The story of the Congo Free State: Social, political, and economic aspects of the Belgian system of government in Central Africa

About this book

The work is a nonfiction account written by Henry Wellington Wack that sets out to present a “straightforward” history of the Congo Free State from the perspective of its Belgian administration. It opens with a personal narrative in which the author, after observing a British campaign against the Congo, travels to Brussels, secures access to the Congo archives, and copies a wealth of official documents. From that point he promises an independent narrative, free of interference from King Leopold II or his ministers, and frames the story as a defence of the colonial project against what he calls “calumny” spread in Britain and the United States. The table of contents that follows outlines a detailed, chapter‑by‑chapter treatment of everything from the genesis of Mid‑African civilisation to treaties, infrastructure, and the “campaign against the Arabs,” indicating a comprehensive, document‑driven study.

The voice is that of an early‑20th‑century advocate of Belgian colonial policy, combining a formal, almost apologetic tone with extensive citation of official memoranda and contemporary travelers’ testimonies. Its style is dense, report‑like, and heavily anchored in the language of law, administration, and “civilising” mission. Readers interested in the historiography of European imperialism, scholars of colonial administration, or anyone seeking a primary‑source‑rich perspective on the Congo Free State’s self‑justification will find this volume most engaging.

Opening lines

During a residence of several years in the United Kingdom, I could not fail to observe the growth there of an organised campaign against the Congo Free State. That a small section of the British public, interested in the rubber trade, should by subtle means seek to delude or should even succeed in deluding, the great British nation so completely as to obtain general credence for its stories of cruelty and oppression alleged against King Leopold’s government failed to move me. It was not my concern, while enjoying the hospitality of England, to criticise the way in which her religious organisations were being used to further the selfish aims of a small clique of Liverpool merchants. …

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