RANSOM TO LEOPOLD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 7

RANSOM TO LEOPOLD.

TWO MILLIONS. TERMS OF CONGO ANNEXATION. SEIZED LANDS AND FORCED LABOUR, (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COrVRIOIIT.) (Rec. August 23, 4.15 p.m.) London, August 22. In connection with tho adoption by tho Belgian Chamber of tho Congo annexation treaty and tho new administrative law tho torms of annexation includo a payment of two millions storling to King Leopold. "Tho Times" urges tho signatory Powers to insist, before confirming tho annexation by Belgium, on tho abolition of veiled forms of slavery in tho form of forced labour. It will bo difficult to carry out Belgium's promises, becauso tho natives' lands have been seized, and tho natives aro thorefore compelled to pay taxes by forced labour. "Tho Timos" says tho Powers should also insist on freedom of trado in tho Congo Territory, as promised by tho Berlin Treaty to all nations. Tho Congo Reform Association of tho United States is urging Mr. Root, Secretary of State, to insist on tho introduction of Frco Trado and tho abolition of forced labour. .TAXATION AND LAND TENURE. The latest intimation of Britain's attitude to the forced labour question was contained in a cablegram dated August 4, which stated: "Owing to tho Belgian Government promising to improve the treatment of the Congolese, especially by increasing their liberty to labour, and tho right to dispose of tho produce of their lands, the British Government will not insist on the abolition within the specified time of the systom of paying taxes in labour. Belgium also undertakes, after tho annexation of the Congo Free State, favourably to entertain a proposal to arbitrato with regard to the interpretation of tho commercial conventionsbinding upon tho Congo Froe State." In earlior dispatched, tho British Government pointed out to tho Belgian Government that the Congo Free State had not fulfilled tho objects for which tho State was originally reoognsed, or the conditions of treaties, and that changes were therefore required which should effect tho following objects:—(l) Relief of natives from excessive taxation; (2) tho grant to the natives of sufficient land to obtain not only the fool thoy require, but also sufficient produco of tho soil to enable them to buy and sell as in other European colonies; (3) tho possibility for traders, whatever their nationality may be, to acijuira plots of land of reasonable dimensions in any part of tho Congo for tho erection of factories, so as to enable thom to establish diroct trado rotations with tho natives. Sir Edward Groy further pointed out tin l although cases of actual cruelty had largely ceased, the burden of taxation remained as oppressive as ever. "It amounts, in fact, to a system of forced labour, differing in namo only froirt slavery, and cannot in the opinion of His Majesty's Government bo reconciled with Article VI 'of the Berlin Act." Roplying to the British dispatch tho Belgian Government stated: "Belgium is firmly resolved that there shall bo in tho Congo the widest economic system, and that tho expansion of commerce and industry shall be furthered in tho most- liberal tnannor, without. distinctions being, inado between Belgian subjects and foreigners. Thus she will so not tnat private people, to whatever nationality tney may belong, will bo able to acquiro lands necessary for the prosecution of their commerce and of their occupations." Sir Harry Johnston has pointed out that the seizing of native lands in the Congo is at tho root of tho trouble. In tho case of unimhabited forests, or country occupicd by nomads, tho lands should be held in trust for the native population and tho revenue should be publicly accounted for (which has not been done so far in the Congo), on tho same lines as Britain follows in Uganda, It was stated last February that King Leopold at first claimed a payment of ,£10,000,01)0. Later he came down to iCG,OOO,OOO. Now, it seems, ho is to be given ,£2,000,000. Tho original Bill of annexation providod for pensions for tho Queen Dowager, the heir presumptive, and other Belgian princes.