Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-07
Belgian Pamphlet Explains
Present Status.
LEOPOLD'S ACTION PRAISED
Donation of Private Domain Is
Lauded by Government.
NATIONS ON EQUAL FOOTING
Claimed That Colonist and Native
Rights Will Be Protected in
Kongo Free State.

King Leopold and the powers that be
and get the revenue in Belgium are very
anxious that the rest of the world should
look favorably on the recent action OF the
king in cedng the Kongo Free State to
Belgium. With this in view the Fedora
ton for the Defense of Belgian Interests
Abroad has issued pamphlet in Eng
lish. setting out the government view of
the situation and explaining for the en-
lightenment of the rest of the world
how much Belgium owes to the king
for donating to it his heretofore private
domain. and incidentally exploiting the
resources of the Kongo, animal, mineral
and vegetable.
The pamphlet of the league states. first.
that the Kongo Free State does not
owe its existence. as has been generally
believed, to the action of the Berlin con-
ference of 1885, but was due to the initia-
tive of King Leopold thirty-two years
ago. when he instituted the committee for
the study of the upper Kongo. 1t is
stated that it was from this beginning
that the state had it's origin, and it was
only incidentally interested in the action
of the Berlin conference. which outlined
the status not only of the Kongo Free
State. but all the other foreign posses
sions in the conventional basin of the
kongo.
ALI on Equal Footing.
1t is pointed out that all the colonial
powers in the Kongo basin are on the
same footing. and that Belgium has the
same sovereign rights that England has
IN British East Africa. or any other
power has over it's colonies in the Kongo
basin.
AS to the concessions that have already
been granted in the Kongo basin. it is
CT Tod hot
as concessions made by any other gov
ernments In their colonies to private
individuals
II is stated in the pamphlet that the
one-fifth of the Free State. 1t is claimed
that they do not cover enough OF the ter
ritory to interfere at all with its devel-
opment as valuable asset of Belgium.
The right of free trade and free religion.
1t is said. are granted to outsiders on the
same footing as to Belgian subjects.
Rights Granted the Natives.
The arrangements as to the natives who
originally owned the land. the pamphlet
states. are singularly liberal. They are
allowed to fish in the rivers and lakes
and cut firewood for their own use in the
forest.
The members of the government party
in achampioning the annexation of the
Free State said that the alleged Kongo
atrocities were not within the discussion.
Whether they had been committed or not
and whether or not they were as bad as
painted, they would be corrected under
government control and there was no need
to consider them further. 1t is stated
that slavery does not exist and the ma
tives are not constrained to work for the
concessionaries unless they want to. and
in case they work for the government
they will be paid like free men.
The question of native taxation Is wor-
rying the government some. The taxes on
the natives run from to 81 francs a
year. This tax is now usually paid in
labor. but the government wants to in
troduce the use of coins and have the
taxes paid in money.
Belgium in taking over the kongo took
over both its assets and liabilities. One
OF the large liabilities is the Foundation
de la Couronne, a concession Of something
over 5000 600 hectares. a hectare being
2.41 acres. There is no statement as to
the amount of this liability. but it is said
in general terms that the concession can
be made ultimately to pay revenue.
Country Rich in Resources.
The resources of the country are paint
ed in glowing colors. The copper mines
are said to have been merely scratched on
the surface and to be richer Than all those
of the United States combined.
AS to cattle raising. it is said that the
government is taxing measures to reduce
the ravages of the tste-fy. which is so
fatal to African cattle and when this is
done the country will be.a good stock
raising region.
The natural resources in tropical fruits.
woods and ivory are said to be very rich.
King Leopold was paid $1,000. 600 on
account of the cession of the Free State
but 1t is stated in the book that this is
not a personal gift to the king. but will
be used as colonial fund for the devel-
opment of the state.