"The country now mourning his loss must worthily honour one who has died leaving such a splendid record behind him. "The country places all its hopes in the loyal co-operation, already so happily manifested, of the Prince who has been called to preside over the destiny of Belgium. "He will be inspired by the illustrious examples of those who became, by the help of Providence, the benefactors of the Belgian people. "The Council of Ministers: F. Schollaert, _Minister of the Interior and of Agriculture_. Leon de Lantsheere, _Minister of Justice_. J. Davignon, _Minister of Foreign Affairs_. J. Liebaert, _Minister of Finance_. Bon Descamps, _Minister of Science and Art_. Arm. Hubert, _Minister of Industry and Labour_. M. Delbeke, _Minister of Public Works_. G. Hellepute,_ Minister of Railways, Posts and Telegraphs_. J. Hellepute, _Minister of War_. J. Renkin, _Colonial Minister_." Of the signatories of this moving proclamation some are dead, others are still living. To those who are no more, and to those who are still alive, I say: "You have written and attested that the creation of the African State was the _personal_ work of the King. In his _person_, then, you have recognized _the man_, _the head of the family_--and _therefore the family itself_; otherwise the word _personal_ is without meaning.... And, as a matter of fact, it has suddenly lost its meaning. The King, now an entity without terrestrial chains, has enriched Belgium to the exclusion of his children, who are declared non-existent. "And how, with or without you, has he been honoured? "In continuing the endowment of Niederfullbach and other creations of this gifted benefactor? "Ah! In no way whatever! "You have liquidated, realized, destroyed and abandoned all that he conceived and ordered. I do not wish to describe in detail all that has passed, and I have no desire to touch on the sadness connected with the secrets of Niederfullbach and other works of the King, from the day when they ceased to be under his direction. I will take my stand on the ground of the sin against morality which most concerns me. "Eleven years have passed since the death of the 'Great King.' Where is the monument erected to his memory? "The people of Ostend, who owe to him the prosperity and beauty of their town, have not even dared to show an example of their gratitude. They are afraid of vexing the ungrateful people of Brussels, who prefer silence." His wishes with respect to the Congo and his heirs are in three documents, which I append below: First: (I) An explanatory letter of the King, dated June 3, 1906, in testamentary form. (Attached to exhibit No. 36 in the collection published by the Belgian Government.)