Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-18
COLONIES May
AID REVIVAL Of
LIFE OF FRANCE
importation Of Raw Materials
Checked Temporarily by
Shortage of Ships, How
ever, Says Minister.
BY ALBERT SARRAUT.
New French Colonial Minister.
BY lnterna tiOnsl News Service.

Paris, March 7.-France's colon
les may we'll become one of the
chief factors in her financial and
economic rehabilitation.
Before the war France imported
from her colonial possessions raw
materials and foodstuffs to the
amount OF o00,000000 or 700,000,0 900
francs ($i20,000000 to $l40,000,0O0
at the prewar rate of exchange).
Within few years we shall be in a
position, if we have the necessary
shipping facilities, to import prod
ucts of all kinds to the amount of
5000, 0,000, 900, 4,000000,000. or even
s,000,000.000 francs ($o00,000,000 to
$1,000, 100000.
We need these products for Our
own consumption, for our factories
and in order to bring the value of
the franc to its old basis Our
colonies have accumulated 100000
tons OF products which are now
available, but we lack ships to carry
them to OUR shores.
Task Is Divided.
In these circumstances our task
may be. divided into two chapters.
In the first place, we must organize.
by private initiative, which is al
ways preferable for this kind OF
work. colonial merchant marine,
to bring to France under the French
flag, products which hitherto have
not been utilized by US or have been
carried to foreign countries where
we have had to purchase them for
our own needs. In the second place
we must devote our energies to the
exploitation OF the immense natural
wealth OF these countries, by means
OF railroads and highways and new
parts.
Nv predecessors in the ministry
OF the colonies have made inventor
les OF the resources of our overseas
posse ssions. They have also drawn
up plans for public works. including
transportation facilities. am now
revising the plan for a colonial n1er-
chant feet. As far as the other
points Of our program, | have been
in consultation with the ministers of
finance and merchant marine and
they have promised me their full
cooperation. The immense task of
finding funds amounting to approx
imately 3,O00,000,000 francs for the
financial program involved still
needs deep study. 1t may be solved
by an extraordinary budget or the
creation of a national overseas
credit. Of which M. Klotz spoke re-
Gently in the Chamber
Good Will of Natives.
One thing which we never have
allowed ourselves to forget is that
for the development of our colon
les we must always enlist the good
will OF the native populations. This
is in accord with the traditions Of
France. 1t is characteristic Of
frances colonial policy. The great
economic task, the creation OF
wealth. which is the very essence of |
colonization, can be pursued only in
the midst of peace and security,
which depend on the loyalty of the
millions oof abooriigines whom we
govern.
Our industrial and commercial
leaders cannot be expected to in
vest their capital in countries where
the necessary guarantees are lack
ing. In our colonies these guaran-
tees are amply provided by the con-
fidcnce and cooperation OF the In
habitants. The war has given US
proof of this. We are neither slave
dealers nor simply business men.
We are first of all the guardian, the
protector, the fraternal guide OF the
native populations which we are
leading on to better future which,
but for us, they would never know.
Two Glasses of Wealth.
s We are developing in our col
oflies two classes of wealth, material
wealth and human wealth. France
il exploiting its colonial domain, but
il is at the same time developing 1t.
1t could not be otherwise. Having
called these aborigines to the high
honor Of shedding their blood for
France and the cause of human free
dom, how could we refuse to share
with them the fruits of civilization?
France has always fought against
the brutal right of force. In its col
orial domain it knows only the noble
right OF the strong to defend the
weak. That is the secret of the 10y
atty which the native populations
have shown to it during the FIVE
years Of war. 1t can depend on
that loyalty and confidence to en-
able it to continue the great enter
prise of creating wealth from which
both France and the colonies will
: dra,u ennrtnnrc henehfs