Office of the Historian

The Belgian Minister to the Secretary of State.

Legation of Belgium,
Washington, November 4, 1908.
No. 737.]

Mr. Secretary of State: Pursuant to my Government’s orders I have the honor to advise your excellency that the law approving the treaty for the resumption of the Independent State of the Kongo by Belgium was promulgated and published in the Moniteur Beige of October 20 last, a copy of which is inclosed herewith.

In consequence whereof the sovereign powers of the State of the Kongo are now transferred to Belgium, which will very soon assume the administration of the colony of the Kongo.

The Belgian Government will promptly issue new exequaturs to consular officers of the Governments which request it.

The Belgian authorities in the colony will hereafter have jurisdiction in business to be transacted with the said officers concerning their respective governments and nationals.

Accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurance of my very high consideration.

Bn. Moncheur.

[Inclosures.]

[October 20, 1908]

Moniteur Beige, October 20, 1908, containing laws, royal decrees, and Government acts as follows:

1.
Law effecting the transfer to Belgium of the Independent State of the Kongo. (Not printed.)
2.
Treaty of cesssion of the Independent State of the Kongo to Belgium. Printed with Mr. Wilson’s No. 261, December 7, 1907. (See For. Rels., 1907, p. 826.)
3.
Provisional arrangement for expenditures. (Not printed.)
4.
Additional provisions to the treaty of cession. (Not printed.)
5.
Convention between the Holy See and the Independent State of the Kongo, May 26, 1906. (Not printed.)
6.
Law approving additional act to the treaty of cession. (Not printed.)
7.
Additional act to the treaty of cession. (Not printed.)
8.
Decree suppressing the foundation of the Crown. (Not printed.)
9.
Annexes to the additional act to the treaty of cession. (Not printed.)
10.
Credits of the foundation. (Not printed.)
11.
Law governing the Belgian Kongo. (Not printed, but for text see inclosure to Mr. Wilson’s No. 393, August 21, 1908, translation of the law.)