Phillips.] 4bU [Nov. 2, 1888, and 



and maintained along the whole course of the river ; no violence, no 

 usurpations, no disrespect of the rights of the native chiefs were per- 

 mitted, none took place, and the result was the peaceable establishment of 

 settlements whose future was assured. 



The philanthropic and scientific ends of the " Comife d'Etudts " became 

 interwoven with a political idea, that of founding in the very heart of 

 Africa an immense independent State, and the Comite changed its name 

 and became henceforth '' U Association Internationale dii Congo." Under 

 this title the Society redoubled its efforts, and by the end of the year 1883, 

 it had concluded with the various independent chiefs of the Congo basin, 

 and that of the "Niadi Kwilu," more than one thousand treaties, by 

 which the native chieftains ceded to it all their territorial rights over the 

 immense domains included within the before-mentioned boundaries. 



It now remained only to obtain from the civilized nations some recogni- 

 tion of this new arrival among States ; the very first successful negotiations 

 to that effect were with the United States of America ; on the lOtli of 

 April, 1884, the Senate of the United States authorized the President to 

 recognize the standard of the International Association of the Congo as 

 fully as that of any other friendly government. On November 8, 1884, 

 the Emperor of Germany authorized a similar recognition. Subsequently 

 the conference at Berlin was opened " to regulate, in an amicable spirit and 

 with cordiality, the conditions that could assure the development of the 

 commerce of the Congo, and arrange for the prevention of errors and 

 mutual misunderstandings." Diplomatic relations were sought with all 

 the powers that had sent agents to this conference, resulting in the ulti- 

 mate recognition, by them, of the new State, and, on February 26, 1885, 

 The Congo International Association itself gave in its adherence to the 

 resolutions formulated T)y the conference. Prince Bismarck, in announc- 

 ing the recognition at the end of the conference, said, " I think that I may 

 express the sentiments of this assemblage in saluting, with satisfaction, this 

 act of the Congo Association. To the new State is to be entrusted the 

 work that we have outlined, and I breathe my most hearty wishes for its 

 prosperous development and for the fulfillment of the grand ideas ol its 

 illustrious and noble founder." 



But one thing now remained, the official nomination of the sovereign of 

 the Congo Independent State ; a choice already made by the logic of accom- 

 plished facts and the unanimous voice of public opinion. With a univer- 

 sal approbation. His Majesty, Leopold II, desired his ministers to recom- 

 mend to the chambers to pass a law, that, in conformance with Article 

 LXIl of the Belgian Constitution, would permit him to accept the sover- 

 eignty of another State, and the authorization was granted in the follow- 

 ing terms: " Sa Majeste LEOPOLD II, Roi des Beiges, est aulorise 

 a etre le Chef de I'Etat fonde en Afrique par I'Association Internationale 

 du Congo. L' Union entre la Belgique et le nouvel Etat sera exclusive- 

 ment personnelle." 



On the 1st of August, 1885, His Majesty, Leopold II, King of the Bel- 



