CONGO ATROCITIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 211, 25 November 1909, Page 5

CONGO ATROCITIES.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who has been leading the agitation in England for reform in the Congo, published a pbamhlet entitled "The Crime of the Conog." last month. In this he stated that the British Government is definitely responsible, because, in combination with other nations, it practically helped in the founding of the Congo State at hit Berlin Conference of 1385. Of course, the objects of King Leopold were, at the start, of blameless integrity. There was to be free trade everywhere; the ports were to be open; the natives were to be raised physically, morally, and intellectually ; and the enormous wealth of the country was to be exploited solely in humanitarian interests. The Congo State became the private domain of the King. Every obstacle was thrown in the way of traders other than Belgian. The land was taken away from the natives, and declared to belong to King Leopold. And, in order to collect robber, ivory, and other products, the most terrible system of punishment, fines and taxes was instituted, accompanied by nameless torture of the miserable natives. And for this, as Sir Arthur impresses upon us, the British Government, as one of the signatories of the Berlin Conference, cannot avoid responsibility. Then, in 1889-1890, there took place the Brussels Conference, and the powers were still ready to accept, apparently, King Leopold's professions of his humanitarian aims. For they agreed to believe the new State from those free-port promises which it had made in 1885, and to permit it in future to levy 10 per cent, on imports. Holland, it is true, which alone had the sagacity to appreciate the tnte situation, protested for two years; the other powers were more complaisant. A series of terrible incidents has marked the subsequent history, illustrated from time to time by conspicuous infamies so dreadful that they have for a time arrested the attention of the world. As a matter of fact, however, various voices have been beard from time to time testifying to the wholesale massacres, widespread cruelty, and gradual dfpopulation of the whole country, Everything has been sacrificed for greed; everything,also, has been done to keep alt traders, except Belgian ones, out of the district. When the Congo State was annexed to Belgium on August 10, 1908. everyone hoped that some reform would be instituted; but, alas,the hope has been frustrated. The latest" mock- . ery" is the report of a Belgian Colonial Minister, M. Renkin. who, after a ; visit to the Congo, did his best to I whitewash the official Administration I of which he is the spokesman.