1885 in the neighbourhood of those under the control of the Intema-
Feb. 23. tional Association of the Congo. As representing a neighbouring
Berlin, state, hé, in the name of his Government, fully supported all th a t
the President had said in favour of the work of humanity and
civilisation originated by His Majesty the King of the Belgians.
M. de V in d was happy to join in the good wishes which had
already been expressed for the happiness and prosperity of the new
Congo state. The humanitarian and civilizing object of its founders
was highly appreciated by the Danish Government.
The P l e n ipo t en t ia r y of S w ed en and N orway also joined in the
good wishes a t the birth of the new State, and in favour of its
development.
Mr. Sanford said th a t the Government of the United States of
America had been the first to publicly acknowledge the gréât
civilizing work of King Leopold I I . by recognising the flag of the
International Association of the Congo as th a t of a friendly government.
He was happy to find th a t this example ha#l been followed
by the Powers of the Old World, and it only remained for him to:
express his hope th a t he would see the crowning of th e work
in the participation of the Association in the Acts of thé Com
ference.
S a id P a sh a regretted th a t he was not yet able to join officially
in the sympathetic declarations of his colleagues.: Only a few days
had elapsed since this question of recognising the flag of the In te rnational
Association had arisen. There had not bëen sufficient time
for him to receive his instructions on the subject, but while awaiting
those instructions, he could say th a t personally he had no
objection to the constitution of the new State.
Count V a n d er S t r a t e n P onthoz thanked the President for th e
terms in which he had spoken of His Majesty the King of the
Belgians. The sentiménts thus expressed would be gratefully
received by the King and the Belgian nation ; and Count Van der
Straten Ponthoz would convey those sentiments to them without
delay: He was also bound to tell thé Members of the High
Assembly how deeply he was sensible of the sympathetic and
unanimous approbation they had given to what had fallen from
M. Busch. The praise bestowed on the initiative pursued by thé
King of the Belgians despite so many’obstacles, was praise well
merited. The Acts of the Conference gave practical expression to
His Majesty’s bold and generous ideas. The Government and the
Belgian nation would adhere with gratitude to the work elaborated
by the High Assembly, and thanks to which there' was henceforth
assured the existence of the new State a t’ the same time as régulations
were laid down in the général interest of mankind.
Baron L ambermont spoke as follows :—
“ I f the President of the International Association of the Congo
had the honour to sit amongst you, i t would fall to him to reply to
the words we have heard to-day, and which are so appreciative of
the King of the Belgians and of his work. In his absence, and
although- representing His Majesty under another title, my colleague
and I thought we might be allowed to testify how fully we
are sensible of the compliment you have paid to thé Pounder'of the
Association.
' “ Count Van der Straten has expressed his sentiments, and in
them I cordially join. We are well aware th a t we cannot go too
far in expressing in advance our gratitude, for we do so in H is
Majesty’s name, in recognition of the support th a t his enterprise
has received amongst you, and which support is not the- least
important guarantee of its success.”
The President announces th a t the letter of the President of the
International Association of the Congo, and the various declarations
it had given rise to would become the Protocol o f the sitting. I t
is considered convenient by many of the Plenipotentiaries th a t in
order to complete Colonel Strauch’s communication, copies of the
différent treaties by which the International Association had obtained
the recognition of the several Governments should be boun
together and annexed to the Protocol.
DECLARATIONS * J
EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE CONGO..
The International Association of the Congo declares by these
presents, th a t in virtue of the treaties concluded with the legitimate
sovereigns, in the basins of the Congo and Niadi-Kwilu and
in the territories bordering on the Atlantic, there has been ceded
to it a territory fo r' the use and profit’ of the Free States, 'already
established, or in course of establishment, under the protection and-
surveillance of the said Association in the said basins and adjacent
territories, and th a t the said Free States succeed to the full rights of-
th is cession. . . . . (! . i
That the said International Association has adopted as its flag as
2 E 2
1885.
Feb. 23.-
Berlin. .