The Congo State has published an answer to the charges
by the British Consuls in the Free State which were contained in the White Paper issued to the British Houses of Parliament. Many of the Consuls' assertions are declared to be erroneous, such as the statement that the acceptance of a cash payment of taxes lies in the discretion of the administrative authorities, that the traffic on the Upper Congo is a monopoly of the State, and that the Central Committee of the Katanga district haa delegated its powers to collect taxes to a private company. The Congo Government's answer, in particular, declares that the natives can pay their taxes in cash, instead of rendering servile labour, if they please. The Government also denies that obstacles are put in the way of foreign trade. And it remarks that the Congo compares favourably with neigh- bouring colonies. It is a duty to record the publication of these denials, but we offer no comment for the present, as the Belgian Chamber has already entered on the discussion of the whole question of the future administration of the Congo.
