Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29

y
tax imposed upon them. This only means
a few days work year for them-a WORK
which requires no effort whatever. AS
they generally go en- masse upon these
rubber collecting expeditions. they carry
their entire families with them and look
upon the whole thing as great spree
Rubber has locally no value whatever
among natives themselves. They have not
yet risen to pneumatic motor wheels nor
to mackintoshes. goloShes or rubber-soled
tennis shoes. No use worth referring TO
is made by them of this valuable latex,
SO that think good deal Of fuss which
is made in Europe regarding stealing the
product of the country is unnecessary"
~
To return to the attitude Of parties In
the Belgian chamber, rendered all the
more confused and UNI
PARTY certain by the unfortunate
pressure from without. 1t
Is only necessary to add
that many radicals favor an adjournment
that the country may be consulted, but In
Catholic and liberal circles II Is urged that
annexation should be adopted because 1t
is the best means of anticipating interna-
tional complications. The public debate
Of the question is now in order, and a
solution must be arrived at before the
18th of May the last day of the parlia-
mentary session.
The Independence Beige Of the 18th in
slant publishes the text of the additional
act of cession Of the Kongo Free State to
Belgium. The following extracts will in
terest the reader:
The commission reports the introduc
ton of certain changes in the proposed an
ne xation of the Kongo Free State to Bel
GUM. The commission reports that on
February - they addressed the follow
ing letter to the king:
Sire: At the moment that the cham
bers are about to decide the question of
the cession of the Kongo to Belgium We
have the honor to submit very respectful
ly to your majesty, rendering homage to
the elevated and patriotic views which
has inspired him in the establishment of
the government of the Kongo. that these
views have not been equally understood
by all.
I'VE counsel your majesty to consent to
withdraw from the former act of founda-
ton that which may be attributed to the
domain of our future colony.
"A capital of fifty million francs pay
able in fifteen annuities the first Of 3, $780,
600 francs, and each of the fourteen 9TH
ers of $500, 600 will be attributed, as an
expression of gratitude to your majesty
by the Kongo Free State created by your
majesty.
These fsnds shall be applied by the
king and his. successors to things re-
lating to the kongo and to diverse
works in favor Of the Kongo or for the
advantage of those who have served
with merit in Africa"
The king acceded to this request. and
| on March withdrew from the former
act his personal interest and turned
| over to Belgium all of his interests in
Africa without other reservation than
the 10000 hectares in the Mayumbe, on
which experiments In coffee culture are
being conducted.
The Independence Beige declares that
this is the best result that could be de-
sired, and this agree
Colonial ment established on
Power sound principles goes to
prove that Belgium is
now prepared with all her prestige to
play the colonial role which the politi-
cal genius Of her king has wisely re-
served for her.
The Standard of London is cited by
the Independence Beige as saying in
an article on the Kongo: Tho criti-
cisms OF the administration of the
kongo have done harm to a good cause
by their unjust attacks against King
Leopold and his agents." The Standard
regrets that certain chiefs of reform
movements have expressed themselves
in a way which could be interpreted as
a lack OF respect for the Belgian nation.
But on the other hand 1t would misrep-
resent in q most scandalous fashion the
intentions of the foreign Office and the
sentiments Of the English people to
suggest that England nourishes any
designs upon the heritage that Belgium
has in perspective. I'VE have the most
absolute confidence" it continues. lin
the humanity and in the political genius
Of the Belgians. and we will sincerely
rejoice when we shall be relieved of
our part of the responsibility" (for the
kongo Free State).
The Belgian people are not tractable.
They are difficult to govern. Had they
been less difficult they would have seen
that theirs was double destiny. Nor was
it because they lacked leaders. Leopold
I was really a grand king. During his
reign 1t was said Of him that he had never
violated law. never trespassed upon
single legitimate complaint OF a citizen.
A prince SO wise. so clever. SO concilia-
tory that amid SO many divergent
opinions he has known how to conquer
the esteem of all in Belgium and in
foreign lands. And Leopold II would have
been great If his work had been limited
to his services as Due de Brabant. senator.
But the king created the work Of his own
inspiration) the International African AS
ISOLATION. which developed into the Kongo
Free State, of which he is king.
~
Nor is the kings ambition exhausted.
At the moment that he voluntarily sur
renders the crown and
A NAVY territory Of the Kongo
State to Belgium he would
assure the development of
Belgium and the kongo colony by the
creation of navy.
Nor is 1t vain hope. the dream Of a
maritime Belgium. The Duke of Brabant
recalled the splendor of Bruges. the capt.
tai of western Flanders. the Venice of
the north whence Flemish vessels
plowed all known seas: Ostende. whence
sailed at the close of the seventeenth
century the famous Compagnie d'Ostende, |
which was a real maritime power. Finally
the Flemish people remember with pride
their great navigators. among whom Jean
Seghers. the first to spend the winter in |
Spitzbergen In the Arctic ocean in 1881. |
1t Is not less true that since then the
Flemish people have turned from the sea
and have lost the taste of far-on adven- |
ture. The fault is not in the Flemish
man. but in the fact of the sand-silted
harbor of ancient Bruges and the crush |
ing of the Compagnie dfOstende by Eng |
land and Holland
King Leopold II recalls this and more, |
and may find the annexation of the Kongo |
to Belgium a compens. ton and. perchance. |
the realization Of his dream, by means of
the sea, of a greater Belgium.
CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.