An important communication addressed to Lord Lansdowne by the Executive
Committee of the Congo Reform Associa- tion appeared in Wednesday's Times. The motive for the letter is the Commission appointed by King Leopold last July to inquire into the allegation that " in certain parts of the territory acts of bad treatment are committed towards the natives either by individuals or by agents of the State." This Commission, it is pointed out, alike by its mode of t appointment, procedure, and terms of reference, can neither be impartial nor independent, but is controlled in every respect and detail by the Executive of the Congo Government, itself primarily involved. So far, therefore, from satisfying the requirements of the case, it only furnishes fresh evidence of the urgent need of international investigation. The Congo Reform Association accordingly urge the British Government to persist in their efforts to bring about a renewed Conference of the signatory Powers of the Berlin Act, which has been directly infringed by the Congo Government, in order to secure such investigation; and express the hope that the support and co-operation of the United States may be enlisted. The British Government have all along insisted that the inquiry, to be adequate, must be international, and divorced from the local administration. King Leopold's Commission, with characteristic effrontery, makes the accused the judge of his criminality.
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