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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1960)
o MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Or. A Sunday, March 13, 1960 odepeodenit African S Planned During j Year in Africa (Editor's note: This is an- other in th series of Great i Decisions ... 1960 topics which groups throughout the country are considering i.n the Foreign Policy asso , ciation's annual opinion poll. Today's subject is 1 "New Timetable for Inde- pendent Africa." The For eign Policy association, Inc.. which furnished the . material, is a non-partisan, non-profit, non-governmen-- tal educational agency.)- v The rush for independence I in former African territories ; has upset some of the most optimistic predictions, and Z raises the question whether U.S. policies toward free Africa are adequate or up-to- date. At least five new states ' are slated for full independ-.- ence during the course of ; what Africans call "the magic r. year of 1960." The most unexpected de velopment was Belgium's re- cent decision to grant full in v; dependence to the Congo by the end of next June. Came Croon became independent Jan. 1. Togoland, a former C French protectorate, now a ; UN Trust Territory, will gain ; independence April 27. On '.- July 1 the east coast trust ter ritory of Somalia will become independent, and on Oct. 1 y Nigeria will win freedom. Yet these five new nations are a minimum score. In the '' French Community, in partic : ular, still other states may ' reject their present close ties ; to France in favor of either full sovereignty outside the Community or within an asso j. ciation resembling, perhaps, $he (British) Commonwealth i, of Nations. Complete Break f One former French terri- tory, Guinea, made a com- plete break in September, t 1958. Two states, Senegal and . Soudan, originally chose mem - bership in the French Com- munity. Moves are now under way, however, to merge these two states into a fully inde- v pendent Mali Federation. Similarly, the island of Mala 1 j&che (formerly Madagascar), off Africa's southeast coast, is now negotiating with Paris i for full independence. T In. other parts of Africa, notably Algeria and certain I British East Airican territor- ies, the timetable for inde- pendence has not yet been I set. Momentum, however, is ! clearly building up. A wholly independent Africa is no long- er a distant or uncertain C prospect. The issue today is not whether independence will come, but how independence . will come about and what it ! will bring. Negotiation or Violence? In contrast with other I great, historical independ ; ence movements, the recent ; march of nationalism in Afri- ca has so far been relatively r peaceful. There have been out- breaks of terrorism against - colonial rule, and reprisals and repressions have taken place against African terror- ists and nationalists. With the ; single exception of Algeria, however, there have been no - sustained, full-scale national- ist rebellions in postwar . Africa. ? In West Africa, where few white men have settled, Brit- ish and French colonial au- thorities have come to accept the inevitability of independ- ence, or at least self-govern- ing status, for their territo- ries. ! . Spain and Portugal, on the I other hand (and, until recent ; ly, Belgium) continue to re- sist nationalist ambitions. Po r litical riots in the Belgian I Congo last year led to inter- -ention by the Belgian king and a Belgian about-face on the independence issue. Many observers . predict that Spain and Portugal may J soon be brought to the same state by violence or , the threat of violence -as conti-t- nent-wide nationalism gains momentum. Important Minorities - . -I In East Africa, where white 1- settlers and Asian tradesmen are important minorities, the situation is more difficult and perhaps more ominous. Afri- can terrorism has been par i ticularly violent in British I territories, where non-African 1 minorities continue to resist African demands for "one man, one vote." In these areas, too, observers predict, ; violence may be the only al l tcrnative to early satisfaction T of the political demands of I the Africans. . . -.. African rebellion against : colonial rule an non-African " minorities is. however, only part of the danger. Some of the bloodiest incidents of re cent years have been the re sult of Africans battling Afri cans -for political, economic or simply tribal reasons. These tribal conflicts cre ate complications not only for colonial authorities, but also for the new and inexperi enced African governments that are emerging. Artificial Borders An important part of the problem is, of course, the ar tificiality of territorial bor ders. Borders were drawn in many cases, by colonial gov ernments, without regard to geography or ethnic or cul tural lines. Some internation al boundaries cut through an cient tribal regions, parceling land and peoples to two or three different colonial ad ministrations. Independence, in other word is a step toward new and difficult problems for African leaders. Even if colo nial governments retire grace fully from Africa, the new African governments face grave problems in unifying rival or hostile tribes, and perhaps even in redrawing in ternational boundaries along more realistic lines. At that stage in African history, con f 1 i c t between independent African governments will loom as a danger. U. S. AID PROGRAM FOR AFRICA Nations and territories involved: Ethiopia. Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia. Libya, Mo rocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda. (U.S. agricultural surpluses were shipped to Guinea in 1959.) military assistance ;XyXv3 technical cooperation 83 J special assistance 62 15 s JL WW ' ' 'j ' 1958 ..1 1959 Decisions Groups Favor Promotion of Economic Growth The need for the United States to promote rapid eco nomic growth in underdevel oped areas, and to foster dem ocratic institutions through out the free world, was af firmed by 93 per cent of those included in an informal sur vey conducted as part of the nationwide , world affairs study program, "Great De cisions. . . 1960," the Foreign Policy association, national sponsor of the program, has announced. . These were the nearly unanimous views, expressed by 5,600 "Great Decisions group . members in 100 com' munities in 23 states, which were voluntarily reported to the association. The commu nities represent only a por tion of the total communities in all 50 states in which some 250,000 adults and students are engaged in the current program. Opinion also ran heavily in favor of two collateral points, with 80 per cent of the same 5,600 participants favoring greater Allied effort to aid underdeveloped areas, and 70 per cent favoring reduction of trade barriers between the free world countries. Now in its sixth consecu tive year, "Great Decisions" is an annual eight-week re view, by citizens in their own communities, of topical U.S. foreign policy issues. State, Local Level Sponsored on the commu nity level by state and local organizations and education al institutions, the program is offered nationally by the non partisan, nonprofit Foreign Policy association as a means of furthering public under standing of and participation COW IN SPACE RESEARCH New York-fliPD-The cow is helping scientists in their at tempt to solve the menu prob lems of future space voyagers. Scientists at Republic Avia tion Corporation report that by simulating the unique di gestive process of a cow, they can test the practicality of converting normally indigesti ble food plant fibers into meat substitutes and sugars. Anchorage - This Alaska city was built in 1914 as a railway construction camp. Finally, the race question is in itself a potentially dan gerous source of violence. Repercussions in Africa The Union of South Africa's "apartheid" policy of "separ ate development" for white and nonwhite races has, deep repercussions throughout Af rica, and particularly in those parts of East Africa where government and trade are dominated by Europeans and Asians. African nationalists in the Rhodesias, Tanganyika and Kenya are hostile to any law or policy which tends to give non-Africans a privi leged or protected place in the society. In view of these multiple and complex problems, the future of the African inde pendence movement will ob viously be hazardous, and may yet become violent. If, on the other hand, the transi tion can be made at minimum cost, what does the future hold for free Africa? . A peaceful transition from colonial rule to independence will still leave the new Afri can governments with enor mous problems, domestic and regional. Regionally, African states will need to develop econom ic and perhaps even political patterns of cooperation that ($ millions) 81 21 1960 (proposed) in the field of foreign policy. Views summarized in this report concern the first week's study and discussion topic, "Communist Timetable for 1960. . . What Odds?" and were expressed by members of 500 groups in all parts of the country. The Association estimates that over 15,000 groups are participating in this year s program. While sentiment backed in creased cultural and scientific excnanges ana continued ne gotiation with communist countries (76 per cent), few favored relaxing trade restric tions with Russia (21 per cent) and still fewer (12 per cent) were willing to accept com munist control over areas now under communist control. Greater Expenditure More than half (63 per cent) thought greater expenditure and effort to close the missile gap was necessary, yet a rela tive minority (28 per cent) was in favor of building up conventional military forces capable of fighting small wars. Few felt there should be no change in current U.S. military (3 per cent) or eco nomic (4 per cent) policies. -Greater use of all surpluses for undernourished lands was suggested by a Waterbury, Conn., group member; from Florida, Oregon, New Mex ico and Vermont came de mands for strengthening and reaffirmation of our own dem ocratic ideals; many comments referred to a need for a more integrated military policy ("less service rivalry"), and a Macon, Ga., -participant re marked on the necessity for us to "get rid of social in equalities at home." CORN REMOVER OtvM intrant rCf fraai i do Mrong ood mixtwrot. Wkoa ol fhors bo, faiUd try MW oa. Try am, toranou. wIGm first or ppficofion. totk romoawt toW f bock guarantee. Exclusively at WESTERN THRIFT