Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-27
SEES BIG REPUBLIC
OF COL0RED RACES
Sir Harry H. Johnston, En-
pire Builder, Makes Pre-
diction for Africa.
BY JOHN GUNTHER.

ID oonN w ~ HEM
Correspondence of The Star and The Chicago
Daily News.
ARUNDEL, England, November
1s.-Looking into the future with
prophetic eyes, Sir Harry H. Johnston.
the empire builder who carved out
RhodesiH Uganda and Nyasaland for
Great Britain during his 40 years in
Africa, foresees a vast republic of the
colored races playing its part in the
balance of world power. In the COM
ing clash of color which he emissions
European hegemony In Africa will be
imperiled and the heart Of the dark
continent again will belong to its
own.
II don't expect to see black Africa
in my time" said Sir Harry, who is
IS and living in retirement in his Sus-
sex home after his years of service
throughout Africa However 1t Is
entirely possible that within half
century all OF Africa from the Fam
bezi to the Sahara may be great
black republic.
THE northern fringe of Africa,
from Morocco and Algeria to Egypt,
is pretty definitely and thoroughly
European. Likewise 1t will be many
years before the British holdings be-
low the Zambezi-the Cape of Good
Hope and Rhodesia--can be lost to,the
Success OF Liberia a Factor.
But many other considerations go
to indicate the eventual success of
black republic throughout Africa. The
deadly climate in the central por-
tions-the Kongo and the Cameroons-
climate absolutely fatal to Euro
peans, is one factor. The encouraging
success of the negro republic, Liberia,
is another. The rising desire for in
dependence-the flowing tide of color
is yet another.
MANY of the negro and negroid
tribes in Africa are fully capable of
independence, and unless their politi-
cal instincts are depraved by the in
gress of Europeans they should be
able to take care Of themselves. The
African negro at his best is high
type of manhood.
The present administration, with
L. 6. NJ. S. Amery in the colonial
office, Is likely to make serious mis-
takes in the administration of British
Africa. One is the possibility of re-
storing the old freehold rights in
the Cameroons. This will mean that
an English provincial baron may have
indirectly in his control vast stretches
of Africa, deriving income from it and
in abysmal ignorance of the obliga-
lions of his trusteeship.
africa lOUdy UOeS not present dn
altogether happy picture The recur-
ring crises in Egypt. the Moroccan
crisis, the vast subsoil turmoil in
South Africa, which in some respects
will be forever alien to British rule,
are serious.
"A prince of the royal blood is on
his way to east Africa for hunting
expedition. That young man had far
better be occupied with the people of
. Il, IL
quadrupeds. The quadrupeds are
worthy of far more intelligent and
scientific examination than he can
give them"
Considered Greatest Authority.
Sir Harry is usually considered the
greatest of living authorities on At
RIGA. He went out to the Kongo in
1850, worked with Stanley, and re-
manned in Africa for almost 30 years
until six successive attacks of black
water fever drove him home. 1t was
Sir Harry who first penetrated the
wastes of Nyasaland and gained the
country for his flag, remaining it
British Central Africa Here and in
Uganda, another territory which he
picked out of the mud and gave to
Britain" he worked as soldier, ad-
ministrator and governor.
His scientific discoveries and re-
searches have made him even more
signally known. For two decades he
explored Central Africa for. its fauna,
fora, geology and especially its Ian
guages. He is the author of the only
available work in English on the
Bantu tongues. He Is also the dis
coverer Of the okapi. a new" NAM
NAL. and Of the Kongo pygmies.
Sir Harry was last in America as a
guest of President Roosevelt. When
VI III
he was almost 60, he went to the
front and was gassed. In his beauti-
full Sussex home a gas mask and tin
helmet hang on the wall with a kongo
spear, the skin of the okapi, and the
primitive weapons of the African
forests.
Copyright, 1924, by Chicago Daily News co.,