ABSTRACT
Belgium's reluctant annexation of the Free State was accomplished against a background of prolonged diplomatic pressure from Britain and America, itself the product, in Britain in particular, of considerable scepticism whether the outcome would be a less oppressive regime in the territory. Morel and the congo reform association continued to acquiesce in the 'Belgian solution', but on the condition that reforms should be introduced which would put a permanent end to the system and its abuses. In the course of 1911, the Belgian government reached agreements with the Anglo-Belgian Rubber Company, Anversoise and Kasai companies which involved the surrender of the bulk of their concessions and monopoly status. Although the earliest missionary inroads had been overwhelmingly Protestant and non-Belgian, both Leopold and, after him, the colonial administration were at pains to encourage missions that were both Catholic and Belgian, and Leopold obtained the Pope's sanction for this limitation on nationality.
