THE CONGO HORRORS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 245, 22 November 1909, Page 2

THE CONGO HORRORS.

A PEOPLE "DONE TO DEATH:' •CHRISTIAN KXGLAX!) PUOTESTS. A GREAT DEMONSTRATION. KING LEOPOLD~RAPACITY 4ND CRUELTY. ByCable.-PressAasociatiM.-Copyrtfn;-Received November 21, 3.5 ,pm London, November 21). t\7 fir*. ( !? , !! ,nstratitm took place at the Albert Hall, which was packed, to express Christian England's protest, against the cruelties in the CWo Many bishops, poors, Commoners' and clergymen of all denominations were prosent, the Archbishop of Canterbury pre- ' nttCr **&»** Britain's share of the responsibility for what was taking place fa the Congo Free State. „i,VI; Ullfford ' ! n moving a resolution, which was carried with enthusiasm, in favor of complete reform of the ad- ! ministration, strongly attacked Kin" Leopolds rapacity and brutality. Other speakers while eonerating the Belgian nation, threw- the onus for tlic abuses on King Leopold. The Rev. Silvester Home described the people as being "done to death,'' white .the European financiers' were flourish»ig and the millionaire libertine ~„',„ the Belgian throne was giving rein to •us passions.

Ihe Congo Free State was constitute,, ami defined by tin, general Aet of the Into nationa Congo Conferenee of Beriw, 188.,, and entered into treaties with aH the great Powers, i, v whie!, it, statu, w ir Power ' "»«« I*opoia ,Sf , of . Bol ff" ,m ' w «s "-cognised and is boundaries' were settled. It was decared perpetually neutral. anfl freedom 0 trade waa established in the basin of he Congo, ,vh,e rules were laid down or the protection of the natives ami the suppression of the slave trade Ji v a convention made i„ ] B nn, Belgium, to wind, King Leopold l,ad licqnenllio,! all his sovereign rights i„ tl, e stnto w,,' given the right of annexing the Wlel after ten years. This convention expired on June 3rd. IMP; l,„t a Bill w.,J then_ passed, reaffirming tlie ri"ht of annexation and s'uspendiii" the pavnio.,l of interest or capital in respect! of the loans advanced by Belgium to tile Congo 1-ree State, with a view (~ tMr ]w &„ wiped out eventually by the annexation of the State to Belgium. In 1008 the Irea.ty °f was adopted by the TWffian Parliament. ■