Africa: Then and Now
The King and the Journalist: E.D. Morel’s Heroic Journey to Reveal the Belgian Atrocities in the Congo
Owning a colony had always been a lifelong dream for Belgium King Leopold II; however by the middle of the 19th century, almost all of Africa was already occupied. King Leopold II nonetheless found a large parcel of land in the interior of the continent, and on May 29, 1885, he named this new colony, The Congo Freestate, which was in a place geographically difficult for explorers and nations to capture.(1) Though he represented himself as a “philanthropist” and a “propagator of Christianity”(2) in Europe, under his rule in Congo, nearly 10 million Congolese were killed, or to put it into perspective, nearly twice the number of Jews who died in the Holocaust.(3) While the majority of Europe was deceived by Leopold, a particular journalist named E.D. Morel, who watched riches traveling to Europe with nothing in return to pay back the Africans, realized that he needed to stop the slave labor happening in Congo. (4) King Leopold and E.D. Morel represent two diametrically opposed attitudes towards imperialism, colonialism and slavery; the former was motivated by greed and domination, while the latter believed in altruism and giving voice to the voiceless in spite of great difficulty.
Morel endangered his own life by continuing to report on what he saw despite King Leopold's attempts to control and influence the press, which had led the public to grow excited about the prospects of colonization, without considering any of the drawbacks. During Morel’s arduous journey of gathering evidence, he established the “West African Mail”, which is a weekly journal that illustrates the everyday concerns and interests of West and Central Africans.(5) Morel’s reporting finally led to the collapse of Leopold in 1908. Despite public support for colonialism and the immense resources available to the King, Morel risked his safety and his very career to expose the true extent of Leopold’s crimes, making him one of the earliest and most courageous abolitionists.
This is another picture of three Congolese holding severed hands from victims who failed to meet the daily quota of collecting rubber. As a punishment, their hands were severed. (36)
One of the most significant symbol of brutality in Congo was severing hands. This is a picture of a missionary pointing to the severed hand of a young Congolese villager (35)
Morel was successful in exposing the Congo situation despite opposition from King Leopold and a pro-colonialism general public in Europe. In the 23-year span of the colonial rule of Congo, Leopold, cousin of Queen Victoria of England, was the undisputed King of Belgium and he used resources stripped from Africa to build relationships with great powers in Europe.(6) Because of Leopold’s prominence, Morel had to stay alert during the early stages of his plans to make sure that no one knew that he was actually a journalist. If he made his findings public prematurely, he risked antagonizing Leopold and the company that he worked for could “lose the lucrative Congo shipping contract”(7) and Morel could lose his job.
Part of what kept Leopold in power was his manipulation of the media, or what has been called the Congo Free State propaganda war; the King welcomed hundreds of missionaries from America, Sweden, and Britain to come to Congo, so that he could exploit their presence to justify his role as a philanthropist to the world.(8) Leopold routinely banned “ill-intentioned” journalists and his Public Relation Minister often hired sycophants to praise the good deeds he had done to the people in Congo.(9) Leopold’s admirers across the world wrote articles in New York Times to bash activists such as George Washington Williams who had written an open letter describing the enslavement, torture and murder of innocent Africans in the king’s name. Leopold tried to discredit him by accusing him of “living a lie and committing adultery” and another headline claimed “Williams in Middletown; He Prospered for a While, but his True Character Was Learned”;(10) all efforts by the king to besmirch the reputation of one of his detractors.
