Belgian) ANGLO-PORTUGUESE CONVENTION 27 of an Anglo -Portuguese Commission . Later, Great Britain suggested that this commission should be an international one.

The publication of the treaty aroused a storm , for the instrument not only threatened to hamper the operations of the International Association, but set a limit to French expansion on the Lower Congo. King Leopold, however, found his opportunity in the pro posed arrangement, and began forthwith a diplomatic campaign which was to end in the recognition by the European Powers of his sovereignty over a vast territory in Central Africa. He first of all approached France, who was admittedly irritated by the menace to her new colonial empire contained in the Anglo - Portuguese Convention . An agreement (April 24, 1884) was quickly arrived at, and, in return for the recognition of the Association by its most serious rival, King Leopold caused a note to be addressed to the French Government, declaring that the Association would not cede its possessions to any Power, ' except in virtue of special Conventions which may be concluded between France and the Association for fixing the limits and conditions of their respective actions ' . The note further engaged to give France the right of pre emption, were the Association compelled to sell its possessions.

This arrangement concluded with France, King Leopold turned to the German Government, with whom he was on good terms. Bismarck was by this time committed to a policy of colonial activity. He therefore agreed to support the cause of the Associa tion, and on May 5, 1884, the German Ambassador in London was instructed to inform the British Govern ment that, though Germany sought no privileges on the Congo for herself, she was definitely opposed to any arrangement which might place her and other