1902 Encyclopedia Britannica: Congo Free State

• The article was written in 1902, before most of Europe knew, or cared, about Leopold's abuse of the natives. Therefore, there is little or no mention of any mistreatment by the Europeans
  
• The Congo Free State was founded as International Association of the Congo. Although it can be implied from the name that multiple countries controlled the area, King Leopold II of Belgium essentially controlled the region
• Following the Berlin Conference of 1884, Leopold essentially gained the rights to the entire Congo Basin
  
• Congo Free State was considered an independent state, but because Leopold had private ownership, it acted as a Belgian colony for some time
  
• This issue of Britannica contains racist undertones. Natives referred to as "pagans" and "fetish worshippers" and are said to be "on a very low plain of civilization"
  
• Ivory, rubber and copper are all stated categorically as the Congo's greatest exports. These items are predominately what caused Leopold's rape of the area
  
• Leopold instituted a Commission for the Protection of Natives to cover up widespread his abuses.