The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-14
PRESIDENT
AND KING
Foreign Mission Board Asks
Help For Congo.
LE0P0LD'S RULE IS RUIN
Memorial Semitic Roosevelt. the
Senate and 10 British Ruler on
Behalf OF Natives.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. H. - At a
conference OF the foreign missions
boards of the United States and Cana
ia assembled here II was unanimous
ly agreed TO forward to President
Roosevelt. TO the United States senate
and TO King Edward an appeal on be
half OF the stricken people OF the Kon
go Free State as follows:
''rhe conference OF the foreign mis-
sions boards OF the United States and
the Dominion Of Canada would most
respectfully and earnestly bring TO you
an appeal on behalf OF the stricken
people OF the Kongo State. We do
this In the name Of forty missionary
organizations whose work Is prescott.
Ell Ia all sections OF the world, and we
are persuaded that the petition Inter.
prets faithfully the sentiment Of thclr
constituency OF upward OF 20,OO0,OOO
Christian men and women. We are
not forgetful that recognition has been
given 10y both governments 10 lntcrna.
tlonal duty In relation 20 this unhappy
people
1T l. a source Of keen satisfaction
10 ~ that our governments are united
In leadership In work so closely af-
fecting international honor. But we
are reminded by the recurrence Of our
annual meeting that weeks and months
are passing 10y while the heavy burden
n wrong continues 90 rest with crush.
lhg weight upon the Kongo people.
aud we recognize with profound regret
that the first definite step toward Just
international action has not yet been
taken.
we speak with deep conviction con.
cernlng this issue. because We arr In.
timatcly associated with many resi-
dents % the Kongo State. by whom
the conditions TO which we refer have
been disclosed.
Eve would earnestly urge that no de
vice 81 the ruler Of the kongo State.
whether Of wholesale aspcrslon Of mo
tive or Of evasion Of accountability
through promotion of transfer 81 terri
tory 90 government Of which he l.
himself the head. shall BE- allowed o.
cloud the issue Of international respnn
sibility for immediate asccrtalnmcnt
of conditions aud correction Of wrongs
The issue. as you are well aware. {.
not 81 motive. but ~ fact. and the duty
II guardianship binding the powers 10
protection Of the people OF the terri
tory of the Koneo basin i independent
Of political relations. Moreover. we
would respectfully urge our conviction
that " the King l. a trustee he cannot
transfer his trust except by iuiernn-
tlonai sanction II the convcnlug N an
International conference was important
In the opening of the Kongo TERRITORY
Il would seem that n conference for
review of the issue IN all H. phases j.
Indispensable for wlsaand Just deallns
now
"In the name Of humanity. 81 inter
national justice. % regard Tor The
primal rights 81 man. we would asi
that YOU win use the fun power r.
posed Ia governments hy the supreme
ruler In the Interest 81 nn immediate
discharge by the nations ~ their r.
sponslhil.ty 81 guardianship over thi
remnant ~ the humble people who
generation ago. without choice o. their
,wn. were brought ont Of their isola
lion into relations with the world OF
men aud states"