African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1498: Chapter 38: Autonomy

The foundation of the Congo colony cannot compare to that of Belgium’s homeland, but it excels in stability. Moreover, although Belgium’s homeland economy is quite good nowadays, the actual living standards of the people are not as good as they might be.

This has resulted in the population absorbed by the Congo being greater than the population heading to Belgium.

However, the current troublesome issue for the Belgian government is the natural ambition of the local government in the Congo due to the impact of the war.

As war refugees in the Congo decide whether to stay or return to their homeland after the epidemic is completely over, the Belgian Parliament is discussing the Congo colony.

A member of parliament said, ”During the war, because of the threat to the homeland from the war, the local government in the Congo actually separated from the control of Belgium’s homeland, and this period lasted for nearly five years.”

”Moreover, in the later stages of the war, due to beneficial exchanges, the Central Government promised substantial benefits and rights to the local Congo, increasing the tendency for Congo to separate from Belgium.”

”And this increased Congo’s centrifugal force. Over the years, Congo has achieved astonishing economic success with Belgium’s help, but tax revenue has not increased much compared to before the war. This is unimaginable, the Kingdom should restore Congo to its rightful place.”

This proposal was immediately opposed by Congo representative Hanberg: ”Rokas, your words are completely unreasonable. Our Congo provided significant assistance to the homeland during the war. Not only did we offer substantial strategic materials, but we also put in manpower and effort, making considerable contributions to the Kingdom’s persistence until the end of the war. Your remarks are undoubtedly a scorn towards Congo.”

”The rights we Congo obtained are the fruits of our previous efforts. If the Kingdom really follows your statements in treating Congo, it would undoubtedly be a severe harm to over 1.3 million Congolese people.”

”Excuse me, Rokas, can you bear the anger of over 1.3 million Congolese? This bridge-destruction behavior is undoubtedly extremely shameless!”

Of course, the desire to separate from Belgium mainly comes from some current local officials in the Congo, but for most ordinary people, as long as Belgium’s homeland can treat everyone equally, whether to stay in Belgium will have no impact, and undoubtedly, even the Belgian government itself may not be able to achieve this.

Nowadays the world colonial system is on the brink of collapse, but it is precisely because this system remains that colonies still naturally are considered inferior.

However, some rapidly developing colonies with a certain degree of autonomy have started to strive for greater rights from the Sovereign Country. Besides Congo, the United Kingdom’s colonies in Canada and Australia are typical examples.

Rokas replied, ”Mr. Hanberg, I do not intend to offend the people of the Congo colony, but Congo’s development itself only prospered smoothly under the promotion of the homeland. Naturally, you cannot just enjoy the benefits brought by the Kingdom without undertaking corresponding responsibilities.”

Hanberg paid no heed to Rokas’ argument. He raised his voice towards the attendees in the parliament, ”The achievements we Congo have attained today indeed received assistance from homeland enterprises and immigrants.”

”However, more stemmed from the superior natural geographic conditions compared to Congo and the hard struggle of our people within the Congo territory.”

”Congo’s population now exceeds one million, nearly 20% of the homeland’s total. Undoubtedly, this 20% of Belgian citizens is a presence the Kingdom cannot ignore. They have made outstanding contributions to the Empire’s development.”

”Before 1910, more than 40% of Congo’s profits each year were taken by the homeland, including taxes and corporate income. This proportion is higher than in any other place within the Empire.”

”So, I believe the people of Congo nowadays are entitled to enjoy the same treatment as homeland citizens, rather than being subjected to unfair treatment or even discrimination.”

What Hanberg stated is true, but if we delve into it, the contribution of Congo to Belgium isn’t as significant as imagined.

Because for a long period since the existence of the Congo colony, the local economic revenue wasn’t high. After all, Congo initially had a pitifully small scale; although there were abundant mineral resources, most of the profits went to the royal family, or specifically into Leopold II’s pockets.

The Belgian government officially took control of the Congo colony after 1909, but soon thereafter, Belgium’s homeland fell into the quagmire of war and could hardly care for the isolated Congo colony overseas.

Not only did they fail to gain significant profits from Congo, but many homeland citizens and enterprises fled to Congo for refuge, further promoting Congo’s economic development.

Of course, the fundamental cause of the controversy between Hanberg and Rokas is indeed for tangible interests. In Congo, a local interest group has been formed that Belgium’s homeland can no longer ignore. Moreover, the Belgian government has no good means to check against this newly formed interest group, which is why Congo can face the homeland so confidently.

Economically, Congo now has the ability to develop independently from Belgium’s homeland, and with East Africa as its backing and proximity to the markets in South America and West Africa, if Congo separates from Belgium, it is very likely to thrive.

And economic development further promotes the local forces in Congo to demand political status, which is inevitable.