Congo Reform Association Congo Free State propaganda war

roger casement

as morel s writings stirred public feelings congo question within great britain, parliament created international commission investigate. roger casement, british consul africa , acquaintance of morel, went congo , wrote report british government. casement interviewed missionaries, natives, riverboat captains, , railroad workers , returned report of appalling events ever described.

many considered report damning exposure ever of exploitation in africa. respected british consul, chosen british foreign office, had written thirty-nine pages of testimony , 23-page index of facts. report produced profound , widespread feeling in britain administrative system of congo state must reformed. british government commended casement work , knighted him. morel published casement report in west african mail. newspapers around world reported on casement report.

casement , morel met in dublin discuss situation. casement convinced morel form organization combat leopold s abuses in congo. in november 1903, congo reform association (cra) emerged. casement put forward £100 start fund. morel went liverpool begin new organization. drew inspiration conrad s heart of darkness, , called powerful thing ever written on subject . casement deliberately absented himself launch of congo reform association @ philharmonic hall in liverpool on march 23, 1904 because did not want celebrity reason people joined.

the founding manifesto began impressive list of names including african businessman , entrepreneur john holt, historian john morley, presbyterian minister reverend r. j. campbell , quaker philanthropist w. a. cadbury of cadbury chocolate corp. others included 4 bishops , dozen influential peers of realm.

the manifesto called secure , humane treatment of inhabitants of congo state, , restoration of rights land , of individual freedom . no more week later, massachusetts commission international justice organized american branch of congo reform association members including mark twain, booker t. washington, , w. e. b. du bois.

king leopold s soliloquy mark twain

in september 1904, morel arrived in new york american campaign, petition entitled memorial. memorial contained signatures members of cra. purpose of trip explained morel s own words during interview new york herald in 1903. when asked interviewer why america? morel answered:

america has peculiar , clear responsibility in matter, inasmuch american government first recognize status of international association (later congo state), , thereby paved way similar action on part of european powers… hoped president roosevelt , american people may undo grieves wrong, thereby unknowingly inflicted upon native inhabitants of congo territories.

before morel left america submitted copy of memorial new york times, new york post, washington post, boston globe, , other press syndicates. cra , morel hoped before arrival there strong public support american citizens. newspapers covered arrival , displayed excerpts of memorial. articulate speeches throughout new england earned morel audience president theodore roosevelt. new york post covered visit full page, two-column article. through continuous newspaper coverage americans became curious morel , congo question . on october 7 morel spoke in boston international peace congress. speech compelling , motivating, , helped focus american public attention on congo.

the errand has brought me united states simple one. appeal on behalf of oppressed , persecuted peoples of congo, present unhappy condition you, in america, , we, in england, have great moral responsibility, cannot escape , in honour should not attempt escape… privilege ask met here in cause of peace whether not lead helping hand in staying cruel , destructive wars – if murder of helpless men , women can dignified such name… in appealing on behalf of millions of helpless africans… great responsibility have. if our duty clear, surely yours clear. african slave trade has been revived, , in full swing in congo today. ask root , fling out of africa, , have no doubt of greatness , loftiness of ideals, have no doubt of answer be.

it take 2 more years president roosevelt , congress involved. in letter henry cabot lodge, roosevelt writes: tomfoolery seems bent on congo free state outrages, , imbecile rather noxious. overwhelmed public pressure, congress in 1906 took stand against leopold , demanded end congo free state.