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

Britain or Belgium. Lastly, Leopold began to exchange his relationship and confidence
in Stockmar for that of Jules Van Praet, his Minister of the Household. Van Praet,
however, was in Brussels and not in Britain where he would have produced more useful
political intelligence. Aside from Palmerston, Leopold’s connections therefore were not
able to aid in his imperialistic quests.
Political impetus for imperialism or colonialism, however, requires a
satisfactory concept and ability. In other words, there must be a consensus of opinion to
seek expansion and an ability to successfully plant one’s flag, whether for a colony or
otherwise. The New Imperialism was centered in Africa and to a lesser extent Asia.
Africa, because it was new ground for exploitation, at least as far as Europe was
concerned, and Asia, because the old imperial order in China was beginning to crumble.
For Belgium, especially during the period from 1840 to 1855, these areas were
inaccessible for successful settlement due to disease in the case of Africa and to a lesser
extent Central America, and because of greater national unity in places such as China at
that time.
Belgium’s method was not military, other than the battle of Boké on the Rio
Nunez, but diplomatic or commercial. Leopold sought out states that were either
desirous of immigration, such as Guatemala, Brazil, or Texas, or were politically weak
or disorganized, such as Rio Nunez. In some cases, such as Nicaragua and Guatemala,
both situations existed. In the cases of Guatemala, Brazil, and Texas, Belgium invited.
In the case of Rio Nunez it became involved by virtue of happenstance. None of the
countries besides Brazil, however, enjoyed stability for very long. Belgium was forced
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