§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have information to the effect that King Leopold has declined to sign the decrees submitted by the Commission of Reforms appointed by the sovereign of the Congo State in consequence of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry, or has in lieu of signature, transmitted the decree to Governor Wahis for advice; whether, having regard to the correspondence
† See Col. 553.713 between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Congo State at the time when the Commission of Inquiry was appointed, and to the fact that the Congo Report substantiates the statements made by the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, which formed the subject of the British Note of August 8th, 1903, and in view of the delay that has occurred, His Majesty's Government contemplate any further immediate action; and whether the policy of entering into communication with the Government of Belgium upon the subject of the future of the Congo has been considered, there being a Government Bill before the Belgian Parliament to the general policy of which His Majesty's Government have stated in the House of Commons that they are favourable.
§ MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman rises I should like to ask him the following Question, of which I have given him private notice:—;Whether His Majesty's Government has any official knowledge that King Leopold has refused to sign the recommendations of the Commission on Reforms in the Congo Free State; whether he considers there is anything unreasonable in the desire of King Leopald to consult the responsible Governor of the Congo Free State before finally authorising the reforms recommended by the Commission; whether he considers His Majesty's Government have any greater right to interfere in the affairs of the Congo Free State than it had to prevent the shooting in cold blood in Natal of two batches of unarmed prisoners, subjects of His Majesty, by His Majesty's troops, without trial by law.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThat last Question is not a proper one. It is not one of fact, but of opinion.
§ MR. NOLANI wish further to ask whether there is any evidence before the House that the reports of atrocities circulated amongst Members of this House by the Congo Reform Association are other than gross exaggerations or baseless calumnies, as stated on the authority of independent witnesses of the highest character? And whether he does not think His Majesty's Government has enough trouble on hand on the African continent, in connection with 714 Egypt, Natal, and Nigeria, without going in search of further trouble in the territories of independent foreign states.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThat again is a matter of opinion.
§ MR. McKEAN (Monaghan, S.)Before answering the Question of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Forest of Dean will the right hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs say whether it is the fact that the decrees of the Commission of Reforms referred to in the Question have only been submitted a month ago; whether therefore it is reasonable to expect that reforms of the most far-reaching character can be approved and determined on without due examination and inquiry as to their necessity and advisability; also whether it is not the fact that the Congo Free State is a Sovereign State; whether therefore, in accordance with International Law, the intervention on the part of His Majesty's Government suggested by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Forest of Dean is not absolutely barred; and whether this view is not supported by the opinion of Mr. Root, Secretary of State for the United States of America, expressed in his letter bearing date February 28th, 1906, addressed to Mr. Denby, Member of Congress; and whether under all these circumstances the right hon. Baronet will decline to advise His Majesty's Government to take any further action in the matter?
§ * MR. SPEAKERNotice should be given of this Question.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickBoth supplementary Questions contain so much matter that it is desirable I should have due notice before attempting to answer them. I may say I have not received the notice sent mo by the hon. Member for South Louth. In reply to the Question of the right hon. Baronet I have to say that our own opinion as to the great desirability of not delaying the Reforms has already been made known to the Congo Government. We cannot enter into communication with the Belgian Government until they are willing to be concerned; but as a matter of fact if they 715 accepted responsibility for the Congo State, it would be a guarantee of reform and good government which would be very welcome.