Page images
PDF
EPUB

Convinced that we shall thus contribute in assuring to Belgium, if it desires it, the indispensable outlets for its commerce and industry, and in opening up new paths for the activity of its citizens;

We declare, by these presents, that we bequeath and transmit, after our death, to Belgium, all our sovereign rights over the Congo Free State, such as have been recognized by declarations, conventions and treaties concluded since 1884, between foreign powers, on the one hand, and the International Association of the Congo and Congo Free State, on the other, as well as all property, rights and advantages attached to this Sovereignty.

Until the Belgian Legislature shall have acted upon the acceptance of my aforesaid provisions, the sovereignty shall be exercised collectively by the council of the three administrators of the Congo Free State and by the governor-general.

Done at Brussels, August 2, 1889.

(Signed) LEOPOLD.

LETTER OF THE KING TO M. BEERNAERT.

August 5, 1889.

DEAR MINISTER: I have never ceased to call the attention of my countrymen to the necessity of turning their attention to countries across the seas.

History teaches that countries with restricted territory have a moral and material interest in spreading out beyond their narrow frontiers. Greece founded wealthy cities, homes of art and civilization, upon the shores of the Mediterranean. Venice, later, based its greatness upon the development of its maritime and commercial relations, no less than upon its political successes. The Netherlands possesses in the Indies thirty. million subjects, who exchange for tropical productions the commodities. of the mother country.

It is in serving the cause of humanity and progress that peoples of the second class appear useful members of the great family of nations. More than any other, a manufacturing and commercial nation like ours should. endeavor to assure outlets for all its workmen thinkers, capitalists, and laborers.

These patriotic considerations have dominated my life. They decided the creation of the African work.

My labors have not been in vain. A young and vast state, managed from Brussels, has peacefully taken its place in the sunlight, thanks to the kindly support of the powers which have welcomed its appearance. Belgians administer it, while others of our countrymen, each day more numerous, are already investing their capital there.

The immense network of rivers of the upper Congo opens to our energies rapid and economical means of communication, which allow of penetrating directly to the center of the African continent. The construction of the railroad from the region of the cataracts, now assured thanks to the recent vote of the Legislature will remarkably increase the ease of access. Under these conditions, a great future is reserved for the Congo, whose immense value will soon burst upon the sight of all.

[ocr errors]

On the morrow of this great act, I have thought it my duty to put Belgium in a position, so that when death shall overtake me, it will profit by my work as well as by the labors of those who have aided me in its foundation and management, and whom I thank again. I have made, as sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo, the testament which I address to you; I shall ask you to communicate it to the Legislative Chambers at what seems to us the most opportune moment.

The beginnings of enterprises like those with which I have occupied myself are difficult and burdensome. I have had to support the expenses of it. A king, in order to serve his country, should not fear to conceive and carry out a work, even if it appear rash. The wealth of a sovereign. consists in public prosperity: that alone may form in his eyes an enviable treasure which he ought constantly to attempt to increase.

Until the day of my death I shall continue to be guided by the same thought of national interest as heretofore, to direct and maintain our African work; but if, without waiting until that time, the country should. desire to contract closer relations with my possessions in the Congo, I would not hesitate to put them at its disposal. I should be happy to see it in full enjoyment thereof during my lifetime. Let me, in the meantime, tell you how grateful I am to the Chambers, as well as to the Government, for the aid which they have lent me at different times in this enterprise. I do not believe I am mistaken in asserting that Belgium will derive substantial advantages from it, and will see opened before it on a new continent wide and happy prospects.

Believe me, dear Minister,

Your very devoted and affectionate,

(Signed) LEOPOLD.

GENERAL ACT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OTHER POWERS FOR THE REPRESSION OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE AND THE RESTRICTION OF THE IMPORTATION INTO, AND SALE IN, A CERTAIN DEFINED ZONE OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, OF FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

Signed July 2, 1890.

[Translation.]

In the name of God Almighty.

The President of the United States of America;

His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire;

His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, &c., and Apostolic King of Hungary;

His Majesty the King of the Belgians;

His Majesty the King of Denmark;

His Majesty the King of Spain, and in his name Her Majesty the Queen Regent of the Kingdom;

His Majesty the Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo; The President of the French Republic;

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India;

His Majesty the King of Italy;

His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg;

His Majesty the Shah of Persia ;

His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves, &c.;

His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias;

His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, &c.;

His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans; and

His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar;

Being equally actuated by the firm intention of putting an end to the crimes and devastations engendered by the traffic in African slaves, of efficiently protecting the aboriginal population of Africa, and of securing for that vast continent the benefits of peace and civilization;

Wishing to give fresh sanction to the decisions already adopted in the same sense and at different times by the powers, to complete the results secured by them, and to draw up a body of measures guaranteeing the

accomplishment of the work which is the object of their common solicitude;

Have resolved, in pursuance of the invitation addressed to them by the Government of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, in agreement with the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, to convene for this purpose a conference at Brussels, and have named as their plenipotentiaries:

The President of the United States of America,

Mr. Edwin H. Terrell, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America near His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and

Mr. Henry Shelton Sanford;

His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia, in the Name of the German Empire,

Frederic John, Count of Alvensleben, His Chamberlain and

Actual Privy Councillor, His Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the
Belgians, and

Mr. William Goehring, His Privy Councillor of Legation, Consul-
General of the German Empire at Amsterdam;

His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia and Apostolic
King of Hungary,

Rodolphe Count Khevenhüller-Metsch, His Chamberlain, His
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near his
Majesty the King of the Belgians,

His Majesty the King of the Belgians,

Auguste Baron Lambermont, His Minister of State, His Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, and

M. Emile Banning, Director General in the Department of For-
eign Affairs of Belgium;

His Majesty the King of Denmark,

Mr. Frederic-George Schack de Brockdorff, Consul-General of
Denmark at Antwerp;

His Majesty the King of Spain, and in His Name Her Majesty the
Queen Regent of the Kingdom,

Don José Gutierrez de Agüera, His Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the
Belgians;

His Majesty the Sovereign-King of the Independent State of the Congo, Mr. Edmund Van Eetvelde, Administrator-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Independent State of the Congo and

Mr. Auguste Van Maldeghem, Councillor in the Belgian Court of Cassation;

The President of the French Republic,

M. Albert Bourée, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo-
tentiary of the French Republic near His Majesty the King
of the Belgians, and

M. George Cogordan, Minister Plenipotentiary, Director of the
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France;

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, Empress of India,

Lord Vivian, Peer of the United Kingdom, Her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and

Sir John Kirk;

His Majesty the King of Italy,

Francis de Renzis, Baron of Montanaro, His Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King
of the Belgians, and

Mr. Thomas Catalani, His Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary;

His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg,
Louis Baron Gericke de Herwynen, His Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the
Belgians;

His Imperial Majesty the Shah of Persia,

General Nazare Aga, His Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the Belgians;

His Majesty the King of Portugal and of the Algarves,

Mr. Henrique de Macedo Pereira Coutinho, Member of His
Council, Peer of the Kingdom, Minister and Honorary
Secretary of State, His Envoy. Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of the Belgians;

« PreviousContinue »