TheBerlinConferenceof18841885

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BackgroundGuide
Chair:JackieBecker
BackgroundGuide:writtenbyAlinaUtrataandJackieBecker

Foreword

A letter from your Chair.

Dear delegates:
First off, I will warn you: fonts are not to be taken lightly. The
position papers you will ultimately write (hopefully with a sense of
joy like you have never experienced before) should not, for
instance, be written in Comic Sans. Garamond (what this is written
in) can be great for resumes that you need to spice up a bit, but
should be used with caution. I use it here because it allowed me to
remind you to please, please not write your position papers in
Comic Sans, and also because Im rather fond of it.
That brief aside complete, an introduction is in order. My
name is Jackie Becker. I am a junior at Stanford studying Computer
Science, who works as a programmer at a Virtual Reality lab on
campus. Now what, you might ask, is a CS student doing chairing a
MUN committee? Surely these two kinds of peoplethe history
buffs and the science nerdsdo not mix.
Yet political science (and its sister fields, history and
international relations) is a beautiful thing. What is the point of
progress in science if we fail to see the patterns in society as well
as nature itself? And how can you call a person your friend if the
subject of politics is taboo? Why, politics surrounds us. To refuse
to discuss it is to ignore one of the most interesting aspects of what
makes us human: the ability to reason, and listen to reason.
The setting for this committee is the Berlin Conference. This
particular event in history is particularly fascinating as it lends
itself to the study of the best of humanity (debate, great
intellectuals and figures of history getting together) as well as the
worst (the commodification of peoples lives and lands, the
unrelenting horror that is racism). Through this committee, I hope
you will be able to hone your skills of debate and negotiation while
keeping in mind the harsh reality that this conferenceand the
scramble that preceded itimposed on the peoples of Africa. While
coercing another group into giving up their stakes in gold-laden
land, I hope that you will take a moment to remember the lives that
the land you are arguing over represents. Goodness knows that the
representatives present at the conference in that time didnt.
Enjoy your research, and I deeply look forward to seeing each
of you at the committee and getting to know each of you. Perhaps
some of you are scientists; perhaps some are future lawmakers. Yet
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regardless of your passion, your interest in the world around you

demonstrates this: you have the ability to become a part of what
makes humanity great.
Warmest regards,
Jackie Becker

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TableofContents
WhatwastheBerlinConference?....................3
TheMapofAfrica
TheGeographicalConferenceandtheCongo..........4
EgyptandtheSudan............................................7
TheNiger...........................................................9

PowersofEurope
Germany............................................................12
GreatBritain.......................................................13
France................................................................13
TheUnitedStates.................................................14
Belgium..............................................................14

Characters.............................................16
RulesofCommittee..........................................19
WorksCited......................................................21

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WhatwastheBerlinConference?
InNovemberof1884,theGermanChancellorOttovonBismarckgreeteddelegatesfromthe
PowersofEuropeathishouseinBerlintodiscussthecolonizationofAfrica.Contrarytopopular
belief,theBerlinConferencewasnotapartitionoftheAfricancontinentbytheEuropeanpowers:
infact,whentheconferencebegantheScrambleforAfricahadalreadybeenunderwayforseveral
years,andmanycountrieshadclaimedstakestoAfricanterritories.Rather,theBerlinConference
wasameanstoresolveconflictingclaimsbycountriesandtoavoidEuropeanconflictaboutAfrica
inthefuture.AsBismarckdeclaredinhisopeningspeech,thegoalsoftheconferencewereto
establishfreetradeintheCongo,freenavigationontheNigerRiverandrulesforfuture
annexationsbyEuropeanpowersofterritoriesinAfrica.Theseaimswerecoatedwithrhetoricon
civilizingAfricannativeswiththepromotionoffreetradeandChristianity.
Itisatthispointintimewherewewillbeginourcommittee.Delegateswillhavejust
finishedlisteningtoBismarcksspeechonthegoalsoftheconferenceandallhistoricalfactspriorto
November1884willbeapplicable.WhiletheeventsoftheConferenceitselfandindividual
countries actionspastthispointwillnotcorrespondwitheventsincommittee,delegatesarehighly
encouragedtounderstandthehistoryoftheproceedingsoftheBerlinConference,theconditionsin
Africa,andthepolicyandpublicopinionofcountriesinEurope.

