It may seem strange to ask why Santo Tomas failed. There does not seem to be any lack of reasons for its failure. Santo Tomas was a monumental undertaking in terms of the effort, organization, money, and manpower that it required. In the end the only part that materialized was manpower—the wrong kind.255 Leopold’s fascination with Central America encouraged the endeavor as the most likely and potentially lucrative place for a Belgian colony. The problem was that the Belgian chambers, cabinet, and people were skeptical, to say the least. The organization of the Santo Tomas project, especially the Compagnie, was plagued by a fundamental lack of coordination and planning, coupled with a healthy dose of greed. It is impossible not to conclude that many of the difficulties with the Santo Tomas project must be laid at the feet of Leopold. For his first ten years in power, despite earlier attempts, Leopold basically was a one-man juggernaut for colonies. The cabinet was able to successfully divert him due to the political and economic problems of the first decade of Belgium’s existence. He was, however, absolutely determined to have colonies. As Deharveng noted, “… Leopold making himself the promoter, the counselor, the moral supporter, and very often the financier of any project likely to lay the foundations for overseas concessions.”256
As a result of his approval of the
company’s charter, the king was able to name two ministers on the board, and the
255
Confusion over why the colony was created was endemic from the start. There was an initial presentation to the Guatemalan government of the colony as a means to create a harbor and transportation hub for the east coast of Guatemala The information and reason for the colony’s existence in Belgium was represented as an opportunity to start a new life as a colonist, advertising its agricultural potential. Harbors and roads needed engineers. Farms needed peasants to work the land. 256 Deharveng, 2, 489-491.
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