The Casement Report 1

The Casement Report 1

The Casement Report

Correspondence and Report from His Majesty's Consul at

Boma Respecting the Administration of the Independent State

of the Congo.

 

Author: Roger Casement

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 

 

----+-------------------+-------------+--------------------------------+------

No. | Name. | Date. | SUBJECT. | Page.

----+-------------------+-------------+--------------------------------+------

1 | Lord Cromer |Jan. 21, 1903|Visit to Congo stations of Kiro |

| | | and Lado. Native |

| | | relations with Congo officials.|

| | | Few natives, to be |

| | | seen in the stations | 1

| | | |

2 | Sir C. Phipps |Sept. 19, |Transmits note from Congo |

| | | Government in answer |

| | | to despatch of 8th August |

| | | to Powers parties to |

| | | the Act of Berlin | 2

| | | |

3 | Mr. Casement |Dec. 11, |Transmits report on his visit |

| | | to interior of Congo |

| | | State and on condition |

| | | of natives | 21

| | | |

4 | To Sir C. Phipps |Feb. 11, 1904|Transmits Memorandum |

| | | in answer to note of Congo |

| | | Government of 12th |

| | | September inclosed in No. 2 | 82

| | | |

5 | To His Majesty’s |Feb. 12, |Transmits papers on condition |

| Representatives | | of affairs in Congo State |

| at Paris | | State |

| and other Capitals| | | 84

----+-------------------+-------------+--------------------------------+------

 

 

 

 

Correspondence and Report from His Majesty’s Consul at Boma respecting

the Administration of the Independent State of the Congo.

 

 

 

 

No. 1.

 

_The Earl of Cromer to the Marquess of Lansdowne_.--(_Received February

9_.)

 

(Extract.)

 

_On the Nile, near Kiro, January 21, 1903_

 

I have just visited the Belgian stations of Kiro and Lado, as also the

station of Gondokoro in the Uganda Protectorate.

 

Your Lordship may like to receive some remarks on the impressions I

derived as regards the Belgian positions on the Upper Nile.

 

I should, in the first instance, observe that Commandant Hanolet, who is

in charge of the district, was absent in the interior of the country;

but Sir Reginald Wingate and myself were most courteously received by

the officers in command at Kiro and Lado.

 

From the point of view of appearance, the two Belgian stations contrast

favourably with any of the Soudanese stations on the Nile, and still

more favourably with Gondokoro in the Uganda Protectorate. The principal

dwelling-houses are of brick. They seem to be well built. The stations

are kept scrupulously clean. The troops are well housed. Flourishing

gardens have been created. I counted the graves of nine Europeans at

Kiro, all of whom died of fever, but I am informed that the health of

the place is now greatly improved.

 

I had heard so many and such contradictory accounts of the Belgian

Administration that I was very desirous of ascertaining some concise and

definite evidence on this subject. During a hurried visit, and with

opportunities of observation confined to the banks of the river, I

scarcely anticipated that I should be able to arrive at any independent

opinion on the point at issue. I saw and heard, however, quite enough to

gain an insight into the spirit which pervades the Administration.

 

It must be remembered that the 1,100 miles of country which I traversed

between Khartoum and Gondokoro has, until recently, been the prey of

slave-dealers, Egyptian Pashas, and dervishes. Under the circumstances,

it might well have been expected that much time would be required to

inspire confidence in the intentions of the new Government. It is,

however, certain that, with the exception of a portion of the Nuer

tribe, who live in a very remote region on the upper waters of the

Sobat, confidence has been completely established in those districts

which are under British rule. Except in the uninhabitable “Sudd” region,

numerous villages are dotted along the banks of the river. The people,

far from flying at the approach of white men as was formerly the case,

run along the banks, making signs for the steamer to stop. It is clear

that the Baris, Shilluks, and Dinkas place the utmost trust and

confidence in the British officers with whom they are brought in

contact. In spite of the difficulties of communicating with them through

an interpreter--himself but slightly educated--it was impossible to

mistake their manifest signs and __EXPRESSION__s of security and content.

