Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/796

 674 BELGIAN CONGO

BELGIAN CONGO

(Congo Belge.)

Constitution and Government.— The Congo Independent state was founded in 1882 by Leopold IL, Kingof the Belgians, and the State was placed under his sovereignty, but its perpetual neutrality, in accordance with the provision of Chapter IIL of the General Act of Berlin (1885), was guaranteed. [Concerning this Act, see Statesman's Year-Book for 1908 — p. 874.]

The annexation of the State to Belgium was provided for by treaty of November 28, 1907, which was approved by the chambers of the Belgian Legislature in August and by the King on October 18, 1908. The Minister for the Colonies is appointed by the King, and is a member of the Council of Ministers. He is President of the Colonial Council, consisting of 14 members, 8 of whom are appointed by the King, and 3 chosen by the Senate and 3 by the Chamber of Representatives. One of those appointed by the King, and one chosen by the Legislative Chamber, retire annually, but may be re- appointed. The King is represented in the Colony by a Governor-General, assisted by several vice-Governors-General. The budget is presented annually to the Chambers, and voted by them; the financial accounts have to be verified by the Court of Accounts. An annual report on the Congo Adminis- tration has to be presented to the Chambers along with the budget.

The Annexation has up to date been recognised by all the Powers with exception of Great Britain.

The Belgian Minister for the Colonies in October, 191)0, indicated his scheme of reform in the Congo. The natives would be granted the right to take the picduce of the soil in the Domain. Tiiis would be accomplished in tluee stages. Since July 1, 1910, the Lower Congo, Middle Congo, Ubangi, Bangala, Kwango, Kasai, Katanga, the southern portion of the Eastern Province, Aruwimi, and the banks of the river as far as Stanleyville are open to freedom of trade. On July 1, 1911, the Domain of the Crown, and on July 1, 1912, the Wele district would also be thrown open. Furthermore, the Government would levy taxes in money and the system of the provisioning of the agents would be abolished. (See map among the introductory matter of the Year Book for 1910.) In March, 1910, various decrees ameliorating the condition of affairs were voted by the Colonial Council, regulating taxation, abolishing the exploitation of Domain land by the State in July, 1912, and abolishing the powers of the Comite Sp(^cial of Katanga.

Governor-General. — F. Fuchs (appointed May 25, 1912).

The precise boundaries of the Congo Colony were defined by the neutrality declarations of August, 1885, and December, 1894, and by treaties with Germany, Great Britain, France, and Portugal.

The territory is divided into twenty -two administrative districts (March 28, 1912): — Lower Congo, Middle Congo, Kwango, Lake Leopold IL, Equator, Lulonga, Bangala, Ubangi, Lower Uele, Upper Vele, Ituri, Stanleyville, Aruwimi, Lowa, Kivu, Maniema, Sankuru, Kasai, Lomami, Tanganika, Moero, Lulua, and Uj)per Luapula. The last four districts form the sub-government of Katauga, with its capital at Elisabethville; the other eighteen districts formiug the government general of Belgian Congo, with Boma as its capital. At the head of each district there is a commissioner. In 1911 there were, altogether about 350 posts and stations at which 1,937 European Government agents officiated.

Area and Population. — The area of the Colony is estimated at 909,654 square miles, with a population of Bantu origin officially estimated at 15 millions. Sir H. Johnston's estimate is 15-| millions, and another estimate is 9 millions. TheEuro]»ean population in January, 1911, numbered