ABSTRACT
The stratagem that Leopold concocted in order to establish his African credentials was to convene an International Geographical Conference in Brussels. Leopold took immense pains in preparing for the Conference, which was held at the Palais Royal in Brussels in September 1876. Leopold had preceded the Conference by sending a confidential note to all the delegates. The Conference would consider several broad principles of action, the establishment in Africa of bases on the east and west coasts, the opening up of routes into the interior leading to 'stations hospitalieres, scientifiques et pacificatrices', all under the umbrella of an international organisation. The Conference then went on to discuss Leopold's third proposal. From Leopold's point of view, the Conference was an outstanding success, and it would not be going too far to say that he had the delegates eating out of his hand.
