Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1940. FRANCE'S CONTRIBUTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 116, 15 April 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1940. FRANCE'S CONTRIBUTION.

Envisaging tlie goal of European and world co-operation, based on a greater understanding of thought and habits, the Allied leaders are already laying the foundations of the new order that is to follow the war. Taking a broad and commanding view of the situation, both Britain and France are determined that in no sense shall the reproach be laid at their door if something approaching a United States of Europe is not achieved in the cultural and economic fields. Putting an end to mere wishful thinking, it is their aim to mould upon sure foundations a co-operative society based on mutual understanding and interest. For long enough that has remained an ideal desirable of attainment; at last it seems likely of realisation. A notable step forward is the establishment of a permanent committee to keep under a review the cementing of permanent AngloFrench friendship through the schools. Emphasising that these two nations are united by the closest bonds, a joint .appeal to the children of Britain and France has been signed by the respective Ministers in charge of education. While the project is undoubtedly designed to enhance the value of peace once it is attained, there is a tremendous scope for enlightening the British Empire regarding the contribution France is making to the common war effort. Hardly sufficiently recognised are the resources in man-power and raw materials which are at the disposal of our Ally from 3,800,000 square miles of overseas possessions with a population of almost seventy million. In the last war the French Empire, then less well organised and smaller in size, provided a huge quantity of goods and vast numbers of men; to-day the contribution is immeasurably greater. Colonial administration has been given a strong lead under the direction of M. Mandel, who, upon assuming office in April, 1938, applied himself with energy to the task of encouraging development of economic and military resources over a vast area. Recruiting for the army was accelerated and conscription extended, particularly in AYesl Africa and French Indo-China, effectives soon being doubled. It has been computed that French AYest Africa alone'is to-day capable of furnishing a million men, and Indo-China should lie capable of providing an equally strong body of reinforcements from its twenty-three million inhabitants. French North Africa, with a population of sixteen millions, also yields valuable reserves of first-class fighting material, while Madagascar can furnish a useful contingent from its four million people. Particularly striking progress has been secured in the economic realm. The colonies have provided more raw materials

in the first few months of the conflict than was possible during the whole of the four years of the Great AVar. On M. Mandel’s instructions more than 3,500,000 tons of foodstuffs alone have been earmarked and partly delivered from the present crops, cereals (mostly from Indo-China) yielding 1,000,000 tons, oil-bear-ing produce (from native Africa) 1,000,000 tons, and other foodstuffs, including tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, and rum, 800,000 tons. To this must be added another 800,000 tons of raw materials such as wood, coal, minerals, rubber, and textile material. In comparison with the export resources of 1914-18 the increase in French colonial production has been GO per cent, for cereals and starches, 1.10 per cent, for other foodstuffs, 215 per cent, for oil-bearing seeds and copra, 2GO per cent, for fibrous products (cotton, raffia, sisal and kapoc), 500 per cent, for salt and chemicals, 914 per cent, for timber, and no less than 12T5 per cent, for rubber. These astronomical figures convey some impression of the immense contribution France is determined to make to the present campaign. She is paying to the full for the new order she hopes will arise.