| Show WAS HUED DOWN OLD GLORY riOT ALLOWED TO FLOAT IX AFRICA I The Story Told By Carl Strcckelmnn I a Citizen of Indiana Who Has Lived in the Congo Region For j UUJn Ycnrl I I Indianapolis March 29Carl Streckel man a citizen of Indiana who has been in the Congo region of Africa for several years writes to friends here that he is in j I trouble with the French His letter is i written irom MayumLa He maintains I that under the Berlin treaty he has aright a-right to display the American flag over II his house and over his boats The French he says will not permit him to I display the tag He asks that Secretary Greshams attention be called to the traetment ho is receiving He says the i French aro becoming unbearable in the Conventional basis of the Congo The first act of the French was to order I ell American flags down on land About the frt of the year they directed that the Stars and Stripes should not be als played over boats In the course of fciS 1 I letter Mr Streckleman says I i I ask you to make necessary Inquiries from the home government as to what rights I have in the conventional basus i or the Congo and if I put up my flag 1 what I shall do if I am ordered l take i down Will the government assist me when the French arrest me for hoisting a Hag in a district where I have n right to do so under the Berlin treaty To what consul or commander of a boat shall 1 apply for ala audi a state o 1lb f simply unbearable I enclose a few paragraphs par-agraphs of the Berlin treaty In making Inquiries be particular to ask If this treaty gives me also the right to display the Stars and Stripes over my houseand land and if I am permitted to hoist my flag when traveling In 8 canoe bought Europe from natives or over a boat bought in Mr Streckelman quotes the following paragraph from the Berlin treaty All flags without distinction of nationality na-tionality shall have free access to tlic whole of the coast line of the territories above enumerated to the rivers running Into the sea to all the waters of Congo and its tributaries including the lakes and to all the ports situated on the banks of these waters a well as to all canale which in future may be constructed with intent to unite the water courses ot lakes within the territories described in article No L Those trading under such flag may engage in all sorts of transport and carry I if f on the coasting trade by sea and river as well a boat traffic on the same footing a 1 they were subjects Friends here will refer llr Streckel mans complaint of the French to Seer tary Gresham |
