Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SMUNC2015
BackgroundGuide
Chair:JackieBecker
BackgroundGuide:writtenbyAlinaUtrataandJackieBecker
Foreword
SMUNC 2015
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
SMUNC 2015
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.
SMUNC 2015
TheMapof
Africa
TheGeographicalConference
andtheCongo
Althoughthefirstaccountsof
explorationsofAfricaoriginatedinthe15th
and16thcenturiesbyPortugueseexplorers,
theexoticallureofAfricadidnothitthe
Europeanpublicuntilthe19thcentury.
Africanexplorersofthedayweretreated
almostlikecelebrities,appealingnotjusttoa
senseofadventureandmysterybutalsotoa
newfoundsenseofnationalisminEurope.
NewspaperarticlesonthetravelsoftheBritishDr.DavidLivingstone,theFrenchPierredeBrazza
andtheAmericanHenryMortonStanley(althoughhewasactuallyScottish)publicizedthesavage
andhereticalwaysoftheAfricannative,thehorrorsoftheArabslavetrade,andthevastpotential
fortradeandexploitationofthecontinent.Europe,convincedofthesuperiorityofitscivilization,
feltthatitwastheirdutytocivilizethepeopleofAfrica.
ItwasunderthispretextthatKingLeopoldIIofBelgiumhostedtheGeographical
Conferenceof1876.ExplorersandphilanthropistsalikewereinvitedtoBrusselstodiscusshowto
bestexploreandcivilizeAfrica.TheInternationalAfricanAssociationwascreateddescribedby
theLondonTimesasasortofSocietyoftheRedCrosswithLeopoldasitspresident.Thepublic
lovedit.YetLeopoldsgoalswerelessthanhumanitarian:thephilanthropicrhetoricofthe
SMUNC 2015
6
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
SMUNC 2015
7
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.
SMUNC 2015
8
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
SMUNC 2015
9
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,
SMUNC 2015
10
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.
SMUNC 2015
11
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
SMUNC 2015
12
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.
SMUNC 2015
13
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
SMUNC 2015
14
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
SMUNC 2015
15
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
SMUNC 2015
16
theFrench.Portugal,however,claimedpartsofthecoastoftheCongo;ifrecognized,itwouldcut
LeopoldsstateofffromanAtlanticport,ruiningallpotentialfortrade.
WhilesecretlyintendingfortheCongotobehisownpersonalmonopoly,Leopolds
associationandstatewerecloakedwithphilanthropicgoals,claimingtobeforthegoodofthe
Africannativesandfreetrade.YettheBritishforeignofficehaddiscoveredsomeofLeopolds
treatieswithnativetribesgrantinghimamonopoly,andwasbecomingsuspiciousofhismotives.
BismarckpersonallyseemedtoneverhavebeenfooledbyLeopoldsaltruisticgoals,butwasmore
thanwillingtoplayalong;provided,ofcourse,thattheKingbowedtohiswill.
SMUNC 2015
17
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.
SMUNC 2015
18
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.
SMUNC 2015
19
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
SMUNC 2015
20
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
SMUNC 2015
21
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.
SMUNC 2015
22
SMUNC 2015
23
Works Cited
Algeria. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/15001/Algeria>.
Angola. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25137/Angola>.
A.W.Greely,MenofAchievement:ExplorersandTravelers(NewYork,NewYork:Charles
ScribnersSons,1893);DownloadedfromMapsETC.
Berlin Conference. General Act of the Conf of Berlin. N.p., 1885. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/readings/berlinconference.html>.
Congress of Berlin. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/62090/Congress-of-Berlin>.
Egypt. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180382/Egypt>.
Gabon. Encylopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223148/Gabon>.
HandyAtlasoftheWorld(NewYork,NewYork:Ivison,Blakeman,TaylorandCo.,1883);
DownloadedfromMapsETC
Hochschild, Adam. King Leopolds Ghost. New York: Houghton, 1998. Print.
JamesMonteith,ComprehensiveGeography(NewYork,NewYork:A.S.BarnesandCompany,
1872);DownloadedfromMapsETC.
JohnClarkRidpathLL.D.,CyclopediaofUniversalHistory(Cincinnati,Ohio:JonesBrothers
PublishingCo.,1885);DownloadedfromMapsETC.
Jules Ferry. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/205224/Jules-Ferry>.
SMUNC 2015
24
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.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/antislavery_01.shtml>.
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>.
Portugal. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/471439/Portugal>.
Senegal. Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<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>.
SMUNC 2015