The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-28

eral months of bitter struggle, the
Chamber of Deputies adopted the
Congo annexation treaty by S3 votes
to So, and although the action prob
ably will insure the solution of the
great Congo problem, there still re-
mains open the important question
of Belgium's financial responsibility.
This action on, the part of the
Chamber had not been expected, and
at the last moment nearly caused
the collapse of the Cabinet: During
the first reading recently of the CO.
lonial bill, which provides for the
administration of the Congo indie
pendent State, and which, with the
treaty was adopted, Herr Woeste,
leader of the Right, secured the
adoption of an amendment reliev-
ing Belgium of the responsibility of
guaranteeing the payment of the in
terest on the Congo debt, but the
government made a determined eff
fort to secure the restoration of the
advances to Congo in case of neces-
sity. The government was defeated
in this, however, and it was gen
would be forced to resign.
At the conclusion of long meet
ing of King Leopold and the mem
bers of his cabinet it was announced
that the ministry would not resign,
the government temporarily accept
ing the chambers action on the fl
nancial question. 1t was pointed
out, however, that direct contra
diction exists between the treaty and
the colonial bill as voted, the treaty
shouldering the financial RESPONSE
bility. while the bill rejects it.
1t is understood that the govern
ment will make an effort in the
Senate to amend the bill, so as to
reconcile the provisions of the two.
Among the important notifications
of the original articles of the bill
are the abolition of forced labor and
the prohibition of members of the
Belgian Parliament from exploiting
Congo concessions.
The passage of the treaty by the
deputies means that the annexation
of the State to Belgium is practically
assured, as the Senate and King
Leopold are ready to indorse the bill.
The personal rule of King Leopold
in Africa is now drawing to close;
in the future he will have nothing
to do with the State, which is to be
administered by Belgium, and the
hope is widespread that there will
now be an end to the atrocities and
maladministration in this part of the
world which for years past has been
a subject of investigation and bitter
complaint by humanitarians all over
the world. Governments became
deeply interested in bringing about
the introduction of reforms in the
Congo, and 1T became known last
year that Great Britain and the Uni
ted States had about decided to in
terfere in the Congo administration
unless the situation there improved.
The situation regarding the annex
alton of the Congo State was thrown
into great confusion last year by
the action of King Leopold in with
drawing the control of the crown
domain, the richest part of the Con-
go, from the regular Congo admin
istration, in order to prevent, the
passing of the domain to Belgium
should annexation be consummated.
This action was bitterly resented by
the friends of annexation in Parlia-
ment as the usurpation of Belgium s
national heritage, and the opposition
became so great that in February
of this year King Leopold changed
his attitude on this matter and
agreed to abandon the crown domain
and the crown foundation to Bel
GUM. STIMULATING that Belgium
should not only assume all the Con-
go Obligations, amounting to $21,-
900. 900, but undertake also to con-
tinue the Kings usufruct in the
Congo's revenues during his life
time. Belgium was required speci-
fically to respect the concessions
granted to two American companies
in 1906, in which Thomas F. Ryan
is interested. These stipulations
were embodied in the final draft of
the treaty tt.'