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TheMapof
Africa
TheGeographicalConference
andtheCongo
Althoughthefirstaccountsof
explorationsofAfricaoriginatedinthe15th
and16thcenturiesbyPortugueseexplorers,
theexoticallureofAfricadidnothitthe
Europeanpublicuntilthe19thcentury.
Africanexplorersofthedayweretreated
almostlikecelebrities,appealingnotjusttoa
senseofadventureandmysterybutalsotoa
newfoundsenseofnationalisminEurope.

Africa, 1883 (Pre-Berlin Conference)

Handy Atlas of the World (New York, New York: Ivison, Blakeman,
Taylor and Co., 1883); Downloaded from Maps ETC

NewspaperarticlesonthetravelsoftheBritishDr.DavidLivingstone,theFrenchPierredeBrazza
andtheAmericanHenryMortonStanley(althoughhewasactuallyScottish)publicizedthesavage
andhereticalwaysoftheAfricannative,thehorrorsoftheArabslavetrade,andthevastpotential
fortradeandexploitationofthecontinent.Europe,convincedofthesuperiorityofitscivilization,
feltthatitwastheirdutytocivilizethepeopleofAfrica.
ItwasunderthispretextthatKingLeopoldIIofBelgiumhostedtheGeographical
Conferenceof1876.ExplorersandphilanthropistsalikewereinvitedtoBrusselstodiscusshowto
bestexploreandcivilizeAfrica.TheInternationalAfricanAssociationwascreateddescribedby
theLondonTimesasasortofSocietyoftheRedCrosswithLeopoldasitspresident.Thepublic
lovedit.YetLeopoldsgoalswerelessthanhumanitarian:thephilanthropicrhetoricofthe
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InternationalAfricanAssociationandthedeliberatepublicconfusionofitwithLeopoldsother
organization,theInternationalAssociationoftheCongo,wouldbecomeamaskforLeopolds
personalattemptstocolonizetheCongo.
In1879,Leopold,undertheguiseoftheInternationalAfricanAssociation,hiredthe
AmericanexplorerHenryMortonStanleytotraveltotheCongoandbuildthreestationsandaroad
fromthelowestcataractoftheCongoRivertotheStanleyPool(discoveredbyStanleyhimself
severalyearsago.)YetunbeknownsttoStanley,fourmonthslatertheexplorerPierredeBrazzawas
commissionedbytheFrenchgovernmentforacivilizingmission intheCongo.TheFrench
alreadyhadclaimstoGabon,Senegal,IvoryCoastandAlgeria,andBrazzahadbeeninstructedby
JulesFerryto,ifhereachedStanleyPoolbeforeStanley,claimitinthenameoftheFrench.Thus
begantheracetoStanleyPool.
BrazzamadeittoStanleyPoolfirst whileStanleywasstillbuildingstations and
successfullynegotiatedatreatywithKingMakoko,achieflivingnearthePoolwhohadgreat
influenceoverlocalchiefs.ThetreatycededallMakokosinheritancerightstoFranceandplaced
himundertheprotectionoftheFrenchflag.BrazzathendepartedtoconvincetheFrench
governmenttoratifythetreaty.WhenStanleyfinallyreachedthepool,hediscoveredthatallthe
chiefswererefusingtotradewithanyonebuttheFrench.Stanleywasforcedtoretreattothesouth
sideofthePool,whereanotherchief,Ngaliema,andhisalliesagreedtotradewithStanley.
In1882,FranceratifiedthetreatytothehorrorofLeopoldandaddedthenorthernparts
oftheCongotoitsclaimsinAfrica.Tocounterthis,LeopoldsInternationalAssociationofthe
CongoestablishedtheCongoFreeStateinhisclaimstothesouthernpartsoftheCongo;thiswasan
independentstateunderLeopoldsorganizationwhichsupposedlyaimedtobringcivilizationto
Africansandpromotefreetrade.Stanleywasthencommissionedtonegotiatenewtreatieswith
localchiefsthatcededpoliticalaswellascommercialrights.(Theoriginalcommercialtreaties
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givingLeopoldtrade
monopolieswouldbepartially
discoveredbytheBritish,
provingthatLeopoldsclaims
werenotasdedicatedtolaissez
faireashehadsaid.)Leopolds
goalwasnowtoconvincethe
majorpowerstorecognizehis
"Stanley Pool." Map. Google Maps. Google, n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.

