Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-02
MORGAN WANTS
INFORMATION
Reports Resolution Calling on
President Regarding Concession
In Congo Free State.
HE ARRAlGNS KING LEOPOLD.
Very Anxious United States ShplI See
That "ISlIcd Africans Are Not De-
barred From "Natlyc Land"

Washington. March 1.--senator Nor
gan reported favor0bly from the com
mittee ON foreign relations today his
resolution calling on The president for
Information as to any concessions
Americans may have received from
King Leopold FOR the gathering of
India rubber In the Congo Free State
Mr. Morgan was given permission TO
hle statement on the subject and
asked that the resolution 20 10 the
calendar, as he understood several SEN
ators desired to investigate the aucs-
ton.
The Morgan statement recites how
capitalists of the civilized nations are
pushing into the rubber forests with
all manner OF monopolistic arrange
ments for subjecting this great Product
the gift of nature-to their craving
for wealth"
He arraisns King Leopold TOR the
manner In which he has exploited the
Congo lands In accommodating wealth 10
himself by imposing tasks OF personal
labor 10 the extreme OF cruelty upon
Mr.. Morgan charges that concession
aires have been empowered by King
Leopold TO exercise the same dis-
tressing authority over the people over
which they have proceeded to enforce
without restraint and without the re-
sponslblllties to public opinion which
should check their avarice and greed in
deahng With an ignorant ana subJu-
gated people,
MIR. Morgan gulrag tbp t,nei5f1,, ,Ln
the United States by reason OF its negro
population, descended from Congo par
entage, is especially obligated 10 sup
port the movement to reserve to the ma =
tive 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 until confirmed by the signatory
powers TO the Brussels act signed in
1890.
The senator declares that II the
American company has not communi-
Gated its transactions to the govern
irent OF the United States, IL Is the
duty of this government TO make in
qulry as 10 the extent OF the conces-
sLons and as to all the terms and condi-
lions OF the grant He says also that
1t is the duty Of this government Ia
Inquire into concession alleged tN
have been made by the government OF
Liberia OF all it's India rubber and ma
hogany lands to a British syndicate.
Mr., Morgan concluded with the fol-
lowing declaration:
ut Is the duty Of the United States
government to- see 10 1t that no barrier
or impeachment is created by the act OF
Leopold or by any other authority Ia
debar the exiled Africans who have
been held In slavery In the United
States from the right 10 return to their
native land and 10 hold IL, In company
with their kinspeople. and the free and
unobstruCted opportunity to enjoy the
great advantage which are now Of
fered 10 them and which the United
States owes to them of repatriation Ia
their own country, without let or him
dranCe.
The native resources of Central
Africa present vast stores of treasure
to invite their aid I'm developing the
wealth OF that country, and II Is time
that the United States should inter-
pose its just powers, whatever they
may be, in aiding these exiles to estab-
fish their sovereign rights In the coun-
try that God has given them"