FRENCH AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1940, Page 7

FRENCH AFRICA

DECISION OF EQUATORIAL

COLONIES DE GAULLE DENOUNCES ARMISTICE CRIME. RESOURCES OF EMPIRE IGNORED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 29. In announcing that the French Camcroons and French Equatorial Africa had decided to associate themselves with' Chad and to continue the war beside Britain. General de Gaulle emphasised the importance of the French Empire as a capital asset in the war. Only two days ago, he said, the Italian radio had declared that Tunis would be completely and unreservedly included within the Roman Empire. Free France, he asserted, had not accepted the armistice, and the war continued between France and her enemies. It was the crime of the armistice that France had capitulated as though France had not possessed an empire and that the immense resources in that empire had been ignored. General de Gaulle has appointed as High Commissioner for French Equatorial Africa, Colonel de I’Arminat, former Chief of Staff of the French Army in the Middle East, who left London a few days ago.

Before the new announcement was made the “Manchester Guardian,” discussing this morning the future of Africa in relation to the decision of Chad to adhere to General de Gaulle, stated: “This unit of French Equatorial Africa, with 1,500,000 African inhabitants and a smal European population, holds a modest place in the great structure of French Africa, with its population of more than 40,000,000. But this decision of a few resolute men may have great consequences, for the part the French Empire will play in the war is one of the unknown quantities in a confused prospect.” Referring to the future of the French-Empire, the “Guardian” said: “It is a matter of great importance to the world. What would happen to it if the dictators won is clear to everybody. It is so clear to all the Moslem world that all the grievances against the French have been put aside now that this danger is in sight. The dictators had hoped that their discontent could be turned to advantage by the enemies of France.

"If the dictators are defeated, there is every hope that liberal elements in the French Empire will be strengthened. If the dictators should win, the outlook would be deplorable. If they took over the whole French Empire, 60.000,000 or 70,000,000 human beings would fall under the rule of the Gestapo and similar institutions. “The Empire, now ruled by men who are held up to scorn by the Nazis for their sympathy with men of a different colour, would be governed by men whose racial mania admits no ties betwen European and African. The French Republic regarded every African as a potential Frenchman. The Nazis regard him, in Hitler’s own words in 'Mein Kampf,’ as born half ape.

"Victory for Britain will make it possible to take a great step forward in improving the relations of Europe and Africa. Victory for the dictators would throw Africa back into the dark age of racial brutality.”