Richmond planet., 1923-08-18
WARNING TO AMERICANS IN FRANCE ON COLOR
PREJUDICE EXPRESSES THE NATIONAL
POLICY OF FRENCH NATION
NEW YORK TIMES SAYS FRANCE, AVERSE TO COLOR
BAR ANYWAY, is MORE so NOW BECAUSE OF
HER DEPENDENCE UPON THE BLACK
COLOMIALS FOR MAN-POWER.

Inc warning by tine Forelgn Omco
that the color line must not be drawn
against French citizens by tolr,i's. CT
whom Americans have been the worst
offenders. may be considered as III
part an expression OF national policy
Every one knows that the French peo-
pie are not prejudiced against the man
Of color and do not object to social
contact with him in public places.
Some OF their most honOred literary
men have been of Negro blood. No one
thought Of discriminating against
item. They were received in the sa-
looms. They were never made to feel
social inferiority. Marriages of white
women with cOlored men in France
have not been uncommon. But when
before has the Foreign Office interycn-
ed to require consideration from aliens
for men of color? The notification
in this case that they are French citi-
Zens. and must be treated as such Is
something more than gesture to plac
ate Frances cOlored Deputies, who
lave demanded that insults to colOreo
people by foreigners must cease.
Light on the new departure caG q
had from a report to the Chamber OIL
the military reorganization bin made
by Deputy Fabry. He pointed out that
The French Army of 100000 men con-
tained only 1S8.963 Africans. The time
had come, he said. when the colonies
should contribute more soldiers to the
national defense. He estimated the
population of the overseas possessions
ct 60 O00, 200. If added to the popula-
ton of France, there would be nearly
100. 900, 900 people for conscription, OF
about 40 900 900 more than were avail
able in Germany, which no longer han
colonies. In n debate upon the Fabry
report reorganization of the army
was urged that would add $50 900
Gc'onials to the army of whom 400, 900
could be fully trained to take the fielf.
During the war the colonials provided
S45. 900 soldiers. M. Fabry. who is a
member of the Army Commission and
a vigorous advocate of preparedness to
the limit of French resources. declar
ed:
These races in case of necessity are
capable of superior effort. Frame
must train them in modern warfare
and familiarize them with all the sci
cntific material that wsll plny part
III NUTS. II Is CuICulaJSu tldt
North Africa and Indo-China could
easily provide more than six-tenths o.
the armed forces. OF course, there
wJuld he danger in this display IN
favor Of the colored races. NJ. Fabry ad
mits that while the Senegalese ami
the Madagascar troops get on well
with whites being of hhppy-go.
lucky disposition. the North Africans
and the Indo-C Chinese do not NIX so
we'll. An army organization in which
tie whites were in a minority would
give the colored troops an exaggerated
sense of their own importance which
would certainly lead to friction.
France could not use masses of color
ed troops in campaigns against white
men witfjOut exciting protests. But
fear of German aggression in the flu
ture is reminding France that in
var IN which she had no powerful
allies she would have to rely upon the
colonials to make stand against in
vas:on. Since the war there has been q
better appreciation of the value of the
colonies and ,teir development Is urs
cd by military men as well as by econ.
omists. France now talks rather gran.
u'Oociy duouI hei COiohidu ehlpiie. ohS
must have larger fleet to maintain
it. Its resources are expatiated upon
by army men; it's attractive manpow
or is emphasized Certainly the home
Government must keep on good terms
with the colonials and give them all
their rights under the law if il will
have to depend upon them in the emer
gency OF war.
(The New York Times.)