Present methods of colonization do not consist, as in former days, in the importation of arms, liquors, and the excessive exploitation of a country, but in introducing, into remote and primitive regions worthier customs sanctioned by Christianity, in spreading therein the discoveries of science and the marvels of modern technique. A colonizing people who understand its true interests looks out first of all for the welfare of the populations intrusted to its care. Belgium owes it to itself to occupy an important place in the economical evolution of intertropical colonies, evolution of which the principal artisans are, together with the official and the officer, the missionary, the engineer, the merchant, the cultivator. Now, ought we not to recognize that the economical task is at present but roughly sketched? And yet our beautiful colony has been well favored by nature. It has been generously gifted with marvelous waterways, most of which lend themselves very well to navigation or will become accessible thereto after the necessary work of rock blasting and buoy laying has been accomplished. The railways, gentlemen, appear as the indispensable complement of this admirable network of waterways. Have we made the necessary efforts in order to develop them? The railway of the lower Kongo will indeed remain a gigantic enterprise, unique in the economical history of Africa; but, since its achievement, aside from the railway of the great lakes, the essentially Belgian lines haye but slightly progressed. It is desirable that we have at least a line of transportation, conceived and built by our compatriots, clear across the colony, and connecting the capital with the heart of the Katanga district. Without foretelling the future, the railway of the great lakes, duly extended, might realize this wish, which I formulate most heartily. In this respect we must become inspired by the example of the great colonizing nations which have undergone vast sacrifices in Africa. When I speak of sacrifices, the exact significance of this term must be made clear; for there is hardly a railway in Africa which, after a certain number of years, does not repay the capital invested and procure for the colony considerable indirect resources. Thus statistics have registered the fact everywhere; that exportations and importations, as well as customs receipts, undergo an astonishingly rapid increase as soon as the railways are opened to traffic. What we lack in the Kongo and what we need is a well-established system of means of communication, and, if I dare to thus express myself, a special policy of railways. This policy must have a national character. We can not better show its vital importance than by citing the example of the United States. A part of the history of this great people is taken up with the question of transcontinental roads, the construction of which was followed with anxiety and impatience throughout the entire continent. In Russia the roads into Asia were the object of an immense effort considered as necessary to the extension and the maintenance of the political and economical power of the Empire. The English, the French, the Germans have for many years past made the creation of railways the corner stone of their colonial action. Our policy in regard to the means of transportation in the Kongo must be seconded with fearlessness and foresight; we must take into consideration, first of all, the general interest of the colony. Enterprises as vast in scope as these we have undertaken bring with them great duties and necessitate incessant efforts. Had the first pioneers of the independent State not displayed an untiring activity, had they not ever made generous sacrifices, we should not to-day be in possession of the Kongo. Let us follow this magnificent example; let us continue to display a constant energy full, above all, of confidence in our own forces. Belgium has immense riches and can count upon men of great value who direct the investment of its financial reserves. May these distinguished men be also the artisans of the prosperity of our over-sea possessions; may they be convinced, as I am myself, of the national interest offered by the development of Belgian colonization. The credit institutions of this country have a patriotic function to accomplish that of encouraging the expansion of capital in the Kongo and of thus powerfully cooperating in the success of the highly civilizing work which helps promote the honor of our course of action in Africa. The minister has spoken in excellent terms of the aim and of the organization of the museum. I hope that this fine institution may be worthy of the high thought of its founder. I see in it a work of science and of education, a work of useful diffusion of knowledge among the masses and of colonial propaganda. Its rich collection will show to all the inexhaustible resources of our colony. Under an enlightened and active guidance a center of knowledge, a source of precious documentation, will constitute themselves here. This museum will be as a reflection of our colonial development; it will enhance and increase again the scientific patrimony of Belgium. Gentlemen, I declare open the Museum of Belgian Kongo. File No. 1806/674. The Secretary of State to Minister Bryan. [Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The department has received your No. 38, of the 5th instant, inclosing copy of the addresses delivered by the King of Belgium and the minister of the colonies upon the occasion of the recent opening of the Kongo Museum at Tervueren, and is glad to learn of the King's firm stand regarding reforms in that territory. In assuming the duties of your new post you have no doubt familiarized yourself with the correspondence in the legation's archives in regard to the Kongo. You are, therefore, fully aware that, while the United States has for the present merely taken note of the Belgian announcement of annexation, the attitude of this Government has been one of benevolent encouragement and expectation that under the new régime and contemplated reforms the condition of the natives would be ameliorated and the treaty engagements to which the United States is a party fully observed. Your recent reports of the promulgation of various decrees affecting the Kongo, together with your dispatch under acknowledgement, are gratifying indications of the sincere purpose of the present Belgian authorities to effectually accomplish reforms. This Government will continue to observe the situation with interest, trusting that the measures now initiated may accomplish the results so confidently looked for. I am, etc., (For