Leopold's Association of the Congo and the African Association

Leopold was an expert at manipulating the message depending on his audience. He framed the Association of the Congo as sort of a new Red Cross, and wealthy men all over the world sent donations. To Americans, he stressed that he would establish in Africa a union of free cities led by local African tribe leaders. But in his letters to Stanley, Leopold dropped the facade: There is no question of granting political power to Negroes.