§ Mr. FELL (for Sir Gilbert Parker)asked if any representations were made by His Majesty's Government to the Government of Belgium relating to the scheme of reforms for the Congo between the introduction of that scheme into the Belgian Chamber and the Royal Decree of 22nd March, with a view to securing improvements?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Government did not make representations to the Belgian Government during the period mentioned, but they asked for, and received, explanations which, in their opinion, justified them in awaiting the further development of the scheme of reforms.
§ Mr. FELLDid the right hon. Gentleman succeed in getting any modifications through these representations?
§ Sir E. GREYNo, the explanations were given confidentially. I hope they will be realised.
§ Mr. FELL (for Sir Gilbert Parker)asked if His Majesty's Government were aware of the Belgian Government's intentions, 1440 as specified in the Royal Decree of 22nd March last, to withhold freedom of commerce in large areas of the Congo territory until July 1911 and 1912, respectively, and to maintain forced labour for revenue purposes within those areas for the same periods; and whether His Majesty's Government are of opinion that the Belgian Government's policy in this respect is compatible with the international obligations that Government contracted when it annexed the Congo State?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have already in Debate on 10th March stated my views in regard to the point raised in the second part of the question.
§ Mr. FELL (for Sir Gilbert Parker)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention was drawn at the time to the publication in the Belgian Grey Book of last July of correspondence on the subject of the Congo between His Majesty's Minister at Brussels and the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs in January of that year; and on what grounds was this correspondence omitted from the British White Book published in June last year?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The correspondence referred to was not published in the White Book of June last, because the latter formed part of a special set of Papers containing a series of communications exchanged by the two Governments. It will be seen from the title-page of Africa No. 2, 1909, that that. White Book is a continuation of Africa No. 5, 1908.