[TO TEE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR, —I have noticed with considerable surprise since my return from the United States published statements to the effect that the International Peace Congress which met at Boston last month, being appealed to by Cardinal Gibbons not to discuss the Congo question, adopted the views of his Eminence in that respect. Now, while it is perfectly accurate that Cardinal Gibbons did appeal to the Peace Congress (acting, I feel sure, on insufficient information) not to discuss the Congo question, it is absolutely untrue that the International Peace Congress acquiesced in the Cardinal's request. The precise contrary is indeed the fact, and after hearing what I had publicly to say on the subject, and after hearing, also in public, the repre- sentative of the Congo Government, the Congress passed unanimously on the 7th ult. the following resolution brought forward in my name. A copy of this resolution was forwarded to the American Government :-- " Whereas the International Association of the Congo obtained in 1884 from the American Government that its flag should be recognised as that of a friendly State (which recognition was subsequently endorsed by the Powers of Europe at Berlin) on the ground that it was an organisation formed to protect the interests and welfare of the natives, to promote legitimate com- merce, and to preserve the neutrality of the Congo Valley, over which it sought to exercise authority : And whereas it is alleged that the Government of the Congo Free State has officially appropriated the land of the natives and the products of commer- cial value yielded by the land, thus leading to the committal of grave wrongs upoii the native races, and to the infringement of the rights secured for international commerce by the act of the Conference of Berlin : And whereas this is a question which may lead to grave international complications : This Congress, in the interests of peace, recommends that the following questions should be referred either to the Court of Arbitration at the Hague, or to a renewed Conference of Powers concerned in the formation of the Congo Free State :—(1) Is the Government of the Congo Free State still to be regarded as the trustee of the Powers which recognised the flag of the International Associa- tion ? (2) If not, what is the position of the Congo Free State in international law, and in what manner may the grave questions concerning its alleged actions be satisfactorily and competently determined ? "
I feel sure I may rely upon your courtesy to insert this com- munication.—I am, Sir, &c., E. D. MOREL,
Hon. Sec., Congo Reform Association. 4 Oldhall Street, Liverpool.
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