During the first 10 years, the African endeavour of Leopold II seemed particularly loss-generating. Due to a lack of enthousiasm of private investors and the Sovereign's fading own wealth, he turned to the Belgian government to ask for support several times. It was agreed that if the Sovereign could not pay back his loan in time, his Congolese property would be ceded to the Belgian state. This scenario actually happened, but only in 1908. Letter about the testament of the king and the agreement of 3 July 1890 between Belgium and Congo Free State, 1892.
NAB, Archives Jules Lejeune, no. 94.
NAB, Archives Jules Lejeune, no. 94.
