E.D. Morel Congo Free State propaganda war

1 e.d. morel

1.1 newspapers
1.2 pamphlets
1.3 books
1.4 congo reform association

e.d. morel

e.d. morel

in 1891, morel became clerk elder dempster, liverpool shipping firm. in 1893, increase income , support family, morel began writing articles against french protectionism, damaging elder dempster s business. influenced mary kingsley, english traveller , writer showed sympathy african peoples , respect different cultures, became critical of foreign office not supporting african decolonisation movements.

elder dempster had shipping contract congo free state run between antwerp , boma. groups such aborigines protection society had begun campaign against atrocities in congo. due command of french, morel sent belgium, saw internal accounts of congo free state held elder dempster. knowing ships belgium congo carried guns, chains, ordnance, , explosives, no commercial goods, while ships arriving colony came full of valuable products such raw rubber , ivory, made him think belgian policy exploitative.

newspapers

west african mail, main media outlet morel, started small newspaper consisting of morel s articles, letters missionaries, maps, cartoons, , pictures; meet rapidly growing interest in west , central african questions . john holt, businessman , morel s long time friend, helped fund startup of newspaper. later other supporters invested.

morel wrote five-part series entitled trading monopolies in west africa. first wrote stories pertaining free trade , native rights.

free trade in west africa, free trade all; free trade englishmen in french colony, , in german colony… there plenty of room free, unfettered commerce of powers of europe of western continent of africa, , greater(the natives), attractions given trade in individual colony… more contentment , producing power of inhabitants.

but began write slavery, using adjectives evil, bloody, vicious, horrific , violent:

rubber shipped home congo companies… stained blood of hundreds of negroes.
hideous structure of sordid wickedness, called it.
blood smeared on congo state, history blood-stained, deeds bloody, edifice has reared cemented in blood—the blood of unfortunate negroes, spilled freely sordid of motives, monetary gain.

morel published in major british , belgian papers. book entitled civilization in congo-land, h.r. fox bourne, secretary of aborigines protection society, published in january 1903, reinforced morel s argument. various organizations passed resolutions demanding government action. sir charles dilke took many of these concerns parliament discussion.

pamphlets

in 1903 morel wrote first pamphlet, congo horrors, reached larger general public before. emphasized religious implications, free trade abuses, , accused leopold. has come conclusion murders , profiteering of congo result of neglect civilize, , king leopold proprietor. pamphlet caught eye of high british officials such sir charles dilke , roger casement.

morel continued write pieces such scandal of congo, treatment of women , children of congo (published in america in african studies journal), , new african slavery (published in international union of london). contained information , testimony missionaries of brutality. public began pressure parliament atrocities.

later in 1903, morel brought out pamphlet of 112 pages entitled congo slave state, perhaps strongest , fiercest indictment published. contained full , detailed description of leopold s system in divisions of congo. had maps, reports parliament, , descriptions of atrocities. sir charles dilke introduced copies of pamphlet parliament. caused considerable sensation, , resolutions passed against slavery in congo.

books

morel s exposé red rubber

before 1904, morel released 2 books pertaining west africa. first book, entitled affairs of west africa, discussed history, inhabitants, flora , fauna, physical characteristics, industries, , trade , finances of area; man d never gone west africa. got information traders , shipping crews during days working elder dempster, , missionary contacts. morel concluded book attacks on leopold , congo free state administration. contrasted congo free state success of french congo, commemorating french administration efforts within west african colonies. asked sympathy , understanding, english , french, on issue of west africa.

newspapers reviews mixed. in daily chronicle sir harry johnston wrote:

mr. morel s indictment 1 of terrible things ever written, if true. 

the times provided glowing review of book:

it great satisfaction public welcome contribution our general knowledge on subject… sufferings of picture given world in uncle tom s cabin nothing mr. morel represents habitual accomplishments of acquisition of rubber , ivory belgian companies. 

positive reviews helped create readership writings. bad review morning post pertained comparison of french congo leopold s congo free state. morel responded book, british case in french congo, released 3 months later, in said admired french efforts, , again blamed congo free state evil in west africa. morning post praised second book. public demanded government action. on may 20, 1903 parliament passed resolution allow british government negotiate powers on matter. parliament noted great gratitude due morel creating public awareness.

his third book, king leopold s rule in africa, had photographs of mutilated women , children. let pictures speak themselves. wrote effectively. on , on again in book did morel hammer in argument. morel argued world must come fight end of abuses.

in name of humanity, of common decency , pity, honour s sake, if no other cause, not anglo-saxon race – governments , peoples of great britain , united states, between them responsible creation of congo state – make minds handle monstrous outrage resolutely, , point way, , set example others compelled follow? in hope, ever present consciousness of inadequacy portray greatness of evil , greatness of responsibility, author submits volume public. 

his words , facts book appeared in book reviews on europe , us. reviewers described horrific pictures , stories in full detail.

congo reform association

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.