CONGO REFORMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 662, 12 November 1909, Page 7

CONGO REFORMS.

—. BELGIAN PROMISES. WELCOMED AS A HOPEFUL PROSPECT, BRITISH ATTITUDE. (By ToloKraph.-rrMs Aesoclatlon.-Oonytisht.) London, November 10. Tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, in his spooch at the Guildhall, acUerting to the subjoct of administration of tlio Congo torritory, tb'ihhrkod that tho conditions on whioh tho Btat« waq founded wero not only unfulfilled, bnt were continuously and habitually violated. Had there been no change it would have been impossible longer to admit any jurisdiction butour own over any British subject in that country. "Bolgium,' continued the Primo Minister, "as the result'of inquiries has now made ti declaration of policy, which wo have not yet had time,to fully consider, but which wo welcomo as tho opening of a prospect more hopeful than any yet ollorcd us." The speakor . added: "As a final solution, wo should bo able to recognise annexation, on tho ground that annexation may bo trusted to lead to \ital reforms, which alone cau satisfy treaty rights and tho common obligations of linmanity." Mr. Asquith insisted warmly that the agitation in Britain against the abuses in tho Congo , Stato w<l9 altogether sincere and unselfish. 1 BELGIUM'S PROPOSALS. In tho': Belgian Chamber of Deputies on October 28 the Minister lor the Colonies, M. Roukin, outlined tho refornlß which tho Government pronose<! to effect in tho administration of the Congo Free State. Tho Minister stfcted that between July, 1910, and July, 1912, freedom of trado would bd established in tho produco of tho soil throughout tho districts which had hitherto been claimed as State property. -The' Government, 110 stated, would considor the advisability of buying'back concessions from the' companies to which they had been granted. In futuro taxes would be levied in money, and the system' of enforced porterage by the natives would be suppressed. In conclusion, ,M. Renkin declared that the charges of craelty lovied against the CJolgian Administration of tho Congo were falso. The main points of the British demands are freedom of trade and the abolition of forced labour' (which has been enforced on natives as payment of taxes). Tho United Statos Government recently refused to recognise Belgian annexation of the Congo till reforms in the administration of the Stato are actually in force. '