26 [No. 99 HISTORY was decided to form a body, to be known as the Comité d'Études du Haut-Congo . The title-deeds of the new committee were somewhat obscure, but in effect the new body speedily superseded the Inter national Association, adopting the title of Association Internationale du Congo. A great and important change in method was made by King Leopold in concert with Stanley, when it was determined to prosecute the work of exploration no longer from the eastern coast of Africa, as had previously been done, but from the west coast, up the great river from its mouth .

In accordance with the policy determined upon, Stanley was invited to return to the Congo. This he did, and spent the next four years in making treaties with the natives. By 1884, twenty-two stations had been founded on the Congo and its tributaries, while numerous expeditions, penetrating the country lying within the great bend of the river, were rapidly acquir ing territory for the Association . This activity did not escape the notice of the various European Powers interested in Africa . De Brazza succeeded in establish ing French influence on the northern banks of the Congo and in the Shari and Ubanghi districts ; and a series of disputes arose which drew attention to the fact that the Association held no status as a sovereign Power.

(3) THE ANGLO-PORTUGUESE CONVENTION (1884) The question came to a head early in 1884 , when Lord Granville, taking advantage of claims advanced by Portugal to the Congo in virtue of its discovery centuries before, concluded a convention ( February 26, 1884) with that country, recognizing both banks of the mouth of the Congo as Portuguese territory, and placing the navigation of the river under the control