This is a picture of Elder Dempster, the ship where Morel first worked in. He found out about the inhumane treatment in Congo through this ship (38)
E.D. Morel (1873-1924) was a French-born journalist, activist, and politician. He co-established Congo Reform Association and was a main reason toward Leopold II's decline (37)
Because Congo possesses an abundance of rare minerals and gems, such as copper, cobalt, gold, and diamonds, as well as natural resources such as rubber (which attracts corporations even today)(11), the European public largely supported colonization. At the end of the 19th century, there was a surge in the demand for rubber, and an alternative way of producing it was discovered in Congo. Because of the lucrative new “gold mine” that existed in Congo, the government did everything it could to prevent rebellion by the people they had enslaved. Leopold’s emerging dictatorial demands and ruthless consolidation of power meant that the existence of a figure like Morel was highly improbable. However, Morel, who had been battling against adversities his entire life, was resolved to expose the abusing government and presented a series of effective initiatives to stop King Leopold’s tyrannical rule.(12)
Seven local Congolese lined up during their working hour of picking rubber. As shown in this image, the age range of workers vary a lot. (39)
The resource map of Congo showed how much the resources scattered over Congo and how diverse the resources were (40)
Morel had nothing to benefit from his campaign against King Leopold, only a bright career to lose;(13) but he still discovered all he could about the Belgian rule in Congo and exposed it to the world. Before the emergence of Morel, other activists had tried to stop Leopold, but they all fell short due to reasons like insufficient evidence and lack of determination. But Morel differed from them not only in his “torrential energy”(14) but because he had something no other activists could access before: “the facts and figures from the Congo administration in Europe that Morel had gleaned from his insider’s position at Elder Dempster [the Liverpool-based shipping company that he worked for].”(15)
In addition, Morel was able to synthesize information from multiple sources like writer Mary Kingsley, who wrote the book “Travels in West Africa” which portrayed Africans as humans deserving of compassion.(16) Morel also got in contact with Raymond De Grez, who was a prestigious Force Publique veteran who supplied him with inside information about the situation in Belgium.(17) With all the evidence he gathered, on top of starting own publication, “The West African Mail,” he also produced books like “Red Rubber” and “King Leopold's Rule in Africa,”(18) as well as “hundreds of articles for almost all the major British newspapers, and some are even written in French for papers in France and Belgium.”(19)
Morel established such widespread influence that he soon received attention from the Royal Palace in England.(20) During their meeting, Sir Alfred Jones, who represented King Leopold’s interests in Great Britain and was described in the press as the “Uncrowned King of West Africa,” attempted to convince Morel that King Leopold had well intentioned motives and that the journalist should stop reporting on news about Congo.(21) As the conversation continued, Sir Alfred Morris also claimed that “everything could be arranged with honour to all sides,” in which he insinuated bribing Morel.(22) However, by the end of the night, Morel had righteously declined Morris’ offer and kept serving his duty as Congo’s protector. Morel’s determination, even under money’s temptation, held its ground and in 1903, the British House of Commons finally passed an act to protest against humanitarian rights abuses in Congo,(23) which subsequently led to Leopold’s decline.
Red Rubber, written by E.D. Morel in 1905, exposed "the atrocities committed against the natives of the Congo by soldiers in the employ of King Leopold of Belgium" (41)
King Leopold's Rule in Africa, written by E.D. Morel in 1905, provides "an account of Belgian colonization in Africa and its consequences for the indigenous populations." (42)
Along with other humanitarians, Morel helped awaken a large response in the public and eventually put an end to Leopold’s atrocities. A year after the Congo protest resolution was passed, Morel and fellow humanitarians Roger Casement and Dr. Henry Grattan Guinness established the Congo Reform Association (CRA).(24) Morel gathered some famous American cultural figures like Mark Twain and Booker T. Washington to encourage worldwide outrage against Leopold and his deeds in Congo.(25) According to Morel, the “King's native policy was the inevitable sequel to his commercial policy,”(26) therefore it became important to unify the social elites to take down the tyrannical king.
