Already the King of the Belgians had succeeded in arousing widespread interest in the exploration of Africa.  In the autumn of 1876 he convened a meeting of leading explorers and geographers of the six Great Powers and of Belgium for the discussion of questions connected with the opening up of that continent; but at that time, and until the results of Stanley’s journey were made known, the King and his coadjutors turned their gaze almost exclusively on East Africa.  It is therefore scarcely appropriate for one of the Belgian panegyrists of the King to proclaim that when Central Africa celebrates its Day of Thanksgiving for the countless blessings of civilisation conferred by that monarch, it will look back on the day of meeting of that Conference (Sept. 12, 1876) as the dawn of the new era of goodwill and prosperity[455].  King Leopold, in opening the Conference, made use of the inspiring words quoted at the head of this chapter, and asked the delegates to discuss the means to be adopted for “planting definitely the standard of civilisation on the soil of Central Africa.”

[Footnote 455:  L’Afrique nouvelle.  Par.  E. Descamps, Brussels, Paris, 1903, p. 8.]

As a result of the Conference, “The International Association for the Exploration and Civilisation of Africa” was founded.  It had committees in most of the capitals of Europe, but the energy of King Leopold, and the sums which he and his people advanced for the pioneer work of the Association, early gave to that of Brussels a priority of which good use was made in the sequel[456].  The Great Powers were at this time distracted by the Russo-Turkish war and by the acute international crisis that supervened.  Thus the jealousies and weakness of the Great Powers left the field free for Belgian activities, which, owing to the energy of a British explorer, were definitely concentrated upon the exploitation of the Congo.

[Footnote 456:  For details see J. de C. Macdonell, King Leopold II., p. 113.]

On November 25, 1878, a separate committee of the International Association was formed at Brussels with the name of “Comite d’Etudes du Haut Congo.”  In the year 1879 it took the title of the “International Association of the Congo,” and for all practical purposes superseded its progenitor.  Outwardly, however, the Association was still international.  Stanley became its chief agent on the River Congo, and in the years 1879-1880 made numerous treaties with local chiefs.  In February 1880 he founded the first station of the Association at Vivi, and within four years established twenty-four stations on the main river and its chief tributaries.  The cost of these explorations was largely borne by King Leopold.