<P> It was only at this point that Stanley was informed of the magnitude of Leopold's ambition: Stanley was not merely to construct a series of trading stations, he was to secretly carve out an entire nation . The instructions were direct and to the point: "It is a question of creating a new State, as big as possible, and of running it . It is clearly understood that in this project there is no question of granting the slightest political power to the negros . That would be absurd ." </P> <P> Apparently finding nothing reprehensible about Leopold's ambitions, Stanley set about his task with a will . For all his social shortcomings in European society, he was undoubtedly the right man for the job . Within three years, his capacity for hard work, his skill at playing one social group off against another, his ruthless use of modern weaponry to kill opponents, and above all his relentless determination opened the route to the Upper Congo . </P> <P> In later years, Stanley would write that the most vexing part of his duties was not the work itself, nor negotiating with the natives, but keeping order amongst the ill - assorted collection of white men he had brought with him as overseers, who squabbled constantly over small matters of rank or status . "Almost all of them", he wrote, "clamoured for expenses of all kinds, which included...wine, tobacco, cigars, clothes, shoes, board and lodging, and certain nameless extravagances" (by which he meant attractive slaves to warm their beds). </P> <P> Exhausted, Stanley returned to Europe, only to be sent straight back by Leopold, who promised him an outstanding assistant:' Chinese' Gordon (who did not in fact take up Leopold's offer but chose instead to go to meet his fate at Khartoum). "It is indispensable", instructed Leopold, "that you should purchase for the Comité d'Études (fr) (i.e., Leopold himself) as much land as you can obtain". </P>

Who started an expedition with the goal of colonizing congo