The Ely Miner

CHARGES AGAINST
KING OF BELGIUM

LEOPOLD IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CRUELTIES PRACTICED IN THE CONGO.

PUBLIC SESSION OF PEACE CONGRESS HELD

Belgian Ruler Also Denounced by Booker T. Washington-Resolution Favoring Investigation of Present Government Reported.

Boston, Oct. 10.-King Leopold, of Belgium, was assailed for his policy as sovereign of the Congo Free State at a public meeting held Friday afternoon in connection with the session of the international peace congress. The attack upon King Leopold was made by E. T. Morell, of England, who represented the Congo Reform association. Mr. Morell charged that the king was personally responsible in a large measure for cruelties practiced on the natives of the Congo Free State in the terrific endeavors of monopolistic commercial organizations to obtain from the country all the ivory and rubber possible. The king was defended by George Herbert Head, of Cambridge, England, who submitted that King Leopold had done all possible to stop the cruelties practiced. The government policy in the Congo also was bitterly denounced by Rev. W. M. Morrison, for seven years a missionary in the Congo land.

Denounced King Leopold.

In a brief after-dinner speech, delivered before the international peace congress Friday night, Booker T. Washington arraigned the Belgian government for the alleged outrages in the Congo free state, declaring that he had evidence of abuse and cruelty, and said that a state of affairs existed that was a blot upon modern civilization.

Investigation Favored.

At the closing session of the peace congress Saturday, the committee on questions of the day reported resolutions in favor of an investigation into the present government of the Congo Free State. The resolutions embodied three questions which they declared should be referred either to a renewed conference of the powers concerned in the formation of the Congo Free State, or to The Hague court of arbitration.

The questions follow:

1. Is the government of the Congo Free State still to be regarded as the trustee of the powers which recognize the flag of the international association?

2. Is the Belgian government to be regarded as responsible for the actions of the government of the Congo Free State?

3. In either of these events what is the position of the Congo Free State in international law, and in what manner may the grave questions concerning its alleged actions be satisfactorily and competently determined?

The reporting committee agreed to strike out reference to the Belgian government's responsibility, and the report as amended then was adopted unanimously.

Resolutions were adopted rejoicing in the international treaties.