Morel was instrumental in helping create the CRA, which is considered to be pioneering legislation in the mass human rights movement, and without which, thousands of other innocent Congolese would likely have perished under Leopold’s rule. Morel led the CRA to “achieve widespread public endorsements from church leaders and businessmen.”(27) The movement was even considered to be part of the British humanitarian tradition, which was “an appeal that enticed many wealthy donors and powerful supporters to its cause, and in turn placed immense pressure on the British government to address the issue with Leopold.”(28)
The CRA’s report in 1905 was so critical that the king reluctantly bowed to pressure and decided to hand the Congo over to Belgium.(29) The communications of transferring land from Leopold to Belgium went on for years and he tried everything to preserve his personal wealth and reputation. Belgium took direct control over the Congo from Leopold in 1908. By that time, Leopold had become the most hated person in Europe, which drew a sharp contrast with his reputation prior to Morel’s existence.(30) CRA’s continuous exposure of Lepold and constant pressure may have contributed to Leopold’s death on December 17, 1909. When the King died, his family's request of having a private funeral was denied by the Belgian government and during his funeral, his coffin was booed by the public as it headed to the cemetery. (31)
The CRA’s mission today is to “inspire social action through story, film, and social media to end the Congo conflict and create a self-sustaining, thriving Congo.”(32) In response to the Black Lives Matter movement,(33) King Leopold’s statue has recently been taken down by protestors and his crimes have been more widely acknowledged throughout the world, all of which would not have been possible without Morel, who managed to leave a lasting legacy.(34) While some in Europe like King Leopold viewed the African continent as empty of Africans and a vast space ready to be claimed for profit through the use of military means, others like Morel believed that the human exploitation was unethical and was dedicated to revealing the truth about slavery to the public. Morel’s fearlessness when going against a member of royalty and criminal mastermind in Leopold, his determination in collecting all the evidence to prove his case, and his leadership when forming the Congo Reform Association are all key components in shaping one the world’s least known but nonetheless most important humanitarians.
In June 2020, because of the brutalities Leopold had done in Congo, angry activists defaced the statue and furiously demanded the statue to be taken down. A student led protest said it represented the "rape, mutilation and genocide of millions of Congolese". (43)
This is a letter from E.D. Morel, the Co-Founder of the Congo Reform Association, in the letter, he illustrated he mission of the CRA and a positive attitude toward a promising future of the association. (44)
Footnotes
1) Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold's Ghost: a Study of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. London: Papermac, 2000. Page 17
2) ibid
3) Coard, Michael. “Coard: King Leopold: Twice the Monster Hitler Was.” The Philadelphia Tribune, April 7, 2018.https://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/coard-king-leopold-twice-the-monster-hitler-was/article_597c993b-5e60-549f-b873-76f85815c0cf.html.
4) Morel. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111mor.html.
5) REINDERS, ROBERT C. "RACIALISM ON THE LEFT: E.D. MOREL AND THE "BLACK HORROR ON THE RHINE"." International Review of Social History 13, no. 1 (1968): 1-28. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44581604.
6) Aronson, p13.
7) Hochild, p187
8) http://www.fafich.ufmg.br/~luarnaut/Letter%20Leopold%20II%20to%20Colonial%20Missionaries.pdf
9) Hochild, p189
10) “WILLIAMS IN MIDDLETOWN.; HE PROSPERED FOR A TIME, BUT HIS TRUE CHARACTER WAS LEARNED.” The New York Times. The New York Times, April 15, 1891. https://www.nytimes.com/1891/04/15/archives/williams-in-middletown-he-prospered-for-a-time-but-his-true.html.
11) Venkatanarayanan S., “Behind Congo's Misery,” Frontline (Frontline, October 16, 2020)
12) "Leopold, II." In Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1994. Gale In Context: World History (accessed January 21, 2021). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1616000358/WHIC?u=lawr21149&sid=WHIC&xid=ebb3514e.
13) Hochild p187
14) Hochild p188
15) Ibid
16) ibid
17) Hochild p189
18) Hochild p187
19) Ibid
20) Hochild p192
21) ibid
22) ibid
23) Anstey, Roger. (1966). King Leopold's legacy : the Congo under Belgian rule, 1908-1960. Oxford University Press. p. 11
24) “C.R.A. History.” Welcome to the Congo Reform Association. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.congoreformassociation.org/cra-history.