They flock into the Settlements without fear; and if, as often happens,

they will not work, it is merely because they are lazy and have few

wants, not because they entertain doubt that they will be paid for

working. These remarks apply equally to Gondokoro, although I was only

able to see a few of the natives there. I had not time to visit the

principal Bari village, which lies at some little distance from the

river.

 

The contrast when once Congolese territory is entered is remarkable.

From the frontier to Gondokoro is about 80 miles. The proper left, or

western, bank of the river is Belgian. The opposite bank is either under

the Soudanese or the Uganda Government. There are numerous islands, and

as all these are under British rule--for the thalweg, which, under

Treaty, is the Belgian frontier, skirts the western bank of the

river--I cannot say that I had an opportunity of seeing a full 80 miles

of Belgian territory. At the same time, I saw a good deal, and I noticed

that, whereas there were numerous villages and huts on the eastern bank

and on the islands, on the Belgian side not a sign of a village existed.

Indeed, I do not think that any one of our party saw a single human

being in Belgian territory, except the Belgian officers and men and the

wives and children of the latter. Moreover, not a single native was to

be seen either at Kiro or Lado. I asked the Swedish officer at Kiro

whether he saw much of the natives. He replied in the negative, adding

that the nearest Bari village was situated at some distance in the

interior. The Italian officer at Lado, in reply to the same question,

stated that the nearest native village was seven hours distant.

 

The reason of all this is obvious enough. The Belgians are disliked. The

people fly from them, and it is no wonder they should do so, for I am

informed that the soldiers are allowed full liberty to plunder, and that

payments are rarely made for supplies. The British officers wander,

practically alone, over most parts of the country, either on tours of

inspection or on shooting expeditions. I understand that no Belgian

officer can move outside the settlements without a strong guard.

 

It appears to me that the facts which I have stated above afford amply

sufficient evidence of the spirit which animates the Belgian

Administration, if, indeed, Administration it can be called. The

Government, so far as I could judge, is conducted almost exclusively on

commercial principles, and, even judged by that standard, it would

appear that those principles are somewhat short-sighted.

 

 

 

 

No. 2.

 

_Sir C. Phipps to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received September 21.)_

 

My Lord,

 

_Brussels, September 19, 1903._

 

I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a note, together with its

inclosures, which has been addressed by the Congo Government to the

Representatives at Brussels of the Powers parties to the Act of Berlin

to which your Lordship’s Circular despatch of the 8th August respecting

the affairs of the Independent State of the Congo had been

communicated.[1]

 

M. de Cuvelier, in handing me these documents, stated that he had been

instructed to follow the same procedure as that adopted by His Majesty’s

Government.

 

I have, &c.

(Signed) CONSTANTINE PHIPPS.

 

 

Inclosure in No. 2.

 

Le Gouvernement de l’État Indépendant du Congo, ayant eu connaissance de

la dépêche du Foreign Office, datée du 8 Août dernier, remise aux

Puissances Signataires de l’Acte de Berlin, constate qu’il est d’accord

avec le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté sur deux points fondamentaux, à

savoir, que les indigènes doivent être traités avec humanité et menés

graduellement dans les voies de la civilisation, et que la liberté de

commerce, dans le bassin conventionnel du Congo, doit être entière et

complète.

 

Mais il nie que la manière dont est administré l’État entraînerait un

régime systématique “de cruauté ou d’oppression” et que le principe de

la liberté commerciale apporterait des modifications au droit de

propriété tel qu’il est universellement compris, alors qu’il n’est pas

un mot à cet effet dans l’Acte de Berlin. L’État du Congo note qu’il ne

se trouve dans cet Acte aucune disposition qui consacrerait des

restrictions quelconques à l’exercice du droit de propriété ou qui

reconnaîtrait aux Puissances Signataires un droit d’intervention dans

les affaires d’administration intérieure les unes des autres. Il tient à

se montrer fidèle observateur de l’Acte de Berlin, de ce grand Acte

International qui lie toutes les Puissances Signataires ou adhérentes,

en ce que dit le sens grammatical si clair de son texte, que nul n’a pouvoir de diminuer ou d’amplifier.