Congo Belgian] THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION 25 Association, which undertook not only the exploration of unknown African regions, but also the furtherance, by all means in its power, of the suppression of the slave trade and of the promotion of legitimate commerce. After lengthy discussion it was unanimously agreed that each country wishing to take part in the enterprise should form a national committee. Money was to be collected by these bodies and delegates sent to an International Commission, whose permanent head quarters were to be situate at Brussels.

This scheme, however, very soon lost its inter national character. In England the Royal Geographical Society preferred to form a separate African Explora tion Fund, and sent out Keith Johnston and Joseph Thomson on scientific expeditions ; while France and Italy followed England's example in dispatching sepa rate expeditions respectively to the Gabun, under de Brazza, and to Abyssinia. These defections not withstanding, the Executive Committee of the Associa tion equipped several expeditions which were based on the East African coast. For various reasons these met with little or no success, the solitary result being the establishment of a station at Karema, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, which was shortly afterwards to be transferred to Germany.

(2) LEOPOLD II AND STANLEY This, then, was the situation in August 1877, when news reached Brussels that Stanley had successfully completed his great journey across Africa from Zanzi bar, whence he had started in 1874. On the explorer's return to Europe, King Leopold lost no time in inviting him to visit Brussels. Thereafter, events moved swiftly ; and at a meeting which took place on November 25, 1878, between the King, Stanley, and certain members of the International Association, it