25) ibid
26) Morel, E. D. (Edmund Dene), 1873-1924. Affairs of West Africa. p. 345
27) Hochild p213
28) ibid
29) "Leopold, II." In Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1994. Gale In Context: World History (accessed January 21, 2021). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1616000358/WHIC?u=lawr21149&sid=WHIC&xid=ebb3514e.
30) 2006. White king, red rubber, black death. New York, NY: ArtMattan Productions.
31) ibid
32) “C.R.A. History.” Welcome to the Congo Reform Association. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.congoreformassociation.org/cra-history.
33) Pronczuk, Monika, and Mihir Zaveri. “Statue of Leopold II, Belgian King Who Brutalized Congo, Is Removed in Antwerp.” The New York Times. The New York Times, June 9, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/world/europe/king-leopold-statue-antwerp.html.
34) ibid
35) “King Leopold of Belgium in Congo.” Africa Atrocities Watch, November 9, 2016. http://atrocitieswatch.org/king-leopold-of-belgium-in-congo/.
36) “The Butcher of Congo: King Leopold II of Belgium.” Andre C James - Digital Journal. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.digitaljournal.com/blog/11297?noredir=1.
37) “Edmund Morel 1873 – 1924.” Life in Lubumbashi, D.R. Congo. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://lifeinlubumbashi.blogspot.com/2012/12/edmund-morel-1873-1924.html.
38) Grace, Michael L. “ELDER DEMPSTER LINES – 150 Years Serving West Africa from the UK.” THE PAST AND NOW | News, Travel & Social History, February 23, 2008. https://www.cruiselinehistory.com/elder-dempster-lines/.
39) Harford, Tim. “The Horrific Consequences of Rubber's Toxic Past.” BBC News. BBC, July 23, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48533964.
40) “Explore DR Congo in Maps and Graphs.” BBC News. BBC, November 27, 2012. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15722799.
41) Morel, Edmund Dene. “Red Rubber: The Story of the Rubber Slave Trade Flourishing on the Congo in the Year of Grace 1906.” Google Books. Haskell House Publishers. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://books.google.com/books/about/Red_Rubber.html?id=EhtzAAAAMAAJ&source=kp_book_description.
42) Morel, Edmund Dene. “King Leopold's Rule in Africa.” Google Books. W. Heinemann. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://books.google.com/books/about/King_Leopold_s_Rule_in_Africa.html?id=S84NAAAAIAAJ.
43) Webster, Georgina Rannard & Eve. “Leopold II: Belgium 'Wakes up' to Its Bloody Colonial Past.” BBC News. BBC, June 12, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53017188.
44) “C.R.A. History.” Welcome to the Congo Reform Association. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.congoreformassociation.org/cra-history.
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Grace, Michael L. “ELDER DEMPSTER LINES – 150 Years Serving West Africa from the UK.” THE PAST AND NOW | News, Travel & Social History, February 23, 2008. https://www.cruiselinehistory.com/elder-dempster-lines/.
Harford, Tim. “The Horrific Consequences of Rubber's Toxic Past.” BBC News. BBC, July 23, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48533964.
“Explore DR Congo in Maps and Graphs.” BBC News. BBC, November 27, 2012. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15722799.
Morel, Edmund Dene. “Red Rubber: The Story of the Rubber Slave Trade Flourishing on the Congo in the Year of Grace 1906.” Google Books. Haskell House Publishers. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://books.google.com/books/about/Red_Rubber.html?id=EhtzAAAAMAAJ&source=kp_book_description.
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Webster, Georgina Rannard & Eve. “Leopold II: Belgium 'Wakes up' to Its Bloody Colonial Past.” BBC News. BBC, June 12, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53017188.
“C.R.A. History.” Welcome to the Congo Reform Association. Accessed January 22, 2021. http://www.congoreformassociation.org/cra-history.