28 ( No. 99 HISTORY European Powers in a disadvantageous position . Furthermore, a series of negotiations between the Imperial Chancellor and Baron de Courcel, the French Ambassador at Berlin , resulted in the establishment between France and Germany of ' perfect identity of ideas ' on the subject in question. France and Ger many, therefore, having joined hands, the British and Portuguese Governments gave way (June 26, 1884). Moreover, Lord Granville agreed to the proposal which shortly afterwards emanated from the Wilhelmstrasse, that this difficulty and other outstanding African questions should be submitted to an International Conference to be summoned to Berlin, with a view to the establishment of an understanding on the following bases : 1. Freedom of commerce in the basin and mouth of the Congo.

2. The application to the Congo and Niger of the principles adopted by the Congress of Vienna for the preservation of freedom of navigation on certain inter national rivers, principles applied at a later date to the River Danube.

3. A definition of formalities necessary to be observed in order that new occupations on the African coasts might be deemed effective.

(4 ) THE BERLIN CONFERENCE On November 15, 1884, Bismarck formally opened the conference at Berlin . Representatives and experts from Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Norway, Turkey, and the United States of America were summoned , and took part in the proceedings. The results of the conference were embodied in the General Act, better known as