Dutch National Archives, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL

Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of my colleague, Mr. Scheyven, and myself, I would first like to express our gratitude to those who have led this conference: Mr. Lilar, the president; Mr. Boiya and Mr. Kanza, the two vice-presidents; and all the staff of the office responsible for organizing the conference. I also want to thank the government. And of course, I am grateful to all the gentlemen who have come here from Congo and who have worked so hard and skillfully through your delegations in the committees working on infrastructure or elections, in the office, in the editorial committee, or in the plenary session during this round table conference.

You have given your best, and for that, I thank you. My sincere thanks also go to my colleagues in the First and Second Chambers for their active cooperation.

They were present here as representatives of the Parliamentary Institution as such, and they may now report to that Institution what they have heard and said here. I would like to thank some of them in particular for their personal cooperation - you have all mentioned Mr. Rolin, Minister of State, and others of my colleagues - and for their personal contribution to the legal work of our Round Table Conference. A final word of thanks goes to all the staff of the Record and Reports offices who were our dedicated helpers.

Allow me to add a special word of thanks to my colleagues and to the advisors of the Ministry of Congo who came here from Congo itself. I would like to publicly express how much I appreciate their tireless, dedicated cooperation.

Gentlemen, together we have written a page of History, a page that until now remained blank - a page that is unique in the annals of relations that arose between the so-called colonial powers and their colonies when the desire for independence arose.

Many of you have noted that Congo will rise from its status of colony, however moderate our administration may be, to that of an absolutely independent state. Sovereign powers will be recognized as of June 30th regarding the peoples of Congo.

This page of history was written in a short month as a result of certain consultations and conversations that preceded it. Let us all be proud of the result we have achieved.

First and foremost, I would like to express my satisfaction with the work of this conference itself. The initially reserved atmosphere in which the first debates took place between delegates who were likely inclined to view each other with suspicion disappeared with the days; mistrust melted into trust, and reserve into efficient and effective cooperation. From this cooperation arose the resolutions we adopted yesterday, which your delegations have endorsed not only with their signatures but also with their words.

For it is the moral signature of Congo, legally represented by your delegations, that stands behind the resolutions that form the basis and foundation of the legal framework that must now be prepared by the Belgian parliament for presentation to your country on July 1st. My thoughts today are with the peoples of Congo for whom you have worked here: for them, the great importance of the decisions to be made in the coming weeks will become clear.

The future of Congo is now in the hands of the people.

We feel some concern about the weight of responsibility resting on the shoulders of the Congolese leaders. These will be political leaders, tribal chiefs, those who within a day or two will assume their first responsibilities as members of the colleges.

And especially those men who will be elected as deputies and senators in a few months, provincial councilors, members of your executive bodies in each province, and the ministers of Congo as a whole. To all of them we wish now and in the future: Courage and good luck! My thoughts are also with you. Gentlemen, who addressed the Congolese peoples yesterday and called on them to abide by the laws, to cooperate closely with the administration, and to fully cooperate with Belgium.

This train of thought conjures a mental image of Congo, where about 100,000 Europeans reside. I am now speaking to all those Europeans there, and in particular to my compatriots. I appeal to them with the same words and ask them to abide by the laws, to obey the authorities of today and those who will take office tomorrow, and to respect the laws of the people among whom they live.

Gentlemen of Congo, your call is closely related to mine. Together we appeal to the inhabitants of Congo, African and European, who are about to forge their common destiny in a few weeks' time. My eyes and thoughts are directed towards my Belgian compatriots who have been anxious in recent weeks and who find it so difficult in their hearts to forget the past that has shaped their lives. I appeal to them to reflect on it and accept the situation.

But aside from this minority group, my thoughts are particularly directed towards the vast majority of Belgians in Congo: planters, industrialists, traders, missionaries, officials, those who bring healing and science to the wilderness, the officers of the Congo army — all who have shared in the great work of civilization that began under King Leopold II. To all of this I say: Belgium has confidence in you. Your presence will henceforth be a permanent message of goodwill, devoid of any legal bastion, but with an infinitely firmer and more effective moral foundation.

I would also say: at this moment, at this conference where all Congolese delegations have spoken and expressed their desire to live in friendship with Belgium and to allow the Belgian people to cooperate with them for as long as possible - for they believe that our presence is indispensable - let at this moment, my friends and compatriots in Congo, your hearts beat in harmony with mine, and in unity with those of all Congolese present here. Together we ask you to stay; together we wish for your continued presence to be truly effective. Banish all your fears - the future will prove us right as security and peace prevail.

My thoughts now turn to all those who will offer their personal cooperation to the state under whose authority they will work from July 1st onwards, and especially to the officials and army officers there. The new Congolese state must not forget that there are also Belgians living in Congo. You need not fear that Belgium will question your authority, nor your loyalty. It says to its sons: Serve this Congo loyally, for it was forged by Belgians among the ranks of the nations; help these people with your fervor, your enthusiasm, and your knowledge. They will be grateful to you. Your motherland is full of gratitude towards those who, in the Congo, resume her work where she left off.

I would now like to address all of you who are present at this table; those who will soon come to Brussels; those who, alongside the minister, will establish the Political Committee and who will have so much to do in the coming weeks. My words are addressed to those of you who will in a few weeks' time be members of the provincial colleges that are part of the staff of the Governor-General and who, together with the Provincial Governors and the Governor-General, will take over the reins of government in the provinces and Congo as a whole.

Gentlemen, we bind you legally and warmly to the care of the interests of your compatriots. We count on you, because you are the men who will actually form the transitional authority that is essential for the strengthening and stabilization of the regime that will come into being on July 1st. The gigantic task of organizing independence through cooperation, objectivity, hard work, and tolerance. I personally rely on you. You are about to return to Congo, and every word reveals the joy and satisfaction you feel. I am sure that every word you speak will be a message of peace, understanding, and consent that we all so desperately need.

You are indeed aware that your words must be aimed at calming the anxiety that Congo has gained. You must reassure the concerned individuals to ensure the certainty and effectiveness of the assistance that Belgium wishes to provide to you, in return for which it asks only for a general promise of security, but that this security will be sincere and solid.

Providence will help us all, and especially you who are about to work successfully on the overwhelming task of setting up Congo's new political and administrative structure. I swear to you that Belgium and Congo will continue to exist, and that they will not only persist in mutual independence and efficient cooperation, but also in lasting and sincere friendship.

Long live Congo.
Long live Belgium.