30 OCTOBER 1909, Page 15

THE CONGO FREE STATE.

[To TEE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

Sut,—I quote the following from the " geography " I use in school, and dated 1902 :—

" Corm° FREE STATE was founded by Stanley, the explorer, in 1876, under the presidency of the King of the Belgians, the chief object being to develop the resources of the country, which are great, to civilise the natives—negroes deeply sunk in barbarism, and to suppress slavery."

The italics are not mine. This is what we are teaching the children. Could irony be more bitter P—I am, Sir, &c.,