EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...

missions does seem, at least in part, to have been to determine if any European presence
of at least a commercial nature was viable. The answer was an overwhelming no, except
for stays of a very short duration by dedicated, if not foolish and greedy, men.
The initial introduction to Rio Nunez began with the statement that this was a
different colonial attempt in that it was one initiated and eventually ended by the
commercial interests of Belgium’s merchants and entrepreneurs. This had clearly been
the case. Whether there was government backing or involvement, clandestine or
otherwise, it was the merchants of Belgium that took the lead. They were always willing
and able to accept any and all governmental aid, monetary or otherwise, but business
proceeded whether it came or not. They had been all too correct in their assessment that
a military or police presence was necessary, but the political atmosphere began to
strongly cloud up against public funds to aid private investment outside the country.
This was even more so regarding the use of the navy. Despite the termination of the
treaty, the government did agree to pay additional sums to the Nalus in exchange for a
continuation of the current trading rights and privileges 390 as best as it could in view of
389 The successful “battle” was however highly celebrated in Belgium as a great victory and Van
Haverbeke received the “Order of Leopold” and a handmade sword by the king’s personal sword maker.
390 The agreement to end the treaty included the following:
“It has been agreed that:
1. Belgians who will settle the country of the Nalus will only pay to the chief a yearly royalty of fifty
francs in merchandise per hundred years of occupied land;
2.They will have the ability to use the necessary woods for their use;
3.The chief of the Nalus, in his name and that of his successors, commit himself to protect by all of his
means Belgians, as well as their property and goods;
4. Not to require them, under no pretext, of other royalties that the one stipulated above;
5. To require neither harbor dues nor pipeline fees for any Belgian ship that will anchor in the river;
6. Not to grant to any nation whatsoever a benefit that would not be also granted implicitly and equally to
Belgium.”
“Il a été convenu que :
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