M. DE BRAZZA’S EXPEDITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 944, 16 May 1883, Page 2

M. DE BRAZZA’S EXPEDITION.

■■ ' I J The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph has “ interviewed ” M. de Brazza on the subject of his coming expedition to the Congo. On the subject of the arms, ammunition, and escort of the Algerian soldiery which he is to take with him, M. de Brazza is said to have been particularly explicit. The African tirailleurs, to the extent of one company, are merely to act as a personal body-guard to the explorer and his staff, and the materiel de guerre M. de Brazza described as a sort of currrent coin with the blacks, who readily accept an old-fashioned percussion or a flint-lock gun in exchange for their services as carriers or road laborers, M. de Brazza “ mildly and and without any bitterness, complained that his views had been subject to some misrepresentation in England.” He declared, in substance, that his main object was to open up the Congo districts to European commerce, to facilitate trade by accustoming the natives to intercourse with white men, to combat all attempts to “ monopolise ” the territory in the interests ot one nation or one association, and, he added, with perfect candor, “to prepare a future for French enterprise in years to come.” “ France,” he observed, “is shut out of nearly all the markets of the world by British or German traders, against whom competition is impossible. I saw a new field in Africa, and, while abstaining from all commercial enterprises myself, determined to open it to my countrymen.” In explanation of this sentiment M. de Brazza further stated that the French Government, whose agent be is, had no intention of interfering with the commerce of any other nation. On the contrary, its protection, and any protection the French explorer might obtain from the natives, would be extended to all alike; but the establishment of a French protectorate over the Batekkes’ territory, in accordance with the treaty concluded with King Makoko, was destined to serve the interests of French settlers and traders in the future, when, according to M. de Brazza’s opinion, the nation will require an outlet for its tendency to expansion and increasing commerce. “I do not know when this will be,” the explorer said, “ but it will be, even if twenty or thirty years elapse first” In reference to another object of M. de Brazza’s mission—namely, the opposition to all attempts at a “ monopoly ” of the Congo territory—he asked the correspondent to peruse a form of agreement existing between the chiet of the Ldopoldsville (Stanley Poole) station and the missionaries, mostly of English nationality, M. de Brazza observed —“ You will see by this paper that it is not I who am endeavoring to monopolise the country, as stated by Mr Stanley, a man for whom I entertain the sincerest admiration, but whose objects and mine differ very widely.” A clause in this agreement stipulates that the missionaries shall be allowed to build, sow, and plant a portion of the ground belonging to the Comitd d’Etude du Haut Congo on payment of Ll 3 for acres (or one hectare) per year. “ I was accused of annexing the territory,” he exclaimed, “ and here is the Belgian Association receiving Hgnt for the land * which it claims is the property of the natives.” Another clause in this document sets forth that “ the missionaries engage not to give any hospitality, help, intelligence or assistance to other parties or expeditions which may come into the country for the purposes of trade.” Here, again, the French explorer waxed indignant, and asked what right the association, which he frankly characterised as a trading company, “ possessed to exclude Europeans from the ordinary benefits of hospitality by purchasing the servility of the missionaries at the expense of the natives.” The French explorer expressed the utmost indifference towards public opinion both here and in England, although he regretted that his case had been placed before the English public in a rather unfavorable light. “ I am not a trader myself,” he reiterated ; “ 1 leave commerce to those who I hope will follow me. In this respect I differ,” he observed with marked emphasis, “ from another traveller, who reminds me of a steam-engine, which will go anywhere so long as fuel is provided. I work for the whole world at present, and for France in the future.”