I, King Leopold, come to you first as the representative of the International Congo Society and International African Society, both private associations.
I would like to address the competing claims to the Congo River Basin first, and will try to speak plainly. From my perspective, the only entities with possible claims anywhere near the Basin are perhaps the Republic of France, the Kingdom of Portugal, and the International Congo Society.
The reality in the Congo is that the International Congo Society had explored and mapped the Congo River Basin in 1876, years before the French decided to create their outpost, Brazzaville, further up the Congo River from their colonies on the African coast. The reality in the Congo is that Portuguese claims have only ever been southeast of the river, but never far into the interior. The reality in the Congo is that many of the tribes in the interior Congo River Basin have already signed contracts with the International Congo Society and that outposts of the Society are throughout the interior.
I insist that the International Congo Society's claim to the interior of the Congo River Basin has legal precedence over claims by other nations. The first goal of the Society is for the Congo River Basin's waterways to be free to all traffic from all powers currently at this conference. Any party with access to any of the rivers in the basin would be able to transport their goods to the Atlantic without any tariff or toll on their shipping traffic. The rest of the Congo basin would remain under the International Congo Society's control. Companies from any of this current conference's powers would be able to lease 10-year monopoly rights to extract a particular product from a particular region of almost anywhere in Congo basin. Monies earned would be used to maintain, develop, and police the basin, as well as return as profit to the initial investors in the Congo Society. My scientific and humanitarian association, the International African Society would both provide missionaries to the interior, as well as support the scientific interests of the conference powers.
As King of Belgium, I know that I am right choice for this duty. As a small, neutral power in Europe, any significant interest or control on my part in the Congo will do little to unbalance Europe politically. Under my influence the Congo River Basin will remain as it needs to be for lasting peace; neutral, yet open to all.
I submit that my management of the Congo River Basin is both legal and sensible.
Provided is a map, with the area claimed for the International Congo Society in Belgium's colors for ease of identification. All other areas are what I deem appropriate for the other powers, as the representative of Belgium to this conference.