Feb. 1, 18S9.] 4.0i [Phillips. 



gians, notified the powers of the foundation of the Congo Independent 

 State. 



THE BERLIN CONFERENCE. 



While the Association Internationale Africaine was opening the route to 

 Central Africa, via Zanzibar, the Comiie d'Etudes du Haut Congo was 

 carrying on its explorations along that river, and the Association Interna- 

 tionale du Congo was investigating the basin of the Congo and acquiring 

 territorial domains and rights of sovereignty. Portugal still asserted 

 her ancient although shadowy and undetermined pretensions over the 

 western coast and the interior. England sided with Portugal, and 

 France, entering by the river Ogooue, sought to become master of 

 the river beyond the stations already established by the Association ; 

 Germany seized a number of points on the western coast, and commer- 

 cial houses founded by Dutch, English, Germans and Americans contin- 

 ued their operations on the Lower Congo or the sea coast, and their 

 mutual encroachments could, at any moment, give rise to their respec- 

 tive governments, a pretext for intervention, and become a source of 

 grave trouble, danger, and even of bloodshed. In order to compose these 

 conflicting interests, France and Germany took the initiative towards 

 assembling a conference, at which should be represented all the nations 

 that had commercial relations on the Congo ; fourteen powers responded, 

 viz., Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United 

 States of America, France, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Russia, 

 Sweden and Norway, Portugal, and Turkey. 



Tiie conference opened at Berlin on November 15, 1884. and on Feb- 

 ruary 26, 1885, the plenipotentiaries of the powers assembled, signed an 

 act of which the following is a resume. 



Liberty of Conscience is assured by the first section for the whole 

 immense basin of the Congo, which is admitted without being confused 

 by natural, orographic boundaries ; for twenty years no entry-duties shall 

 be charged on any goods. The Association Internationale du Congo has, 

 in its treaties with the principal nations, declared that at no time shall any 

 import duties be levied within its possessions. An export duty repre- 

 senting from 3 to 4^ of their commercial value is levied by the Congo 

 Independent State on eight indigenous products. All privileges of exit 

 are likewise granted without any favoritisms to flag or cargo. All strangers 

 are to have equal rights of liberty, freedom of conscience ; the aborigines 

 are to be protected in the peaceful possession of their rights and prop- 

 erty. 



Tlie perpetual proscription of slavery is a fundamental dogma of 

 public law in all the colonies situated in the basin of the Congo ; no slave 

 shall be permitted to be sold, no slave mart to be established, on the ter- 

 ritory. 



The States that have arisen or may arise in the basin of the Congo, and 

 the powers desirous of colonizing, have a right to declare such colonies 



