HIE BELGIAN' CONGO.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 50, 28 February 1908, Page 7

HIE BELGIAN' CONGO.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. A WEIGHTY MATTER. SPEECH BY SIR EDWARD GREY. By Telegraph.— Pres* Association,— Copyright. LONDON, 27th February. The House of Commons, after a weighty debats, agreed to a resolution moved by Mr. Leif Jones, Liberal member for Westmoreland, ■which 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 tho outer world, which had been guaranteed by the Anglo-Congoleso Convention of 1884 and the Berlin Act of 1885. ■ Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State foi Foreign Affairs, said that for thirty years, no other external question had moved tho people of Great Britain so greatly. The Government's policy had been to encourago a real and full transfer and effective Parliamentary control. If Belgium refused to undertake this responsibility he wae not awais who could. He did not believe that Belgium would eocept the exceedingly dangerous offer of a transfer en terms which merely conferred nominal responsibility and control. Any semi-transfer which would leave tho real control in the han^s of the present authorities could not be regarded by Great Biitain as. a guarantee of treaty rignts. The new authority, the Minister urged,, must separate tho administration from tho trading element. Taxes should go to improve the condition of the people. If, through forced labour or veiled slavery being abolished, the revenue had declined and the Government of the- Congo was compelled to provide funds for administiative purposes, he would be willing to consider a revision of the Customs duties tc facilitate the task. Britain desired that Belgium's choice should be absolutely free, and that it should be made with a full knowledge of ths actual position. Tho British Government would gladly co-operate with the. other Powers. Ameiica's attitude was mocb important, and could not fail to influence opinion in Europe. A GRAVE WARNING. SIR; E. GREY'S PORTENTOUS SPEECH(Received February 28, 9 a.m.) • LONDON, 27th February. Sir Edward Grey stated : — "Wheji it is clearer that Belgium intends to assume control of the Congo on satisfactory conditions, we will discuss with Belgium, In a friendly way, nil questions arising ' under, our treaty rights. Should, however, the transfer not occur, wa will be free to deal with those questions in our own way. Ho added thrjt tho Congo State as it existed had forfeited, morally, evcrv right to international recognition, and if Belgium did not ;issumo responsibility for the country, the British Government would do its utmost to find means of oicuring piactical results in tho way of reform of conditions in the Congo Btat". Str Edward Grey concluded by accepting Mr. Jones's resolution amid cheers. The newspapers comment on Sir Edward Grey's grave words of warning. For a long 'time, the British Government hae pressed for reform in. tho ad' ministration of Congo affairs, but ir view of the attitude of Bt-lgium and the probability of the annexation oi tho Congo by Belgium, has delayed to talco any decisive action. TJie Congr Reform Association, of which , Lord Monkswell is president, ifrges action bj the responsible Powers, or, failing that for independent action by tho British Government. Under a convention made in 1890, Belgium, to which King Leo pold ,bcqueuthed his sovereign rights, has the power of annexation, and a measure in that direction has been be fore tho Belgmm JfarUamcnt. Hoy." ever, the term 3of annexation do noi meet with anything like general ap proval, and the Bill was huns up. y The contral Government of th( Congo is at Brussels, and consists Ql]Q 1 ] King Leopold and three departmental chiefs, for Foreign Affairs, Finance, anc the Interior, under a- Secretary ol State. At Boma there is a governor general, with a local government, anc European commissioners, aasisted bj civil and military ofiicials, govern th« fourteen -administrative districts, Tin army consists of 15,736 natives, commanded by Eiuopean officers.