The Mena weekly star., 1907-03-07
CONGO MA IER IN SENATE.
Resolution Calling on President for Information Regarding Rubber
 Concessions Reported.
1 STATEMENT BY SENATOR MORGAN
King Leopold scathinoIy Arraigned for Manner in Which lie Has Ex- plotted Congo Lands and His Treatment of Natives--Ssys Uni- ted States Should Interfere


 Washington. March 2.-Senator Morgan reported favorabIy from the committee on foreign relations Friday his resolution calling or, the presi- dent for information as te any con sessions Americans may have re- ceived from King Leopold for the gathering of India rubber in the Con- go Free State.
 MT. Morgan was given permission to file statement on the subject and asked that the resolution go to the calendar as he understood several senators desired to investigate the question.
 The Morgan statement recites how capitalists of the civilized nation are pushing into the rubber forest, with all manner of monopoIistic arrange ments for subjecting this great pro duct--the gift of nature--to their craving for wealth
 He arraigns scathingly King Leo poId. for the manner in which he has exploited the Congo lands in ac- cumulating wealth to himself by i'm posing tasks of personal labor to the extreme of cruelty upon the na. tive population.
 Mir. Morgan charges that conces. sionaires have been empowered by King Leopold to exercise the same distressing authority over the people which they have proceeded to enforce without restraint, and without the re. responsibilities to public opinion which should check their avarice and greed in dealing with an ignorant and sub jugated people"
 Mir. Morgan takes the position that the United States, by reason of it's negro population descendant from Congo parentage. is especially obli gated to support the movement to reserve to the native population the wealth of Congo products. He says that any concession granted by King Leopold to wealthy citizens of the United States Is not valid unless con. firmed by the signatory powers to the Brussels act signed in 1890.
 The senator declares that if the American company has not communi- cated it's transactions t0 She govern. ment of the United States it is the plain duty of this government to make k inquiry as to the extent of the con. cession and as to all the terms aud conditions of the grant He says also it is the duty of this government to inquire into all concessions alleged to have been made by the government of Liberia of all it's India rubber and mahogany lands to a British syndi. cate. Mir. Morgan concludes with the following declaration:
 It is the duty of the United States government to see to it that no bar rier or impeachment is created by the act of Leopold or by any other author ity to debar the exiled Africans who have been held in slavery in the Uni ted States from the right to return to their native land and to hold it. in company with their kinspeople, and the free and unobstructed opportunity to enjoy the great advantages which are now offered to them, and whicl. the United States owes to them of re patriation in their own country, with out let or hindrance
 The native resources Of Central Africa present vast stores of treasure to invite their aid in developing the wealth of that country and it is time that the United States should inter pose its just powers, whatever they maybe. in aiding these exiles to estab- fish their sovereign rights in the country that God has given them.