New-York tribune., 1911-03-16
a Tribute 10 kino Albert.

=" marvellous has bs7n the ameliora ton
o' conditions in what wa, formerly the
congo Free State, and which Is now Bel
gums only colony. that King George and
ms government have resolved 20 recognize
onhclaily The incorporation OF this pa-tic-
uIariN 'ich slice of the Dark Continent In
inc dominions of King Albert. and ii is
Plooaoie That the United States govern
Iheh' VIII act with England In the matter.
England and the United States are the only
/ TWO great powers that have refrained
from conceding this recognition. taking the
GROUND that they had by the terms OF the
treaties of 1884 creating the Free state
paced themselves under certain ohsa-
uons both with regard 10 the interests OF
their own countrymen in that part OF
Africa aud also in the matter Of the vel
fare OF the natives
Until about a couple OF Years before
Leopold's death conditions all along the
| Congo Valley were so abominable. there
was such an obstruction 10 foreign trade,
so much insecurity 10 foreign life and prop
erty and such barbarous cruelty toward
the natives that the United States and Eng
land, as well as several other of the great
powers. entered into pourparlers with one
another with the object OF depriving King
Leopold of the sovereignty of this great
African empire on the ground OF nalao-
ministration and the utter disregard OF all
his pledges Indeed. some such step would
undoubtedly have been taken had not Leo
pold averted the blow by transferring the
sovereignty o. the Congo Free State 10
Belgium, that IS TO say, 10 a responsible
government. Most of the powers fastened
70 express their satisfaction with this move
on his part and did not NANTES, any hesl-
tation about officially recognizing the re-
peal of all the treaties by means OF which
the Congo Free state had been brought
into existence. and acquiescinc in its con-
version into Belgian dependency But
England and the United States held out.
They declined TO acknowledge the new or
der of things until It had been definitely
shown 10 them that the change meant an
Improvement OF the treatment both OF ioE-
eigners and OF natives in Consoland.
II IS now admitted that the Improvement
has heen Of the most surprising character.
and that it dates not from Leopold
death. but from nearly a year prior there
10. that is TO say. from the time OF the
memorable visit q King Albert as neH
preSumDtive 10 the Congo Nale!' WIZ"
ne traversed from one end to the oin'''
Foreign trade is now unobstructed' crUe"E
and injustice to the natives are vigorously
punished. so trat their confidence IN White
rule has been restored, and the entlre
asnect of the country has changed al
along the banks of the river, villages nav
ing everywhere been rebuilt and the peo-
uIe havirS returned 70 their former homes
from which they had been driven by the
atrocities penetrated upon them by Leo
pold'e own officials and the agents OF those
chartered rubber companies In which he
vas the chief stockholder The London
Times" ard. in fact oll those English
revsra rers which were the most violently
C'onrophobe during the reign Of Leopold
and which led 70 the crusade against him.
holding him I'D 70 the eXecration Of the
entire civilized world are now loudest In
their praise Of the complete and marvel
.lous changes rot only for tho better. but
for ale best, in Coneoland. attributing
most OF the merit in the matter 10 the per
sonal initiative and action OF King Albert
who. as mentioned in these letters some
time ago. has devoted the greater portion
OF the money accruing 70 him from the
Congo crown lands and from the late
King Ieorold's estates there 70 purposes
OF philanthropy and OF general utility IN
The colony. In fact, public opinion In Eng
land. which formerly demanded the re-
rnoval OF King Leopold from the sovereign
" Of the Congo. denourcing him as
twentieth century Caligula- is nov de-
nlanding OF her government that she shall
show her appreciation Of wha. Ktng Al
bert has accomplished IN the Congo by
officially recognizing its transformation
from q free state into colony Of his
crown: and from What gather from Lon
don Kirg George and his administration
are about 10 defer to this public sentiment,
acting in conjunction with President Taft
and the government Of the United States.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.