 The timetable called for the gradual emancipation of the Congo over a 30-year period—the time Van Bilsen expected it would take to create an educated elite who could replace the Belgians in positions of power.The Belgian government and many of the "évolués" were suspicious of the plan—the former because it meant eventually giving up the Congo, and the latter because Belgium would continue to rule for another three decades.A group of Catholic "évolués" responded positively to the plan with a moderate manifesto in a Congolese journal called "Conscience Africaine"; they raised issues as to the extent of Congolese participation.