newindependentCongoFree

State.HesentGeneralHenrySheltonSanford,aformerU.S.ambassadortoBelgiumandageneral
intheAmericanCivilWar,toWashingtonD.C.towootheAmericanpublic.TheUnitedStateswas
enchantedwiththeideaofaCongoFreeState,assuredthatitwasbothaplacebasedinthefree
principlesoftheU.S.andthatitwassomewheretheycouldsendAmericasnewlyfreedslaves.In
Aprilof1884,theU.S.recognizedtheCongoFreeStateasanindependentstate(mixingupthe
InternationalAssociationoftheCongoandtheInternationalAfricanAssociationintheactualtext
ofthedeclaration.1)
TheU.K.,meanwhile,wasthreatenedbytheFrenchratificationoftheMakokoTreatyandthe
thoughtofFrenchtariffsacrossthevastmajorityofWestAfricaundercuttingBritain'sfreetrade.
TheyproposedanalliancewithPortugal.Portugal,duetoits16thcenturyexplorers,hadclaimsto
thebanksofthelowerCongoaswellasAngolaandMozambique.TheseclaimstotheCongohad
mostlybeenignoredbythePowers,andsince1810BritainhaddisputedwithPortugalovertheir
claimedrighttoexportslavesfromtheentiretyofthewestcoastofAfrica(theydisagreedwithboth
Portuguesesovereigntyandthemoralityofslavery).BritainproposedrecognitionofPortuguese
claimstotheCongoinexchangeforamaximumtariff,mostfavorednationstatusforBritain,and
1 The International African Association was edited out of the declaration by Leopold when the document was published in Europe.
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anAngloPortuguesecommissiontocontroltrafficon
lowerCongo.Unsurprisingly,France andBelgium
wereupset.TheBritishpublicwasalsoupset:the
PortugueseclaimstotheCongowerethoughtofas
ridiculousandPortugal,likeFrance,was
economicallyprotectionist,whichwouldthreatenthe
businessinterestsofthefreemarketersinBritain.
ThePowersofEuropegenerallythoughtof
LeopoldsattemptstotheCongoasdestinedtofail.

Congo State
A.W. Greely, Men of Achievement: Explorers and Travelers
(New York, New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1893)

Itwasthenamatterofwhowouldtakeoverthe
CongoonceLeopoldinevitablywentbankrupt(speculationsthatprovedwrong;Leopoldactually
madesignificantmoneyfromhisCongostate).RumorsspreadaboutthepossibilityofaBritish
protectorateoftheCongo;theFrench,understandablyanglophobicatthetime,approached
Leopold.Adealwasstruck:ifLeopoldeverdecidedtoselltheCongo,theFrenchwouldgetright
ofpreemption,orrightoffirstrefusal.TheideaofFrenchcontroloftheentireCongoRiverBasin
andmostofWestAfricawastoomuch.AllofFrancesrivals,thoughnotofficially,werenow
firmlycommittedtoensuringLeopoldsholdontheCongotoavoidthepossibilityofFrance
obtainingtheCongo.AweekbeforetheBerlinConference,BismarckhimselfofferedLeopold
recognitionofhisnewstateinexchangeforfreetradeforGermansintheCongoandtheguarantee
thatifhesoldtoFrancehemustarrangeforFrancetoadoptthesamerightoffirstrefusal.Leopold
acceptedBismarksoffer(althoughrecognitionhadnotbeenpubliclyannouncedatthestartofthe
BerlinConference).

