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1 " It is very curious to see how in China and Morocco the vanquished pay for the costs of the expedition that crushed them. "
― Leopold II
2 " India has never cost England one centime. it paid back What it cost. India provides a livelihood for all benjamins of English families. "
3 " The Congo state is certainly not a business, if it gathers ivory on some of it's lands, that is only to lessen its deficits. "
4 " Santo Tomas was based on emigration and was therefore bound to fail, Belgians do not emigrate. "
5 " I believe we must set up three children's colonies, the aim of these colonies is above all to furnish us with soldiers. "
6 " These expeditions respond to an extraordinarily civilizing Christian idea: to abolish slavery in Africa, to dispel the darkness that still reigns in part of the world, to get to know the resources that seem gigantic, in short, pouring out the treasures of civilization, that's it. purpose of this modern crusade worthy of our era. "
7 " The terms of the treaties Stanley has made with native chiefs do not satisfy me. There must at least be an added article to the effect that they delegate to us their sovereign rights, the treaties must be as brief as possible and in a couple of articles must grant us everything. "
8 " You should purchase as much land as you will be able to obtain without losing one minute from all the chiefs from the mouth of the Congo to Stanley falls, i will send you more people and raw materials, and perhaps Chinese couriers. "
9 " I will give them my Congo, but they have no right to know what i did there. "
10 " In the Far East, compulsory labor can work wonders, just like here... If only Belgium wanted to see that. This could create "inexhaustible resources and exploiting the soil and peoples of the Far East can only be brought to civilization and well-being in this way. "
11 " Les Philippines, c’était la porte ouverte sur la Chine et le Japon! Personne n’admettrait qu’une grande Puissance aille s’y installer. "
12 " You don't have to worry in the least, because in Belgium you will be able to enjoy all the benefits with which I will shower you, choose your replacement carefully, and appoint him only with my approval, until then then you will remain on your post my faithful cloak. May God guide and support you in the missions I entrust to you for the sake of my subjects, I wish that all your duties have already been carried out, so that when you come to Belgium I can prove to you that I am a true friend my faithful cloak, I pray to God that he may protect you. "
13 " We are going to democratize the chamber and the senate, we also have to democratize the monarchy, give it the opportunity, when it feels the need to obtain direct advice, support from the changing electoral corps. "
14 " My dear General, the Belgian state, will shortly issue a government loan of fifty million, France is writing one of two and a half billion, please ask Lambert to inform you of the condition of the French operation, as for the Belgian loan, leave it to me to try and get information from the ministers, but don't say anything to Lambert, if the French government loan yields 5 or 6 percent I will invest a large sum in it, if the interest is lower then I won't subscribe to it. "
15 " Small country, small people "
16 " In dealing with a race composed of cannibals for thousands of years, it is necessary to use methods which will best shape their idleness, and make them realize the sanctity of work. "
17 " Si au lieu de parler de neutralité, la Chambre s’occupait de notre commerce, la Belgique deviendrait le plus riche du monde "
18 " Il suffit d’oser pour réussir "
19 " De tous les débouchés, le plus sûr et le plus stable, aussi bien pour les produits que pour les capitaux, est évidemment celui d’une colonie "
20 " Je travaille toujours, mais il faut commencer par mettre en avant un arrangement diplomatique. Ce point obtenu, nous aurions de grandes chances de succès. Pour le moment, le mot d’expédition belge en Chine ne doit être prononcé à aucun prix "