kor4 cam, toft nra " iwt. lla fc war npillowm. dv. mttk. It minim n rol dlffr rb ' tii I md dow ar the Irrtliitfi a tates Topic of will allow the area to develop peacefully, into stable socie ties and progressive econo mies. In West Africa in par ticular discussions have long been under way regarding eco nomic and political coopera tion, although rivalries among African leaders have so far hindered any extensive, for mal arrangements. Internal Problems Internally, however, the new African governments face their most difficult prob lems. The transition to stable self government and modern na tionhood depends, experts agree, on many intangibles -such as wise and patient lead ership. Yet the fundamental need is undoubtedly rapid and successful economic development. WE . p, During the installation of our new 3-floor ELEVATOR (for your convenience) we are surrounded with work men, equipment and tools and we DO NEED more space to facilitate speedy installation ... so, for a short time all BEDROOM FURNITURE will be on sale at a 10 to 25 discount includes complete suites, beds alone, mattresses, etc. Except Perfect Sleeper, . Tension Ease and Beauty Rest OPEN MONDAY NIGHTS Shop and Save at Southern Oregon's Oldest and Largest Furniture WfflEOXS .& (MM! Unless there is a rapid rise in productivity, it will be im possible to raise health and living standards, to satisfy ba sic material needs of the pop ulation, to provide education and training, or to equip the people with the understand ing and skills necessary for self-government. It is in the area of African economic development, many authorities say, that the Unit ed States can exert its most constructive influence. Foreign Investment The principal sources of foreign investment in African economic growth are the Eu ropean colonial powers, the United States and the com munist bloc. Total free world aid to Africa in 1959, togeth er with UN and other interna AEiE KEIMEDEO NG! WE NEEED SPACE! Tf? it Great tional agencies, was about $900,000,000 in loans and grants. About 20 per cent of this aid came from the United States. France is the biggest free world capital exporter to Ari ca, accounting in 1959 for about 60 per cent of all free world aid to this continent. In the same year Britain con tribu ted'S80,000,000; Bel gium, $40,000,000; Portugal, 810,000,000; and Italy and Spain smaller amounts. The Western European eco nomic community has sched uled joint development invest ments of $581,000,000 for the next five years. U.S. Aid to Africa . U.S. aid to Africa in 1959 included $11,000,000 in tech nical assistance, over $100, 000,000 earmarked for Moroc This New Colors! Store Decisions co, Libya, Tunisia and Sudan; S29,000,000 from the Develop ment Loan Fund, and Export Import Bank loans of $12, 000,000 to help finance Afri can trade. In mid-February President Eisenhower requested anoth er $20,000,000 in technical assistance for Africa. Communist bloc trade-aid deals with Africa have be come significant only since 1956, and are still well below the levels of free world aid. Africa's trade with the com munist bloc, however, has in creased 50 per cent in the last five years, with spectacular increases for Egypt and Gui nea. The Soviet Union has also provided long-term, low interest credits to Ethiopia, and Czechoslovakia has nego tiated credit, barter and mili . (Up to 25!) offer for limited time only Buy Now & Save I REGISTER NOW AND VOTE IN MAY! 9X12 SIZE Reversible for double wear, blue, tan, brown, colors all are multi-color combinations! EASY TERMS TO SUIT YOU! No carrying charges or interest. We carry our own con tracts. There is no extra charge added to your payments. Shop at Southern Oregon's longest established Furniture Store where you find fine quality at lowest prices! This tary aid deals with Guinea. In short, Africa is import ing capital from a number of sources, in increasing am ounts. The withdrawal of colo nial rule has, generally, favor ed this trend rather than hin dered it. And the advent of communist bloc aid has stim ulated increased free world aid. Issue Is Cost The. issue for the United States-in the current foreign aid debate-is wnether or not the administration's policy of stepped-up aid to Africa is worth the cost. Some experts feel that the emergence of a politically stable and econom ically viable free Africa is' a vital U.S. stake, calling for increased U.S. aid. A number of authorities, in fact, believe that the administration propo for ) Q, i JU If WAl Weel sal falls short of what this country can or should con tribute to African economic development. Some Congressional lea8rs are calling for a wholly fre$h approach to U.S. aid, involv ing shifts in emphasis from military to economic aid, clos er coordination to aid Hath U.S. allies, and other contro versial or new proposals. Political observers tend to agree, however, that Congress will decide the issue on othe terms. Especially in an elec tion year, they say, the pres sures on Capitol Hill will be to scale down the President's total aid proposals, rather than to meet or exceed ad ministration requests. Only a perceptible shift in public opinion would counter this trend. o (5)50 2 Each 4 green and red basie 114 W. Main Ph. SP 2-9351
