Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 8, 1908

The Belgian Minister to the Secretary of State.

[Translation.]

Legation of Belgium,
Washington, October 1, 1908.

No. 652.]

Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to transmit herewith to your excellency a copy of a pamphlet entitled “Belgique et Kongo” published by the Federation for the defense of Belgian interests abroad.

The publication includes:

1. The text of the treaty for the cession of the Independent State of the Kongo to Belgium and the text of the additional treaty.

2. The speeches delivered on the occasion of the discussion of the treaty in the Belgian Chamber by Mr. Schollaert, minister of the interior, and Mr. Renkin, minister of justice.

The pamphlet is accompanied by a résumé setting forth the most interesting points in the two speeches.

Accept, etc.,

Bn. Moncheur.

[Inclosure.]

The accompanying pamphlet¹ contains the text of the treaty whereby the Kongo State has been ceded to Belgium, and also an English translation of the speeches of the prime minister, Mr. Schollaert, and of the minister of justice, Mr. Renkin, on the subject.

As will be observed, the prime minister has pointed out with great force and eloquence that in accepting King Leopold’s generous gift Belgium has provided herself with a source of enormous colonial wealth, and by the terms of the annexation has given assurance that the colony shall be developed along lines which will guarantee a successful administration and which will secure the maximum amount of benefit to the native tribes as well as to the white colonist and trader.

Special attention is called to some of the points about which there has been much popular misunderstanding and which are very clearly explained in the speeches of Mr. Schollaert and Mr. Renkin, viz:

1. The Kongo State was not created by the Berlin conference, and its internal affairs are not subject to supervision by any other power.

2. All the colonial powers in the Kongo basin are on an equality, and Belgium has the same sovereign rights and the same obligations in the Belgian Kongo as England has in British East Africa or as any other power has in its colonies in the Kongo basin.

3. The concessions granted in the Belgian Kongo are on the same basis as the concessions granted by England, Germany, and other powers in the Kongo basin. The concessionary system is not subversive of the rights and liberties of the native, nor is it an obstacle to freedom of trade. On the contrary, it is a wise measure, adopted by all colonial governments to prevent ruinous and indiscriminate exploitation of the country and to safeguard the interests of the native populations as well as the governments.

4. The land conceded in the Belgian Kongo only covers about one-fifth of the territory of the State.

5. As in other colonies, unoccupied land has been declared Government property, but the native has not been deprived of his land holdings and is not in any way prevented from freely selling the produce from his lands.

6. No native can be compelled, or in any way constrained, to work for any concessionary company or individual. He is also paid for any work he does for the Government.

7. The question of native taxation is a difficult one. It is universally accepted by the nations of the earth, in practice and in theory, that the native population should bear part of the necessary burden of taxation. The Belgian Government will deal with the question “with firmness and with moderation.”

8. The Belgian Government will familiarize the native with the value and use of coins as rapidly as possible, so that he may pay his tax ($1.20 to $4.80) in currency instead of in work or in produce.

9. In taking over the Kongo, Belgium not only takes over its assets and liabilities, but also takes over its international treaty obligations, which it will scrupulously fulfill. Freedom of religion and freedom of trade will be carefully respected. Belgium will continue to protect the missionaries, of whatever faith or nationality they may be, and merchants of all nations may enter on an equal footing with Belgians.

Mr. Renkin’s speech contains an interesting exposition of the natural resources of the Kongo and shows the financial advantages which will accrue to Belgium by annexing the Kongo as a colony. He also calls attention to the fact that the fund of $10,000,000 which Belgium agrees to create for colonial purposes is not a gift or payment to the King, but is to be used in the interests of Belgium and her colony. This fund is to be paid over in 15 annual installments. According to the final decision of the Belgian Parliament all orders for the disposition of this money must be countersigned by the minister of the colonies. The King has suggested using the first installment as follows: Five hundred thousand dollars for the colonial school; $100,000 to Belgian missions; $100,000 for hygienic measures, especially in combating the sleeping sickness; $60,000 in aid of Belgians invalided home from Africa.

1. Not printed.