EgyptandtheSudan
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SincethefirstFrenchinvasionbyNapoleon,bothFranceandBritainhadtriedtoexerttheir
influenceinEgypttobenefiteachother.EgypthadbeenaprovinceundertheOttomanEmpire
sincethe16thcentury,butOttomanpowerwas,atthispoint,alreadyfastdeclining.In1859,the
KhediveofEgypthadbeguntoconstructtheSuezCanalin1859,aprojectthatwasquickly
bankruptingthecountry.EuropewasmorethanhappytohelpwithEgyptslackoffunds:in1876,
DualControl wasestablished.ThisplacedEgyptianrevenueandexpenditureunderthe
supervisionofFrenchandBritishcontroller.CoupledwiththefactthatmostofEgyptiandebtwas
heldbyFrenchandBritishshareholders,thisgreatlyexpandedtheinfluenceofEuropeinEgypt.It
wasalsoaconvenientwaytoensuretheententebetweentheFrenchandtheBritish.
However,in1882,Egyptwassufferingfromaperiodofunrestandriotingrockedthe
capital.Britain,alarmed,senttroopstoCairotostrengthentheKhediveandEuropeaninfluence
overhim;theFrenchdeclinedtoassist.ThismarkedtheendofDualControlandFrenchinfluence
ofEgypt(and,atleastthedefacto,endofOttomaninfluence)inlieuofsoleBritishcontrol.Prime
MinisterWilliamGladstonescabinetwasnowfacingabitofaconundrum:theywereunwillingto
establishformalcontrolinEgyptforfearofantagonizingEuropeandtheOttomans,butunwilling
towithdrawtheirtroops,andtheirinfluence,fromEgypt.Furthermore,Britainneededtherestof
EuropetohelpsubsidizeEgyptsmassivedebt;however,FrancewasnonetoopleasedwiththeUK
aftertheBritishhadthreatenedtorecognizePortugalsclaimstotheCongo.And,in1884,the
BritishwerefacinganIslamicjihadbytheMadhi,withKhartoum,thecapitalofSudan,undersiege
andabouttofall.ItisinthispredicamentinEgyptthatBritaincametotheBerlinConference.
AnothermoreideologicalissuewaspresentinEgypt.Egypthadexpandedtocontrolmostof
whatistodaySudan,effectivelycreatingalargeslaveempire.Arabraidersinthenorthwould
kidnapmorevulnerableblackAfricansfromthesouth.Britainwasappalled;slavetradehadbeen
abolishedin1807,andslaveryin1833.TheArabslavetradeinparticularwasviewedwithdistaste,
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muchofwhichwasdirectedattheOttomanEmpire,anempirewithfoundationsbasedonslavery.2
Dr.LivingstonehadpublishedtheatrociousaccountsonslavetradeintheSudan,givingriseto
callsfortheendoftheArabslavetradeinEurope.

TheNiger
FrenchcontroloverSenegaloriginally
tradingtownsbecamepredominant
startingin1865.In1879,theFrench
approvedtheconstructionofatrans
SaharanrailroadtoconnectSenegalwith
theupperNigerandlayoutthe
foundationforaFrenchempireinWest
African.AsmallFrenchgarrisondefeated
thehostileTukolorEmpirein1880,
allowingfortheconstructionofstations
alongtheNigerwithoutthreateningthe
securityofSenegal.TheFrenchpublic,
whileoriginallyjubilantattheprospectoftherailroad,hadseentoomuchpublicmoneyspenton
theprojectandwerehappytoleaveittothemilitary.
ThelowerNigerhadbecomeanotherpointofcontention.From1880to1883,several
lovingletters hadbeensenttoQueenVictoriafromlocalchiefsaskinghertotakeoverCameroon.
Britainignoredtheselettersandsotheircallswentunanswered;withFrancebeginningtoexert
moreinfluenceinupperNiger,however,theBritishbegantoworryaboutaprotectionistFrench
2 When an anti-slavery speech was given at the London conference on Egyptian finance in August of 1884, the Ottoman delegate fell over laughing
at the ludicrousness of outlawing one of the major businesses of his country.

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empireinWestAfricahurtingBritishtrade.Palmoilwashighindemandbecauseofitsabilityto
lubricatemachinesmadepopularbytheIndustrialRevolution,andwasthemainsourceoftradein
theNiger.TheNationalAfricanCompanyaconsolidationofseveralBritishcompaniestradingin
palmoildidnotwanttoseethisvaluabletradegototheFrench.Thecompanyproposedtothe
Britishforeignofficethattheyannexthe
lowerNiger.Britaindidnotactonthis
proposaluntil1883,whenFrancemadea
treatywithKingTofaandreestablished
FrenchprotectorateoverPortoNovo,giving
theFrenchcontrolofthecoastlineof
Dahomey(theyalsosentagunboattosail
alongtheriverinashowofmilitary
strength).WorriedabouttheFrench
protectorate,BritaindecidedintheMayof
1884tomakethelowerNigeraBritish
protectorate however,whentheir
representativereachedCamerooninJuly,
theyfoundtheGermanshadtaken

