THE CONGO REFORM MOVEMENT.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE V SPECTATO6...]
Sra,—I am receiving many letters from all over the country of which, roughly, this is the burden " What can I, as a unit, do to register my opinions in regard to the Congo ? Can I sign a petition ? There must be tens of thousands like me who would wish to do something, however small, if they only knew what to do." From some quarters it is suggested to me that monster petitions to the Government should be organised. But I am convinced that they are to be discouraged. I venture to make the following suggestions, and I ask of your courtesy permission to do so through your columns, as it is physically impossible for me to write individually to all my corre- spondents. First, let all such Associations as the Pleasant • Sunday Afternoon and the Christian Endeavour Union arrange that a petition to Parliament be signed by the presidents and secretaries of their branches throughout the country, to be presented to Parliament by a Member whom they may select, The adult schools and kindred bodies could act in a similar way, but individually, through their own Parliamentary representative, as was done the other day by the Norwich Adult School through Mr. George White, ALP., who obtained the Speaker's permission to read the petition to the House. Secondly, let a Committee of prominent citizens be formed in every constituency, whose duty it shall be to organise the signatories to a carefully signed petition to Parliament, to be presented through that constituency's Parliamentary representative; in this work the local religious bodies could play a useful part by giving out notices in their places of worship. The effect of systematic and concentrated effort of this kind could not but lie profound and far-reaching. Pressure upon individual Members of Parliament is most important. It is essential that every Member of Parliament should be convinced that those who have sent him to West- minster are determined that the rubber slave trade on the Congo shall be put an end to,—which it can be directly the British Government consider themselves sufficiently backed by public opinion to take a strong, bold, clear course, con- sistent with the Treaty rights of this country and with national responsibilities. By the means I have indicated every man and woman throughout the country can lend a hand in doing for the natives of Central Africa to-day what the reformers did for the natives of Central Africa a century ago. The Association will be happy to supply forms of petition if requested. Such requests should be sent to the honorary secretary of the Congo Reform Association at the above address—I am, Sir, &c., E. D. MOREL.
4 Oldhal Street, Liverpool.
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