The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-14
ANOTHER APPEAL
 MADE FOR CONGO Mission Boards Think Delay h.
 creascs the Crimes SITUATION IS UNBEATABLE
Roosevelt, Senate and King Edward Are Urged to Take Steps to Re- lieve Oppressed in Heart
 of Africa.

Philadelphia, January 1s.-At meeting of the conference of the foreign missions boards of the United States and Canada, held in this city on Saturday 1t was un- animously agreed to forward to President Roosevelt, the United States Senate and King Edward an apepal on behalf of the stricken people of the Congo state.
 The appeal follows
 ''To the President and the Senate of Che
 United States, and His Majesty, King
 Edward VII:
 "The conference of the foreign mission, boards of the United States and the Do- minion of Canada would most respectfully and earnestly bring to you an appeal on behalf of the stricken people of the Congo state. We do this in the name of forty missionary organizations whose work Is prosecuted in all sections of the world, and we are persuaded that the petition interprets faithfully the sentiments of their constituency of upwards of 24,00o,OOO of Christian men and women. We are not forgetful that recognition has been given by both governments to international duty in relation to this unhappy people. It Is source of keen satisfaction to us that our governments 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 passing by while the heavy burden of wrong con- tinues to rest with crushing weight upon the Congo people. and we recognize with profound regret that the first definite step toward just international action has not yet been taken.
 With Deep Conviction.
 we speak with deep conviction con- corning this issue, because we are in timately associated with many residents of the Congo state by whom the condl- tions to which we refer have been dis closed We are constrained to accept their testimony; we know that the earth does not hold men of more sensitive honor or self-sacrifcing devotion. But you will need not to be reminded that other testia mony than ours has been given to the character and credbility of these wit neses. A commission which was sent to King Leopold himself has said of them and of their fellow missionaries In the Congo state that they constitute for the native the sole representative of equity and justice. Of their testimony, dread ful as 1t has been, the commission has declared that they found 1t to be support ed by a multitude of witnesses and 'es- tablished by a mass of evidence and offi- cial reports.'
 'rhe request, which we, like the great company of petitioners of both govern ments outside of our constituency, are urging Is obviously fair to all interests, since it asks only for such impartial ac- ton as shall be instituted and shall give authoritative revelation of actual facts and insure correction of such wrongs as shall be disclosed. We submit that the simple issue thus presented involves a. primary test of national and international honor and that longer withholding of manifestation of this measure of inter- national concern for these wards of the nations would leave upon all powers re- sponsible for its a lasting reproach
 Avoid Various Devices.
 we would earnestly urge that no de- vice of the ruler of the Congo state, whether of wholesale appersion of mo- five or of evasion of accountability through promotion of transfer of terri tory to a government of which he Is him. self the head, shall be allowed to cloud the issue of international responsibility for immediate ascertainment of conditions and correction of wrongs The issue as YOU are well aware is not of motive, but fact, and the duty of guardianship bind ing the powers to protection of people of the territory of the Congo basin, is independent of political relations. More over we would respectfully urge our con- viction that if the king is a trustee, he cannot transfer his trust except by in ternational sanction. If the convening of the international conference was indepen- dent in the opening of the Congo terri tory 1t would seem that conference for review of the issue in all it's phases is in- dispensable for wise and just dealing now.
 ''In the name of humanity, of interna- tional justice, of regard for the prmeal rights of man, we would ask that you will use the full power reposed in gov ernments by the Supreme Ruler in the in- terest of an immediate discharge by the nations of their respective 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 relations with the world of men and states.'