After Mr. Austin Taylor had strongly supported the plea for
action, and had insisted that at least we ought to set up Consular Courts to protect our own subjects, Mr. Emmott drew attention to the very impressive fact that the Congo State is a State without imports. It is in that ideal situation desired by our Fiscal Reformers, and has nothing but exports. It is doing, in fact, what Mr. Chamberlain fancies this country to be doing,—i.e., bleeding to death. For the imports which, under a system of barter, would balance the exports there are substituted the floggings, mutilations, and murders by means of which the collection of rubber is compelled. Mr. H. Samuel in the course of the debate mentioned that he had quite recently spoken with a mis- sionary, who told him that on one occasion he saw a canoe in charge of soldiers, and in a basket on board the canoe there were fifty freshly severed hunian hands. Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, who spoke just before Lord Percy's reply, "having regard to the insolent and insulting tone of the documents issued by the Congo State, ventured to remind the Committee that the Congo State was at the mercy of any Power which cared to send a few ships to the mouth of the Congo." Lord Edmond also, we are glad to note, referred to the murder of Mr. Stokes. "The blood of that innocent man still called from the ground."
Previous page
