On Wednesday Sir Edward Grey received a deputation from the
Associated Chambers of Commerce on the Congo question. He said that he should not complain of the Belgian delay in, replying to the last despatch of the British Government if when the reply came it met all the points raised. He dould not make it too clear that as between Great Britain and the late Government of the Congo, Great Britain was the aggrieved party. British Treaty rights had been ignored, yet in some quarters the case had been stated as though the old Administration of the Congo were aggrieved by unneces- sary British interference. As for the trading questions with which the deputation was primarily concerned, he under- took to give " diplomatic support " to any trader who found obstacles placed in his way in the Congo. That had been done when the old Administration was in existence, and the same thing would be done now that Belgium had annexed the Free State. But trade was at every point minted up with questions of the aonceasionnaire companies and the rights of the natives to communal tenure of the land. He could not make a full statement till the Belgian reply had been received. The Government were anxious to "recognise the annexation," but would not do so without making it clear that they could not "recognise the old system of government." The speech was distinguished by Sir Edward Grey's usual combination of firmness and courtesy.
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