Egypt, 1872
James Monteith, Comprehensive Geography (New York, New York: A.S.
Barnes and Company, 1872)
Downloaded from Maps ETC

possessionofit.
Bismarckhad,sincethe

beginningofEuropeaninterestinAfrica,vehementlydeclaredthatGermanyhadnointentionof
establishinganycolonies:Germanydidnotwanttopayforthem,thepublichadnointerestin
colonies,andthesmallGermannavywouldbeunabletodefendthem.Whilehistoriansarenot
entirelysurewhyBismarcksodrasticallychangedhispolicyandclaimedpartsofAfrica,itcanbe
assumedthathewasworriedaboutthethreatofFrenchandBritishcontrolofWestAfricato
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Germantradeand,by1884,theGermanpublicwasmadwithdesireforcolonies(Bismarckhad
alsobeenconvincedincorrectly,asitturnedoutthatGermantraderswouldfootthebillforthe
newcolonies).TheturningpointseemedtobetheBritishplanstoclaimAngraPequena.Bismarck
hadaskedBritainin1883toextendBritishprotectiontotheGermantradingtown,havingattime
havingnofurtherinterestinAfrica.However,theBritishrepeatedlyignoredhisrequests.In1884,
thereappearedrumorsthatBritainplannedtoannexTogo,wherethereweremoreGermantrading
towns,andthatCapeColony,aBritishcolony,hadfoundadocumentprovingtheBritishclaimto
AngraPequena.InMayof1884,BismarcksentarepresentativetoannexTogo,Cameroonand
AngraPequena(warningtheBritishtokeeptheirhandsofforhewouldjoinhandswithFrance
againstEgypt).TheBritish,whohadnotuntilthispointthoughtBismarckhadnointerestin
colonies,wereannoyedbyBismarckstreatment,butagreed.Bythispoint,theBritishhadtheir
handsfulldealingwiththeMahdiinEgypt.

West Africa, 1883

Handy Atlas of the World (New York, New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor
and Co., 1883)
Downloaded from Maps ETC

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ThePowersofEurope
Germany
In1884,Germanywas
effectivelyunderthecontrolof
theHighChancellorOttovon
Bismarck.Upuntil1884,
Bismarckshowednointentions
ofestablishinganyoverseas
colony(althoughtheyactively
encouragedFrancetocolonize
Tunisiainordertodistract
themfromGermanys
annexationofAlsaceand

Europe, 1885
John Clark Ridpath LL. D., Cyclopedia of Universal History (Cincinnati, Ohio: Jones
Brothers Publishing Co., 1885)
Downloaded from Maps ETC

Lorraine).However,BismarckchangedhismindandannexedCameroon,TogoandAngraPequena
in1884.
Additionally,electionsoftheReichstagwerefastapproachingandtheTorschlusspanik
sweptovertheGermanpublic.Translatedasdoorclosingpanic,torschlusspanikwasthefearthat,
unlesstheGermanyclaimedpartsofAfricanow,therewouldbenothingleft.Bismarckwasalso
awarethatCrownPrinceFriedrichmightbecomeKaiseratanymoment.Thiswasaproblemas
Friedrich,undertheinfluenceofhisEnglishwife,wassympathetictotheLiberalparty,Bismarcks
opposition.Thus,Bismarcksawtheacquisitionofcoloniesasanopportunitytocreatean
anglophobicsentimentthatcouldbeusedasleverageagainstthefutureKaiser.Bismarckhadalso
beenconvincedthatGermantraderswouldgovernfuturecoloniesunderanimperialcharter(thus

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amelioratingtheneedforGermanytopayandforBismarcktodealwiththetroublesomeReichstag
forfunds).

GreatBritain
TheliberalPrimeMinisterGladstonehadhishandsfullofproblemsin1884:themajorityof
histimewasspentdealingwiththecrisisofIrishHomeRuleandthedeepdivisionsinhiscabinet,
thustheissuesofAfricawereoftenpushedasideinthepublicsmind.Britainwasmostinterestedin
preservingtheirfreetradeandstoppingtheproliferationofFrance,theirhistoricrival,from
imposingtariffsandprotectionistmeasures.AtthispointtheBritishhadaninformalempire,
consistingofSouthAfrica,EgyptandpartsoftheNiger.TheBritishpublicwasdeeplyagainst
slaveryasamoralissue,andespeciallytheArabslavetrade.Theysentmanymissionarieson
ChristianizingmissionstoAfrica,mostnotablyintheCongo.ThepotentialAngloPortuguese
treatywhereinBritainwouldrecognizePortugalsclaimstotheCongowascreatedwithanoutcry
bytheBritishpublic,andbitterresentmentbyFrance.
TheofficialinstructionsofBritaintotheirdelegateweretoconcedenothingtoFrance,give
BismarckeverythinghewantedandtoensureBritishinterestsontheNiger.However,theBritish
worriedthattheconferencewouldprovetobeafluke,asBismarckhadsabotagedaLondon
conferenceonEgyptinretributionforBritishactionsinAngraPequena.

