Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-30
AFRICA NO LONGER
isolated COUNTRY
WITHOUT CAPITAL
Land of Milk and Honey, Says
Report of American
Company

New York. Correspondence of
The Associated Press.)-Africa as the
Continent Of Great misunderstanding,
rather than the Dark Continent, and
as a land flowing with milk and hon
ey insead of the Last Frontier for
rOmanticists athirst for wild thrills,
is the theme Of a report published by
the Phelps Stokes fund for an interna-
ton commission, which has just re-
turned from a 10 months investiga-
ton.
The immense and varied physical
resources of Africa are virtually I'M
known TO civilization, says DIR. Thorn
as Jesse Jones, author of the report,
because previous researches were
made for private or governmental use,
and the results were NOT published.
He regrets that the popular concep-
ton Of Africa was derived from jour
nalistic accounts.
He found evidence to convince the
most skeptical that Africa is the ''un-
developed treasure house of the world
with every colony possessing precious
metals in commercial quantities and
possibilities in agriculture. animal hus-
bandry and water power that scarcely
have been touched.
Misconceptions
II Jul SChcl lAiSSoLCN ptiUIS 4 llAl
iting investment of capital in African
industry and agriculture; h%ampering the
efforts Of colonial governments, and
discouraging the support of missions,
DIR. Jones continues. The first con-
Germs natural and emery;
the second the health conditions of the
continent, the third the improvability
Of the people, and the fourth the Eu-
ropean and American influences.
"The most unfortunate and unfair
Of all the misunderstanding is that
the African people do not give promise
of development sufficient to warrant
efforts in their behalf" DR.. Jones re
ports, adding that the contrary is shown
by their response to the missions,
governments and commercial organi-
~zations."
Africans" he goes on, occupy
positions of Importance in every colony
visited. There are physicians, lawyers
and ministers who have completed the
requirements of European universities,
and, while the number is small, it is
sufficient to prove the capacity of the
people.
Young Men
'1The clerical tasks Of government.
industry and ommerce are very largely
entrusted to young African men. The
mechanical operations on railroads and
in construction are more and more be-
ing taken over by African workmen.
Every mission gives emphatic testimony
to the value of the native teachers and
ministers.
Nor are the possibilities of the
Africans to be judged only by those
who have entered the ranks of c~iviliza-
ton, whether in Africa, Europe or
America. Their folk lore, their handi-
craft, their native music, their forms
Of government, their linguistic powers,
all are substantial evidences of their
capacity to respond to the wise ap-
proaches of civilization"
Evil influences originated with the
white explorer and still persist, but DR..
Jones is convinced that the native has
gained more than he lost through the
white mans advent.
Ignorance, injustice, unrest in At
rica viii always disturb the peace of
mankind elsewhere he concludes.
THE only cure for the so-called rising
tide Of color and the revolt against
civilization heralded abroad with such
anxiety by some alarmists of the pres
ent time, is in the development of
genuine and sincere cooperation of
peoples of all races, based upon an
education of the native masses and ma
tive leaders in the common essentials
of life"