Minister Wilson to
the Secretary of State.
[Extracts.]
American Legation,
Brussels, October 22,
1906.
No. 119.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the department’s ciphered telegram of October 9, (supra).
Immediately upon receipt of the department’s cablegram, I called at the
foreign office to ascertain, in compliance with the instructions
contained therein, through what channel it would be deemed best to bring
the message of the President and the views of the department to the
knowledge of the conference.
The Chevalier Van der Elst, secretary-general of the foreign office,
after some hesitation, advised me to address the president of the
conference directly. I then waited until the day of the convening of the
conference for the copies of the publications stated in your cablegram
as having been mailed to me. As upon that date the documents had not put
in appearance, I obtained a copy of the Senate resolution of 1901, and
also a copy of Secretary Hay’s indorsement thereon, and assuming that
the documents en route were substantially the same I addressed a note to
the president of the conference (copy inclosed) and annexed thereto the
message of the President.
I also inclosed at the same time a printed memorandum from the American
Reform Bureau, which arrived the same morning on which my note was
sent.
The documents forwarded by the department have not yet arrived.
I inclose herewith copy and translation of the reply of the president of
the conference to my note, which is sent by direction of the
conference.
The conference has now been in session a week and will probably adjourn
in two or three days.
I have, etc.,
[Page 55]
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Henry Lane
Wilson to the president of the
conference for the revision of the rules to control spirits
in Africa. October 16, 1906.
Mr. President: My Government, while not
officially represented at the congress over which you have been
called to preside, nevertheless is most deeply interested in the
problems which are to be presented for its consideration, and will
follow with lively concern the course of its deliberations, hoping
that they may result in the procurement of adequate measures for the
protection of the aboriginal races in Africa against unrestrained
traffic in intoxicants and deleterious drugs. It will gladly give
its moral aid and approval in support of an organized movement of
the Christian and civilized nations of the world having for its
purpose these high and humanitarian ends.
Public opinion in the United States relative to this question has
found expression, both official and unofficial, and it may be
considered superfluous to call attention to the resolution passed by
the Senate, January 4, 1901, which is as follows: “Resolved, That in the opinion of this body the time has
come when the principle, twice affirmed in international treaties
for central Africa, that native races should be protected against
the destructive traffic in intoxicants be extended to all
uncivilized peoples by the enactment of such laws and the making of
such treaties as will effectually prohibit the sale by the signatory
powers to aboriginal tribes and uncivilized races of opium and
intoxicating beverages.”
Following this resolution, the Secretary of State, the Hon. John Hay,
in replying to a letter from the chairman of the native races
deputation, used the following language:
“Your suggestion that I call the attention of the nations concerned
to the resolution of the Senate, adopted January 4, 1901, as likely
to have influence by indicating the concurrent opinion of the two
branches of the treaty-making power, the Senate and the Executive,
has my cordial acquiescence. In view of the circumstance that the
former representations to the other powers were made by the British
Government as well as by our own, I shall initiate renewed overtures
in the proposed sense by communicating the Senate resolution to the
British Government, with the suggestion that it be made the basis of
concurrently reopening the question with the powers having influence
on commerce in the western Pacific, or in any other uncivilized
quarter where the salutary principle of liquor restriction could be
practically applied through the general enactment of similar laws by
the several countries or through a conventional agreement between
them.”
The action of the Senate in passing this resolution has been
reenforced and emphasized by the public declarations of Presidents
Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley, and Roosevelt, and by a vast number
of petitions from state legislatures and public bodies, to such
extent as to warrant me in saying to the congress that the American
people and Government are in full sympathy with its labors, and
recognize that the work which is being begun is an expression of the
highest and best sense of responsibility and duty among Christian
nations.
In further evidence of the interest to which I have referred, I have
the honor to inclose to the congress a copy of a cablegram which I
have just received from the President of the United States, and
which he instructs me to convey to you.
I also inclose a copy of a “Memorandum concerning concerted
international restraint of the traffic in intoxicants and opium
among aboriginal races,” by Mr. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent of
the International Reform Bureau, secretary of the native races
deputation.
This memorandum has been prepared by these organizations for
submission to the congress, and I trust that it may receive
consideration at your hands, not only on account of its merits, but
on account of the unselfish motives of those who have charged
themselves with its preparation.
I avail, etc.,
Henry Lane Wilson,
American Minister.
[Page 56]
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the letter your excellency has kindly
addressed to me on the 16th instant, relative to the measures to be
taken for the protection of the aboriginal races in Africa against
unrestricted traffic in spirits.
I have hastened to bring its contents to the knowledge of the
international conference now in session at Brussels.
It is very gratifying to me, Mr. Minister, to have the honor and
pleasure of expressing to you, on behalf of the conference, its
thanks for the kind interest the American Government has manifested
in its labors and aims.
I will also beg your obliging intervention for the transmission to
His Excellency the President of the United States of America of the
expression of our profound gratitude for the wishes he has
personally extended to the conference and for the highly
humanitarian motives which inspired his message.
I avail, etc.,