France
ThePrimeMinisterofFrancein1884wasJulesFerry,anardentexpansionistandproponent
ofcolonization.FrancehadclaimstothenorthernpartoftheCongoduetotheMakokotreaty
(whichStanleydenouncedasasham),aswellasTunisiaandpartsofWestAfrica.Francewas,with
theexceptionofPortugal,thesoleproponentofprotectionismandcausedotherpowersinEuropeto
worryaboutfreetrade.ManyoftheshareholdersofEgyptsdebtwereFrench,thusBritainsactions
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inEgyptweresubjecttoFrenchopinionandoutrage.Aftertheimmenseamountofmoneyspenton
thetransSaharanrailroad,theFrenchpublicwasreluctanttospendanymoremoneyoncolonies.
However,theywerecommittedtotherivalrywithBritain.

UnitedStates
TheUnitedStatesitselfwasnotscramblingtoclaimpartsofAfricaasitsown.However,it
likedtheideaoffreestatesbeingestablishedinAfrica.DuringtheadministrationofPresident
JamesMonroe,theAmericanColonizationSocietyhadfoundedLiberiaasahomeforemancipated
slaves.FollowingtheCivilWar,formerwhitelandholdersbeganadvocatingasimilaridea.Senator
JohnTylerMorgangaveaspeechintheU.S.SenatecallingfortheU.S.torecognizetheFree
CongoStateasaplacewheretheycouldsendfreedslaves.(Severalmonthslater,ablack
conventionissuedadeclarationcallingforSenatorMorgantobesenttotheCongo.)Ultimately,
AmericarecognizedtheCongoinAprilof1884.YettheU.S.wasprimarilyconcernedwith
preservingfreetrade,notfreedom,inAfrica.

Belgium
Althoughasmallcountry,Belgium had,throughtheInternationalAssociationoftheCongo,
claimedimmensepartoftheCongoasanindependentFreeCongoState,withKingLeopoldIIas
anambiguousheadofstate.TheBelgiumparliament,havingoriginallymockedLeopoldsattempts
atacquiringacolony,didnothaveanypoweroveritscolonies,andwereassurprisedastherestof
EuropewhentheyopenedtheirnewspapersandsawwhattheirKinghaddone.
LeopoldhadsecuredrecognitionoftheCongoFreeStatefromtheU.S.and,althoughstillat
thispointasecret,fromGermany.BecauseLeopoldhadgivenFrancetherighttopreemption,allof
FrancesrivalsweredeterminedthattheCongoFreeStatestaywithLeopoldandoutofthehandsof
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theFrench.Portugal,however,claimedpartsofthecoastoftheCongo;ifrecognized,itwouldcut
LeopoldsstateofffromanAtlanticport,ruiningallpotentialfortrade.
WhilesecretlyintendingfortheCongotobehisownpersonalmonopoly,Leopolds
associationandstatewerecloakedwithphilanthropicgoals,claimingtobeforthegoodofthe
Africannativesandfreetrade.YettheBritishforeignofficehaddiscoveredsomeofLeopolds
treatieswithnativetribesgrantinghimamonopoly,andwasbecomingsuspiciousofhismotives.
BismarckpersonallyseemedtoneverhavebeenfooledbyLeopoldsaltruisticgoals,butwasmore
thanwillingtoplayalong;provided,ofcourse,thattheKingbowedtohiswill.

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Characters

Portugal

MouzinhodeAlbuquerque:PerhapsthemostadamantprotectorofPortuguesestakesinAfrica;
doesnotwanttogiveuponeinchoflandinAfrica.IsafolkheroinPortugal,andassuchhas
significantinfluenceamongthepeople.
AntnioMariadeFontesPereiradeMelo:APortuguesestatesman,politician,andengineer.
WantstomaintaincontrolofcoloniesinAfrica,andincreaseeconomicbenefittoPortugal.Fears
lossofeconomicpower.

Germany
OttovonBismark:Wantsfreetrade,freenavigationontheNiger,andtoestablishorderinAfrica.
Aboveall,wantstomaximizehisowncountrysinfluence.
AdolfLderitz:Explorer,founderofGermanSouthWestAfrica.VeryfamiliarwithAfricanland
aroundthatarea.Asamerchant,hassignificantskillsinmanagingmoneyandareputationfor
honesty.