Mr. Knox) HUNTINGTON WILSON. No. 222.] LIBERIA. AFFAIRS IN LIBERIA. Minister Lyon to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, January 28, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Liberian Legislature in joint session yesterday authorized the appointment of a commission to visit the United States of America. The commission will leave as early as possible after the adjournment of the legislature in February. The appointment of the commission may be regarded as the popular expression of the people. I have, etc., No. 232.] ERNEST LYON. Minister Lyon to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, April 16, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Liberian commission referred to in my No. 222, diplomatic, and dated January 25, 1908, consisting of Ex-president Dr. G. W. Gibson, Vice President J. J. Dossen, and Attorney C. B. Dunbar, together with C. R. Branch and T. J. R. Faulkner as attachés, will leave here the 17th instant, via Hamburg, Germany, for the United States of America. I have, etc., ERNEST LYON. The Liberian Commission to the Secretary of State. THE "ARLINGTON," Washington, May 22, 1908. SIR: We have the honor to inform you that we have arrived in Washington in the capacity of envoys extraordinary from the Republic of Liberia to your Government, and to respectfully ask that you appoint a time when we may call on you. We have, etc., GARRETSON W. GIBSON. The Secretary of State to the Liberian Commission. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 22d instant, advising me of your arrival in Washington in the quality of envoys extraordinary from the Republic of Liberia to the Government of the United States, and requesting the naming of a day when you may call on me. In reply I have the honor to state that it will give me pleasure to see you at the Department of State on Tuesday afternoon, the 26th instant, at 1 o'clock. I have, etc., No. 714.] ELIHU ROOT. The Secretary of State to Ambassador Reid. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose herewith a copy of a communication, dated June 11, 1908, from the Liberian mission to the United States, by which the Government of the United States is requested to invite the Government of Great Britain to join with it in an arrangement looking to the perpetuity of Liberia. With the envoys' note are inclosed copies of signed pro-memoriæ which passed between the British Embassy at Washington and the department in March, 1897. While copies of these are already in your embassy, further copies are herewith inclosed for your convenience. Referring to these and to the communication addressed to the President of Liberia by the British consul at Monrovia on January 14, 1908 (a copy of which you will find with the department's instruction to you No. 630 of March 10, 1908), the department desires you to say to Sir Edward Grey that the Government of the United States having special interest in the welfare of Liberia, arising from the circumstances under which the settlement of that country was made, is very desirous to be of assistance to the Liberians, and that, having especially in view the British Government's communication of March 8, 1897, the Government of the United States would be glad to have the views of the British Government as to how the United States could cooperate with that Government toward promoting the welfare of Liberia. I am, etc., The Secretary of State to Minister Lyon. ELIHU ROOT. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose for your information and the files of the legation copy of a correspondence relative to the request made by the Liberian envoys in this country that the United States invite the Government of Great Britain to cooperate with it with a view to assuring the perpetuity of Liberia. I am, etc., ELIHU ROOT. [Inclosure 1.] The Liberian Commission to the Secretary of State. THE ARLINGTON, Washington, June 11, 1908. SIR: Referring to our interview with you to-day we have the honor to transmit herewith copies of documents from the files of the state department, Monrovia, under dates March 8 and 13 and 13th July, 1897, being copies of the promemorias from your Government and Great Britain and of the dispatch from your minister to Liberia relating thereto. We beg leave to repeat our request that your Government would take the initiative toward inviting Great Britain to join with the United States in an arrangement that will give some definite shape to the deep interest she so generously expressed in the perpetuity of Liberia and which received the sincere approval of your Government. We beg again to thank you for the very kind assurances expressed in this relation. With our high consideration, we have, etc., G. W. GIBSON. CHAS. B. DUNBAR. [Subinclosure 1.] Minister Heard to the Secretary of State of Liberia. LEGATION OF UNITED STATES, Mr. SECRETARY. It is my privilege to present these promemorias exchanged between the United States and Great Britain at Washington. The one from the United States, which I have the honor to represent at this court, gives me profound pleasure to present to the home of my ancestors. The one coming from Great Britain increases my admiration of Her Majesty's Government as a favor of justice and equity. By these promemorias you are assured that any unfriendly encroachment upon your territory in future will be regarded by these powers as an act against their earnest protest. The United States desires Liberia to remain an independent and distinct nation, and to resist all encroachment toward absorption, guaranteeing her sympathy to this end, assuring her that the friendship which has so long existed between the United States and Liberia remains unshaken and grows more intimate daily. In expressing these good feelings, I am authorized to convey personally the warm affections of the new President of the United States of America for Liberia and her future prosperity. Í ever remain, faithfully and sincerely, [Subinclosure 2.] The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Pro memoria.] BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, March 8, 1897. The undersigned is instructed by his Government with reference to repeated encroachments on the territory of the Liberian Republic to submit to the United States Government the following suggestions: It might prove of service to the Liberian Republic and encourage it to resist absorption by a foreign power were the Governments of Great Britain and of the United States to make a joint declaration of the special interest taken by them in the independence of that Republic. JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE, |