The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-05-05


Ordinarily one thinks of the day of empire building
as past and when he considers the subject at all it
seems to be inevitably linked with a ruling monarch OF
a nation which vests the chief authority in a hereditary
ruler.
History, Of course, proves this untrue. for Greek rose
to power as a Republica and so did Rome. 1t was only
after the Roman soldier had won domination of ali other
known lands that the transition from popular to in
dividual control was made.
Despite these facts, however, it will surprise many
persons to learn that France has, within the last so
years, built for herself a colonial empire second only to
that of Great Britain. Every SO often the headlines
announce that another cabinet has fallen in France and
we, here u America, get the idea that the French gov
eminent is very unstable. Nothing could be farther
from the truth with respect to such an important matter
as colonial policy. There, no matter who happens to be
in control, the aim is the same; to build up French pres
tige, interest and wealth.
AS a result of this policy. coupled with French thrift
and persistence, we find the mother country of 212,S3
square miles and Al, 1000 900 persons controlling a vast
area Of 1885, 900 square miles and CO. 1000 residents.
This empire extends, almost literally from "Greenlands
icy mountains to midas coral strand for it includes
two islands in the North Atlantic, admirably situated
to be a haven for American rum runners, and one lying
1900 miles south of the equator and 1900 miles east OF
Suez where the best is like the worst The latter
island, by the way, is inhabited by Breton fishermen who
still wear their native costume.
A catalogue of French possessions, recently made by
q geographer, contains the following unusual items:
"-Sisowathmonivong king of Cambodia, together with
several hundred wives and concubines, his palace floored
with silver, his life-sized Buddha made of solid gold.
ornanented with diamonds.
"Also their Majesties, Sultan Sid Mohammed Of Moroc-
co, Sidi Ahmed Bey of Tunis, and Bao-Dai, king of An
nam.
13,556y0c0 acres of Indo- Chinese rice fields with the
smallest yield per acre Of any in the world), which in ag-
gregate supply more rice for export than the fields of any
other country except India.
1.-The reputed tomb of John the Baptist.
"Angkor Thorn, a perfectly square city two miles across.
built a thousand years ago, which with Angkor Vat, its
temple nearby, is the marvel of oriental architecture
both constructed by the vanished race of Khmers and
lying, now deserted, in a jungle peopled by snakes and
man-eating tigers. regularly visited by tourists in modern
motor buses.
Madagascar, an island larger than France itself. which
produces twelve or thirteen times as much vanilla as
France consumes
1.-THE greatest phosphate mines in the whole world.
"A governmental income of $3,120,OOO from the sale of
opium to the Indo-Chinese Oocal price: $40 a pound;
about two and one-quarter pounds necessary per smoker
for a years amusement.
Mount Pelee in Martinique, which in 1902 at one puff
snuffed out more human lives than any other volcano
ever accounted for at a single eruption.
"Gold, tapioca, perfumes, teakwood, peanuts, palm Oil,
nickel, chick-peaS, pearls, cinnamon, essence of rosewood,
cardamon, and wine, of which North Africa produces
more than Germany and less only than France, Italy
and SPAIN"
It would seem, after reviewing these and less colorful
facts, that the feet of the French republic have definitely
been placed in the path of empire, regardless of the fact
that we usually consider this the prerogative of enc am
bilious individual.
Can one wonder, therefore, that the British and Italians
are having trouble agreeing with the French on the ques-
ton Of naval armament. 1t would seem they had better
get that question settled pretty quickly for the longer
it goes the less likely the French are to deal on any,
thing except their own terms.
And the French are VIGOROUSLY hard dealers.