CONGO CRUSADE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 632, 8 October 1909, Page 7

CONGO CRUSADE.

RENEWED BY SIR A. CONAN DOYLE. IBy Tolcsraph.-l'rcss aisoclalltm.-OopTrlehii , ' London, October. 6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has published' a powerful indictment of Belgian' misrule and atrocities in tho Congo. '• .- Sir Arthur is heading a movement for mass meetings to be held with the view of foroing the Government to tnkc decisive action. A DELICATE SITUATION. There are people who think, that the British Secretary lor Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward fcrey, snould take a still firmer stand with Belgium on tho subject of tho Congo than he has yet-done. "The. Times," however, in commenting on thr debate in the House of Commons in July, supports Sir Edward Grey, and thus summarises the ■ "France and Germany have already recoKnised the annexation (of the Congo territory by Belgium). We have not; and we shafi not recognise it so long as forced labour is continued there, although, as Sir Edward foresees, very grave embarrassments micht conceivably arise were wo compelled to aost pone recognition for long. Wo must face those embarrassments if they are forced upon us but Sir Edward holds that the time has not yet come for us to.take further action. Hs still has faith in tho efficacy .of the Parlia mentary system of Belgium to oxpose and to suppress the intolerable abuses which orevaiied under tho old regime. , "We do not forego our right to take action in order to uphold our • indisputable treaty rights, should action become necessary. But the burden which the Belgian nation have voluntarily assumed is very great, and Sit Edward pleads, not unreasonably, that more time should he allowed them in which to adjust it to their unaccustomed shoulders." s