The Cairo bulletin., 1907-01-15
ASK PRESIDENT
TO HELP CONGO
MISSION BOARDS OF U. S. AND
CANADA JOIN m APPEALS
FOR STRICKEN PEOPLE.
INTERNATIONAL GUARD
over So.Called Free State is Demand.
ed ediately-Deleeates Warn
Ruler Against Devices Of
Leopold.

| Philadelphia Pa, Jan. 14.--The for
! eign mission boards of the United
States and Canada, which are hold
! ing conference here, today joined
! in an appeal to President Roo evelt
and King Edward IN behalf of the
stricken people of the Congo The ap-
peal follows:
| ITO the President and Senate of
the United States. and to his majesty,
King Edward VII:
| The conference OF The foreign
mission boards of the United States
and the Dominion of Canada would
most respectfully and earnestly bring
to You an appeal IN behalf of the
stricken people Of the Congo state.
I'VE do this in the name Of forty
mi sionary organizations, whose work
is prosecuted in all sections Of the
world. and we are persuaded that the
petition interprets faithfully the sen.
timcnt OF their constituency of up.
wards of 10000 900 Of Chris Ian men
AMI women.
immediate Action Urged.
"We are not forgetful that recogni
ton has been given by both govern
mcnts to international duty in rela
ticn Ia this unhappy people 1t Is a
source of keen satisfaction to IT, hat
our governments are united In lead
ership in a work so closely affecting
i,,t tat
minded by the recurrence OF our an
Inual meeting that weeks and months
are passing while the heavy burden
of wrong continues to rest with
crushing weight upon The Congo peo,
pie, and we recognize with profonnd
regret that the first definite step to
ward just international action has net
yet been taken.
I'VE speak with deep conviction
concerning this issue, because we are
intimately associated with many resi-
dents of the Coago state by whom the
conditions of which we refer have
been disclosed. We are constrained TO
accept their testimony; we know that |
the earth does not hold men of mo G |
sensitive honor or more self-sacri |
fcing devotion. But you will no need
to be reminded that other testimony
than ours has been given to the char
acter and the credibil.ty Of these wit
nessos
"A commission selected by King
Leopold himself has said of them and
pf tbEir fat1nN mi ion fsfg ia tho
Congo state that they con- itute for
the native the sole rep: csentative Of
equity and justice. OF their testimony
dreadful as it has been, the commits
sion declared that they found II 10
be supported by a multitude of wit
IF evidence and official reports
THE 1eques, which we. like the
great company Of petitioners of both
governments out-idc our constituency
are urging is obviously fair to all in
Iercsts. since 1t asks only for such
impartial action as s1all give authori.
ativc revelation OF actual facts and
insure correction OF such wrongs as
shall be di-loscd
We submith that the simple issue
hus presented involves primary
est Of national and international
honor and that longer Withholding of
Of this measure Of in.
ernational concern for these wards
If the nations would leave upon all
powers responsible for II as a las ing
Warn Against Rulers Devices.
we would earnestly urge that no
levice Of the ruler Of the Congo state
whether Of wholesale asper ion Of mo
70 or of evasion OF Accountability
through promotion or transfer of ter
itory 10 a government Of which he Is
himself The head, shall be allowed to
loud tho issue Of international rc-
for immediate ascertain
nent Of conditions and correction of
wrongs
The issue a. you are well aware.
, not ~ motive. bat Of fact. and the i
.uty of guardianship binding the ,
'owc-s of protectis = o. the people II ,
ne territory NJ tho Congo basin is
Of political relations.
borrower. VIC woulf respectfully urge
lBr conviction that If the King is
trustee he cannot transfer hi. trust ID
81 ept by international sanction.
III the convenfng Of an ln-erna- ,
'Onal conference vas important in
he opening of the Congo territory. il
-rrrF eaa-- shat "a nm rg-nuc1 r0r - ]
Jew Of the Issue IS an its phases IS
for wise and just deal =
ne now
In the name Of humanity. 81 inter o
stonal justice. Of regard for the
.rimal righ's 81 man. We would ask
hat you all use the full power re-
Z L