TheUnitedKingdom
DavidLivingstone:Explorer,medicalmissionaryinAfrica.Hasmoresympathythanmostforthe
plightofthelocalinhabitants,wantstoestablishamoralagendaaswell.Isverypopularamongthe
Britishpeople.
GranvilleLevesonGower:BestfriendofPrimeMinisterGladstone;wantsnowars,noalliances,
andabetterrelationshipwiththeUS.

AustriaHungary
ArchdukeRudolf,CrownPrinceofAustria:SonofFranzJosephI,ismostinterestedinmining
Africaforminerals.Hismoodinessiscommonknowledge,andwhilehewontdisobeyhisfatherhe
hasanindependentstreak.
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FriedrichvonBeaust:AstatesmanandclosefriendofFranz,wasknownasthegreatopponentof
Bismark.WantstouplifthissovereignandcounterGermangoals.
Belgium
WalthreFrreOrban:PrimeMinisterofBelgium.Fedupwiththeroleofreligionoverthestate,
wantstopreventthespreadofChristianity.
AugusteMarieFranoisBeernaert:MinisterofPublicWorks.Wantstosecurefinancialsupport
fromothercountriestofunddomesticdevelopment.

Denmark
OttoRosenrnLehn:TheForeignMinisterofDenmark.Enjoysartandotherpeoplewhoappreciate
itsmerit.Hastherespectofhiscolleagues,andisgrowingoldbutnotfoolish.
JacobBrnnumScaveniusEstrup:CouncilPresidentandFinanceMinisterofDenmark.Vastly
increasedDenmarksexportcapabilitiesthroughdomesticdevelopment,andsohasareputationasa
keenbusinessman.

France
JulesFerry:PrimeMinisterofFrance.Supportsseparationofchurchandstate,wantstospread
Frenchinfluencebyexpandingcolonies.IsdedicatedtothePresidentofFrance.
PierredeBraza:Explorer,helpedestablishFrancesclaimsinAfricaandradiatescharm.Hasthe
loyaltyofthelocalsintheregion,andnewfoundknowledgeofthelocationofagoldminein
Frenchterritories.

Spain
JosdeElduayen:MinisterofState;hasanextensivebackgroundincivilengineering.Wantspeace
andhasahistoryinmitigation.
AntonioCnovasdeCastillo:PrimeMinisterofSpain.PlayedakeyroleintheelevationofAlfonso
XIItothethrone.Hasablackandwhitesenseofmorality,withnoqualmsoverusingviolenceto
getwhathewants.

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SwedenNorway
OscarII:KingofSwedenandNorway(thenjoined);knownfortactandpatience.Wantspeace,the
spreadofChirstianity,andastrongrelationshipwiththeirfriendGermanyaboveall.
CarlJohanThyselius:PrimeministerofSweden,72yearsold.Independentconservationwho
valuesthespreadofChristianity,notwar.

TheOttomanEmpire
HagopKazazianPasha:theMasterofFinances,havingwonasecondterm(despiteearlyreportsto
thecontrary).Bestknownforhisadroitnessatnegotiationandmoneymanagement,isrumoredto
havethekeytoOttomanwealth.
AhmadHuseinzadeh:SpiritualleaderoftheShiaMuslimintheOttomanEmpire.Isclosetothe
headoftheOttomanmilitary,adevoutofthefaith.

Italy
PasqualeStanislaoMancini:Italianstatesman.WantsalliesforItaly,inparticularFrance,Britain,
Austria,andGermany.Extremelyliberal(wantsfreedomofpressandrepealofimprisonmentfor
debt).
AgostinoDepretis:PrimeMinisterofItaly.DespiteareputationasaLeftist,hasbeenappointing
conservativestohiscabinet.Evidently,hewantsthesupportofhisKing.

TheUnitedStates
HenrySheltonSanford:SentbecauseofhiscloserelationwithBelgium,inparticularKingLeopold
II.Isparticularlyskilledatframingeventstothepublicinawaythattheywillacceptithappily.
HenryMortonStanley:Explorer,hasagrudgeforPierredeBraza.Hasaclosefriendknownfor
buildingrailroadsandbridgesthatoweshimafavor.

TheNetherlands
TheodorusMarinusRoestvanLimburg:MinisterofFinance.Althoughmanyinitiallythoughtthis
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agedpoliticianhadlosttoJosephWillebois,arecountshowedotherwise.Workedinthe
DepartmentsofColoniesandForeignAffairsinhisyouth,hasaparticularinterestinmaintaining
andexpandingDutchpresenceinAfrica.
JanHeemskerk:PrimeMinister.Wantstoleaveapowerfullegacy;hasnotdecidedwhetherhe
wantstobelovedorfeared.

