<Li> The Niger and Congo rivers were made free for ship traffic . </Li> <Li> A Principle of Effectivity (based on "effective occupation", see below) was introduced to stop powers setting up colonies in name only . </Li> <Li> Any fresh act of taking possession of any portion of the African coast would have to be notified by the power taking possession, or assuming a protectorate, to the other signatory powers . </Li> <Li> Definition of regions in which each European power had an exclusive right to "pursue" the legal ownership of land (legal in the eyes of the other European powers). </Li>

How many european countries held african colonies by 1885