Belglan Congo 31 ] ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED river for nearly one hundred miles inland. The Final Act of the conference was signed on February 26, 1885 ; and at the same time the International Associa tion declared, in accordance with Art. 37, its adhesion to the resolutions then adopted.

(6) KING LEOPOLD's SOVEREIGNTY OF THE CONGO The conclusion of the Berlin Conference set a term to the quasi-international character of King Leopold's enterprise. It was recognized throughout the con ference, and soon came to be generally known, that the real negotiator of the treaties which had been formed in the name of the International Association was the King of the Belgians himself. Shortly after the con ference had terminated its labours, King Leopold applied to the Belgian Parliament for authorization to accept the position of sovereign of the new-born State . This assent was accorded without much difficulty by the two Houses on April 28 and 30, 1885, but on the express condition that the connexion between Belgium and the Congo territories remained a personal one . On July 19 Sir Francis de Winton, the Administrator General of the territories acquired by the International Association, formally announced at Banana the estab lishment of the State and the accession of Leopold II as its sovereign ; a fortnight later King Leopold circularized the Great Powers accordingly, at the same time notifying them of the neutrality of the State as defined by the treaties with Germany, France, and Portugal.

It should be added that no question was raised on any side concerning the validity of King Leopold's action , and that the International Association was merged in King Leopold's new sovereign State without further international comment. King Leopold , having therefore assumed absolute rulership of approximately