THE BELGIAN CONGO.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9036, 29 February 1908, Page 5

THE BELGIAN CONGO.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association-By Electric Tel egraph Copyright.

A GRAVE WARNING

SIR E. GREY'S PORTENTOUS SPEECH.

Received February 28, 9 a.m. [LONDON, February 27. In connection with the debate in the House of Commons on the resolution moved by Mr Leif Jones, Liberal member for Westmoreland, Sir Edward Grey stated:—"When it is clearer that Belgium intends to assume control of the Congo on satisfactory conditions, we will discuss with Belgium, in a friendly way, all questions arising under our treaty rights. Should, however, the transfer not occur, he will be free to deal with those questions in our own way." He added that the Congo State as it had existed had forfeited, morally, every right to international recognition, and if Belgium did not assume responsibility for the country, the British Government would do its utmost to find means of securing practical results in the way of reform of conditions in the Congo State.

Sir Edward Grey concluded by accepting Mr Jones' resolution amid cheers.

The newspapers comment on Sir Edward Grey's grave words of warning.

~ Mr Jones' resolution, which was agreed to, described the administration of the Congo as causing the destruction of personal liberty and economic rights of the native population and of freedom of commercial intercourse with the outer world, which had been guaranteed by the Anglo-Congclesn Convention of 1884 and the Berlin Act of 1885.