THE CONGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5349, 29 August 1895, Page 3

THE CONGO.

ENGLAND AND BELGIUM. AN EXPLANATION DEMANDED. [Spbcial to Pbess Association.! LONDON, August 28. Lord Salisbury is pressing Belgium to explain the hanging of Stokes, a British trader in the Congo, without judicial trial, by Major Lathaere, on a charge of supplying arms to Mahdists. Two of Lathaere's officers protested against the execution. Belgium disclaims that she ia responsible for the Congo. Some Belgian papers admit that Lathaere was indiscreet, while others justify his action. The British Press, however, demands that astringent inquiry should be made. j BRUSSELS, August 28. j In the Chamber of Eepresentatives, M. J. De Burlet, Minister of the Interior, in reply to a question, denied that Belgium was about to resume control of the Congo. Personal union, he said, existed on the condition that Belgium did not exercise sovereign rights. In the Chamber M. Lorana declared that the hanging of Stokes involved a serious difficulty with England. The whole of the Uruwini region was in a disturbed condition, the negroes revolting against the cruelties of the Congo officials. The loss of seventy thousand lives had been involved. M. De Burlet contended that as the Congo was not annexed, Belgium was not responsible.

In the family circle the Prince of Wales is known bb "Bertie." So many engagements are made on board ship, and bo many happy marriages result from them that a captain of one of the largest Atlantic liners stateß that men, who for some reason or other are unable to secure wives at home, take a trip on the chance of meeting a girl on the boat.