Best POD for a united New Guinea?

How strong of a claim? At one point, Portugal claimed the mouth of the Congo River IIRC.
Strong enough. The Dutch East Indies were right next door. Even though the Dutch did not have any settlements on New Guinea, there base of power is simply too close. So if someone else, like Leopold II decides he want all of New Guinea, the Dutch are in a position strong enough to quickly make a move to prevent anyone elses attempt to make a colony. Not unlike the way the British colonised Western Australia just before the French made their attempts (but easier since the Dutch were closer to New Guinea than the British were to Western Austrlia). That is of course besides the fact that generaly these claims were relatively well respected, especialy if it could be reasonably supported, like the Dutch and New Guinea.
 
Strong enough. The Dutch East Indies were right next door. Even though the Dutch did not have any settlements on New Guinea, there base of power is simply too close. So if someone else, like Leopold II decides he want all of New Guinea, the Dutch are in a position strong enough to quickly make a move to prevent anyone elses attempt to make a colony. Not unlike the way the British colonised Western Australia just before the French made their attempts (but easier since the Dutch were closer to New Guinea than the British were to Western Austrlia). That is of course besides the fact that generaly these claims were relatively well respected, especialy if it could be reasonably supported, like the Dutch and New Guinea.
How is this different from the situation with Portuguese Africa when the Congo Company was established?
 
How is this different from the situation with Portuguese Africa when the Congo Company was established?
I would say that the Dutch were in a far better position in 1877 in the Dutch East Indies to prevent the Belgians to found a colony in western New Guinea than the Portuguese were ever to stop them in the Congo.
 
Top