The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-12-14
But One Of "Great MiSunder-
standings" Is Conclusion Of
PhelpS-StOkeS Commission.
POTENTIAL STRENGTH is VAST
After Ten Months of Intensive Study,
Experts Declare That Natives Are
Worthy Best Efforts of the
World.

New York-After ten months in.
tensive study of the hygienic, eco
nomic social and religious condition
of the native African, an international
commission OF experts in educational
and missionary work has reached the
conclusion that Africa is the Cont
nent of Great Misunderstanding
rather than the Dark Continent" and
that the counry's vast potential
strength in raw materials and the de-
velopment of its native peoples should
be emphasized instead of its iungles
and savagery. The report of the com
mission has been published by the
Phelps-Stokes fund
More than $4,000 miles through
west, south and equatorial Africa
were traversed by the commission dur
ing the fall Of 1920 and following win
ter, scores of schools and missions sup
ported by churches Of America and
Europe visited Colonial officials and
European traders consulted and native
chiefs interviewed in the first effort
ever made to secure a comprehensive
survey.
The personnel of the commission in
cluded Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones, chair
man, writer of the official report, who
is director of education of the Phelps
Stokes fund; James Emman Kwegyir
Aggrey, member of the Fanti tribe of
the Gold Coast Dr. Henry Stanley Hol-
lenbeck OF Wisconsin, for twelve years
a medical missionary; Mr.. and Mrs
Arthur W. Wilkie of Scotland mis-
sionarieS of the United Free Church of
Scotland, and the Rev. John T. Tucker
of the Canadian Congregational Board
In Angola. Leo A. Roy of New York
City, an expert in Industrial education,
served as secretary.
The report says: "Of the many mis-
conceptions that still tend to limit the
investment Of capital in African in
dustry and agriculture, to hamper the
efforts of colonial governments and dis
courage the support of missions, there
ore four of such Importance as to re-
quire consideration in any effort to
evaluate the educational possibilities.
The first of these misunderstanding
relates to the wealth of resources and
natural scenery; the second is con.
cerned with the healthfulness of the
continent and the promising posslbili-
ties Of sanitary improvement; the third
has to do with the improvabiity Of the
African people; the fourth with Euro
pean and American influences"
Wonderful Physical Resources.
Dr. Jones points out that the i'm.
mense and varied physical resources
of Africa are practically unknown to
the civilized world, largely because
the researches so far made have been
for private or government use and
the results have not been published.
"There is sufficient evidence of poten-
tial wealth." he says, ito convince
the most skeptlcal that Africa Is the
'undeveloped treasure house of the
world" The diamond fields Of Kim.
berly, the gold ridge Of Johannesburg,
the coal mines Of Rhodesia. the Ia.
tanga copper plateaus Of Belgian Con
60 are cited as specific instances of
the country's natural wealth. Every
colony Is said 70 have some of the
precious metals in forms and quaint
ties profitable for commerce. A mum.
Der Of colonies, also the Republic OF
Liberia, have immense quantities OF
water power The forest and agri.
cultural possibilities have scarcely
been touched and animal husbandry Is
even less developed
"Africa's reputation for unhealth-
fulness WAS the result of the tragic
experience of those who entered the
continent without knowledge of con-