The Media War Congo Free State propaganda war

1 media war

1.1 missionaries , congo

1.1.1 william sheppard
1.1.2 e.v. sjöblom
1.1.3 george washington williams
1.1.4 leopold vs. williams


1.2 e.d. morel

1.2.1 newspapers
1.2.2 pamphlets
1.2.3 books
1.2.4 congo reform association


1.3 leopold s counter campaign

1.3.1 downfall

the media war
the missionaries , congo

king leopold allowed several hundred foreign protestant missionaries england, united states, , sweden go congo. given goals of iaa hardly refuse offers civilize africans. missionaries went congo evangelize, fight polygamy, , create fear of sin in africans. congolese run , hide @ mere sight of european.

one british missionary wrote african congregation asked, has savior tell of power save rubber trouble? other missionaries became aware of bloody events around posts. 1 swedish missionary noted sorrowful song death , tyranny many sang @ post. missionaries began protest violence through personal letters leopold, through letters newspapers , magazines. efforts had little effect in drawing public attention situation.

william sheppard

william sheppard

in late 1880s william sheppard, african-american protestant missionary, started write american newspapers , magazines mutilations , murder witnessed. threats of taxation , deportation, leopold put stop sheppard s writing. leopold subsequently demanded missionaries direct concerns him , not press.

e.v. sjöblom

swedish baptist missionary e.v. sjöblom spoke of atrocities listen. in 1896 published in swedish press detailed article on congo s rubber industry, , reprinted elsewhere. spoke brutality of force publique @ public meeting attended press. congo state officials counterattacked newspaper articles, letters, , comments leopold in belgian , british press, , silenced sjöblom. missionary never spoke again.

george washington williams

george washington williams

(october 16, 1849 – august 2, 1891)

colonel george washington williams served in union army during civil war. williams entered seminary , became pastor. after moving washington d.c., started national black newspaper, commoner. newspaper folded , did 1 in cincinnati. became well-respected historian through writings , lectures.

in 1889, williams began writing european press syndicate. after interview leopold, williams went congo see christian civilization in action. in april 1891 williams wrote letter leopold entitled open letter serene majesty leopold ii, king of belgians , sovereign of independent state of congo suffering of region @ hands of leopold s agents. letter helped sway european , american public opinion against congo regime. williams last pages accuse leopold of list of crimes, including manipulation of general public. voiced disbelief: how thoroughly have been disenchanted, disappointed, , disheartened.

he wrote report upon congo-state , country president of republic of united states of america describing how leopold had manipulated united states. time president benjamin harrison received copy, open letter had appeared in european , american newspapers. on 14 april 1891, new york times ran front-page article on full list of allegations.

leopold vs. williams

leopold s public relations minister employed newspaper editors run articles deeds of leopold. leopold himself gave interviews dreams , aspirations congo , future.

one day after new york times article, leopold s supporters in america submitted article accused williams of living lie , committing adultery. headline read prospered time, true character learned. during late summer of 1891 belgian parliament defended leopold , gave 45-page report press circuit, refuting williams s accusations. williams died on august 2 reputation tarnished.

the missionaries witnessed atrocities had little media savvy or political clout. public readily dismissed leopold s critics british humanitarian societies relics of past battles abolitionism. , critics, missionaries, became dismissed people upset in obscure corner of world.

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.

leopold s counter campaign

leopold ordered counterattacks refuting claims morel made. had propaganda machine write articles major newspapers, including new york times, numerous letters editor.

discrediting morel , cra had not worked. leopold commissioned internal investigation of congo prove public cared. committee of congo officials issued reports denied atrocities. morel collected letters, photos, , testimony congolese, extensive media blitz of pamphlets, newspaper articles, letters , books.

leopold s response included articles countering claims, sent agents spy on morel during american visit. mark twain released king leopold s soliloquy , talked abuses , leopold s denial. twain wrote perspective of leopold. burst out , call me king ten million murders on soul throughout book, twain portrays leopold guilty , evil. … no matter, did beat yankees, anyway! there comfort in that. [reads mocking smile, president s order of recognition of april 22, 1884] . twain s account presents image of disingenuous leopold plotting , scheming keep truth coming out.

leopold s agents countered letters editor , book entitled answer mark twain. in book call twain , morel liars , manipulators. truth shines forth in following pages, summarily show congo free state is. mr. twain , morel have said. lies! 1 of leopold s hired lobbyists, henry i. kowalsky caused sensation in december 1906 making public communications between himself, leopold, , congo state.

leopold appointed commission of inquiry, investigate specific charges of atrocities , reported abuses. commission included members of belgian parliament , lower officials in government.

the downfall

leopold released press statements commission hoping quell public uproar. however, leopold wanted private, not published, report. commission returned evidence of abuse yet – interviews on hundred natives , numerous missionaries, documents force publique detailing deaths , mutilations inflicted, , documents congo state administration proving leopold profited more reported.

the cra obtained report, , published in west african mail, new york times, associated press, , european press agencies. report, evidence laid before congo commission of inquiry, became pamphlet distributed cra throughout europe , united states. appointed leopold himself, commission reported horrific testimony, facts on deaths , mutilations, , letters obtained congo administration documenting abuses. leopold not refute own commission s findings. leopold yielded congo free state belgium in exchange financial settlement in 1908. died, aged 74, following year , never judged.