THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1907. THE CONGO SCANDALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8368, 26 February 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1907. THE CONGO SCANDALS.

The decision of the United States Senate to support Great Britain in the proposed action against the disgraceful misgovernment of the Congo Free State is of profound international importance, not only because of its effect upon the Congo situation, but also because it is a further advance of America upon the stage of world-politics. Not long ago the United States held as the first article of its political faith that no foreign country should interfere on the American continent, and that the United States would not interfere in any foreign country. But the course of events and the expansion of its commercial interests have been too strong for American seclusion. By war or treaty its flag has been extended across the Pacific to the coasts of Eastern Asia; its troops marched to Pekin with the allied forces; and now it is assuming, conjointly with England, gubernatorial authority in Africa and possibly commencing the possession of an African "sphere." In spite of the protests of the Democratic party every step into the international arena is maintained, and is followed by a further advance, never by withdrawal. In the present instance, the decision of the Senate is presumably caußed by the acquisition by an American syndicate of King Leopold's vast private interests in the Congo. Anglo-American intervention will lead to the establishment of a humane administration, but that cannot be the only effect American interests, in Africa as elsewhere,

will increase until they become far too great to be lost sight of should, international complications arise, and the Washington Government will no longer be able to occupy the position of a disinterested observer.