A Parliamentary Paper on Belgium and the Congo Free State
was issued by the Foreign Office on Monday. The most important part is that in which Sir Edward Grey discusses the right of Great Britain to make conditions before con- senting to the annexation of the Congo State. Sir Eduard Grey maintains the applicability of Article XXXIV. of the Berlin Act, and then continues :-
" His Majesty's Government consider that, if only on the ground of the manner in which the state of things prevailing in the Congo State reacts on the native tribes under British rule, they are amply justified, now that there is. a question of that State passing under a new Government, in taking every possible pre- caution to secure that the new Administration shall..not repeat the fatal errors of the old, and in requiring a specifie undertaking that the grievances of which they have so often complained shall be remedied within a reasonable period of time."
Count de Lalaing, writing on November 16th, says that his Government will require time to prepare their reply. We hope that this delay will not be too long, as the transference of the administration of the Congo to the Belgian Govern- ment is practically effected already. The friendliness of the very difficult negotiations between Sir Edward Grey and the Belgian Government is the best earnest we have of their ulti- mate success. Meantime we are glad to record that the Congo Reform Association has decided to continue in existence. Till it can be assured that its work is no longer required it would be a great mistake to relax any of its vigilance.
