Congo Free State

Abstract

The Congo Free State was constituted and defined by the General Act of the International Congo Conference, signed at Berlin February 26, 1885, by which it was declared neutral and free to the trade of all nations, in conjunction with the rest of the basin of the River Congo. The Powers reserved to themselves, until the end of a period of twenty years, the right of deciding if freedom of entry shall be maintained or not. But an International Conference, which met at Brussels in 1890, authorised the Government of the Free State to levy certain duties on imports. The Congo Free State was placed under the sovereignty of the King of the Belgians individually; but by will dated August 2, 1889, the King bequeathed to Belgium all his sovereign rights in the State. On July 31, 1890, the territories of the State were declared inalienable, and a Convention of July 3, 1890, between Belgium and the Free State, reserved to the former the right of annexing the latter after a period of ten years.