been, the commission has de-
clared that thew found II well support
ed by witnesses and official represent
atives-
international Honor Involved.
THE request which we. like the
great company of petitioners OF both
governments outside our constituency
are urging. is obviously fair to all in
terests, since it asks only for such i'm
D0fIl0l dctlofl Us Shall give dNtiihii-
! tative revelation of actual facts and
insure correction of such wrongs as
shall be disclosed We submit that the
simple issue thus prevented involves a
primary test of national and interna-
| tiCna! honor. and that longer withhold
| ing Of manifestation of this measure 81
, International concern for these wards
OF the nations would leave uDon Ill
powers responsible for it a lasting re-
proach.
Question Is One of Fact.
1--WE would earnestly urge that no
device of the ruler Of the Congo state.
whether of wholesale asDersiOn Of mo-
| tive or of evasion of accOunta bility
ritory to a government of which he IS
\ himself the head. shall be allowed to
cloud the issue OF international respon-
sibility for immediate aScertainment OF
conditions and correction of WRONGS.
! The issue. as you are well aware. IS
not Of motive, but of fact. and the
duty of guardianship binding the
powers 10 protection of the people of
! the territory Of the Congo basin is in
dependent of political relations. More
over. we would respectfully urge our
! conviction that If the king is a trustee
no cannot transfer his trust except by
International sanction. II the cOnven-
/ ing of an international conference was
! il. portant in the opening of the Congo
territory. it would seem that a con-
ference for review of the issue in all
it's phases is Indispensable for wise and
just dealing now.
Justice and Humanity.
I'm the name of humanity. OF inter-
national justice, of regard for the
primal rights Of man. we wOulG ask
that you use the full power reDosed in
| governments by the supreme ruler in
the interest Of an immediate discharge
by the nations of their responsibility Of
/ guardianship over the remnant of the
humble people who a generation ago
without choice of their own, were
brought out of their isolation into re-
items with the world OF men and
J states"