A Journal of a Tour in the Congo Free State | Page 5

indeed, are strong evidence of
the earnest way in which the Congo is being developed.
It is necessary now to turn from the actual visual facts and to study the
statements of others. While doing so however, we must bear in mind
the main outlines of the history of the Congo Free State. The opening
up of the Congo was entirely due to the initiative of King Leopold of
Belgium aided by the explorations of the late Sir H.M. Stanley. In 1878,
after Stanley's first descent of the Congo, a society of philanthropists
was formed called the _Comité d'études du Haut-Congo_ but this was
changed in 1882 to the Association Internationale du Congo. Stanley
and a French officer, M. de Brazza, then both worked up from the coast
at the same time and the former reached Lake Leopold on June 1st

1882, while the latter concluded treaties with the Chiefs on the north
bank of the river and founded the French Congo.
The International Association of the Congo at once organised itself into
an Independent State and on April 22nd 1884 a Declaration was made
by the Government of the United States of America that it recognized
the flag of the International Association as that of a friendly
Government. At the end of 1884 and the beginning of 1885,
Conventions were arranged between the Governments of Austria,
Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy,
Holland, Portugal, Russia and Sweden and Norway and the
International Association of the Congo in which all those countries
recognised the flag of the International Association as that of a friendly
Government. It is therefore clear that the chief Powers of the World
regarded the Association as an Independent State and negotiated with it
as such.
At the same time the Powers of Europe were annexing various parts of
Africa, and with the idea of regulating in a spirit of mutual goodwill the
conditions most favourable for the development of civilisation and
commerce, a Conference was arranged at Berlin by Prince Bismarck.
All the Powers of Europe and the United States of America sent
plenipotentiaries who sat from November 15th 1884 to February 26th
1885 and agreed to the General Act of Berlin of the latter date. In this it
is decreed that all nations should enjoy complete liberty of commerce
in all the territories constituting the basin of the Congo and its
tributaries, and also in other parts of Central Africa mentioned, that
slavery should be abolished and that the Congo river should be open to
general navigation.
We shall have to refer to this Treaty later, but it is important to note
here that the United States of America and all the great Powers of
Europe had recognised the International Association as an Independent
State before it was signed. Furthermore, before this date, Conventions
had been signed with France and Portugal to arrange the frontiers
between the territories of those Powers and the International
Association. The General Act of Berlin had however nothing to do with

frontiers at all, but stated the general principles which it seemed were
best suited to the needs of the people and territories in Central Africa,
to which all the African Powers, and among them the International
Association, voluntarily agreed. It is therefore clear that the clauses of
the Act apply to all the Powers in the territories defined, and that the
Act itself was not concerned with founding or regulating the system of
Government of the International Association, which six months later
took the name of the _État Indépendant du Congo_ with His Majesty
Ring Leopold II. as sovereign.
While engaged in studying these treaties, we arrived at Free Town,
Sierra Leone on July 5th. Here again the place forms a beautiful picture
from the sea. A reef runs far out and is marked by a lighthouse, while
the town itself, protected by a fort with grass ramparts, lies on the south
side of a kind of bay, which, however, has more the appearance of the
mouth of a large river. Palms and other tropical plants grow to the
water's edge and among them are yellow and red houses while higher
up the hills behind, are isolated bungalows and the barracks, at this
time occupied by the West African regiment. In the distance, bleak and
bare mountains passively regard the scene. On landing, one meets faces
showing every shade from ivory white to jet black and clothes of every
known colour. The roads are not paved in any way, as there are neither
horses nor wheeled vehicles here. Indeed, the houses are built in rows
facing each other, a gutter is cut in front and the space between forms a
street. The Custom House is an imposing structure near the beach and
the Cathedral is a handsome Gothic church,