RulesofCommittee
CommitteewillbeginonNovember15,1884,attheconcludingremarksofBismarcks
openingstatement.Allhistoricalfactsaretrueuntilthatdate;thereaftereventsandpolicywillbeat
thedigressionofthechair.
AlthoughthecountriesattheBerlinConferencesentdelegateswhosepersonalreputation
precedesthem,thecommitteewillfocusonthepolicyofcountries,ratherthanthepersonalitiesof
thedelegatesunlessitisrelevanttodebate(forexample,theAmericanswereinthepocketofKing
Leopold).ThecommitteewillfollownormalParliamentaryRulesofProcedure;however,sincethe
ConferencewashostedbyBismarck,specialattentionwillbepaidtoGermanyspointsandmotions
atthedigressionofthechair.

PowersofCommittee
Treaty
Thegoalofthecommitteewillbetocreateatreatyaddressing(ornotaddressing,ifitso
pleasesyou)thepointsbroughtupbyBismarck.Ifthetreatypassesattheendofcommittee,the
delegateswillbeinformediftheirhomegovernmentshaveratifieditandofanyimmediatefallout.

Directives

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Delegatescancreateofficialorunofficialdirectives.Unofficialdirectivesareagreements
madebetweenindividualdelegateswithouttheapprovaloftheirhomegovernment.Official
directivesareagreementswithapprovalofhomegovernmentthatwillbegivenbythediscretionof
thechair.Whileunofficialdirectivesareacceptable,countriesarenotboundbythem.Delegatesare
highlyencouragedtoremainincontactwiththeirgovernmentduringcommittee.
Besidesgovernmenttogovernmentdebate,delegatescanalsonegotiatewithAfricanchiefs,
tradingcompanies,Africanexplorersorreligiousleaders.

PressReleases
Thereareseveraloptionsforpressreleases.Delegatescanpersonallyreleasestatementsto
thepressthatwillbedistributedtothecommitteeand(theoretically)Europe.Alternatively,
delegatescanrequestapressreleaseofthepublicopinionoraspecificgovernmentsopinionthat
willbedistributedtothecommittee.

PositionPapers
Positionpapersshouldconsistofaparagraphoneachofthefollowing:thecurrentand
historicalclaimstoAfricabyyourcountry;thedomesticstateofyourcountry,includingits
government,publicopinion,relationshipswithneighbors,andeconomy;andlastly,thegoalsof
yourcountryfortheConferenceandhowtheyinteractwithyourowngoals.
Positionpapersshould12pages,singlespaced,Times,size12font.Intheupperrighthand
cornershouldappearyourname,committee,countryandschool.Andremember:brevityisthesoul
ofwit,andthusconcisepapersthatarewellresearchedwillberewardedoververbosepaperswith
littledetail.
Ifthereareanyquestions,pleaseemailtheChair.

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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/15001/Algeria>.
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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25137/Angola>.
A.W.Greely,MenofAchievement:ExplorersandTravelers(NewYork,NewYork:Charles
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<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/readings/berlinconference.html>.
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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/62090/Congress-of-Berlin>.
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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180382/Egypt>.
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Hochschild, Adam. King Leopolds Ghost. New York: Houghton, 1998. Print.
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Jules Ferry. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/205224/Jules-Ferry>.
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Mozambique. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/395363/Mozambique>.
Oldfield, John. British Anti-Slavery. BBC News. N.p., 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
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Ottoman Empire. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/434996/Ottoman-Empire>.
Pakenham, Thomas. The Scramble for Africa. New York: Avon, 1991. Print.
Pierre de Brazza. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/78373/Pierre-de-Brazza>.
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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/471439/Portugal>.
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<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223148/Gabon>.
Slavery. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/548305/slavery/24157/Slave-societies?
anchor=ref388218>.
Stanley Pool. Map. Google Maps. Google, n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012. <http://maps.google.com/>.
Suez Canal. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/571673/Suez-Canal>.
Ward,Prothero,andLeathes,TheCambridgeModernHistoryAtlas(NewYork,NY:The
MacmillanCompany);DownloadedfromMapsETC.
William Ewart Gladstone. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/234729/William-Ewart-Gladstone>.

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