Evening star., 1953-07-12
Big French Question: the Game Of imperialism Worth the Candle?
.124 Years Ago Statesman Said No, but Paris
Now Hopes Colonies Con Be Run at a Profit
By Crosby S. Noyes

French are very long way from
accepting this advice. Whatever the
future course In Indo- China may
be-and certainly q large segment
Of French public opinion opposes an
indefinite extension Of that par
ticular sacrifice-France shows little
inclination to throw in the colonial
towel altogether.
The simple reason is that the
French have never reckoned the
value of their overseas territories
on any immediate dollar-and-centS
basis. Notoriously complicated types
that they are. French colonial policy
can only be understood in relation
with three separate factors. In order
of Importance, they are: Security,
ultimate economic benefit and pres
tige.
That the French have hung on
this long in Indo-China is evidence
neither Of obstinate cupidity nor a
dewy-eyed urge to protect their de-
pendents. The sacrifice has been
made rather because of a lively ap-
probation of the fact that Frances
own security. along with the secu-
rity of the whole Western world.
depends on halting the spread OF
communism into Southeast Asia.
They fought because their own
safety depended on their fighting;
because they were on the spot and
because they knew that if they
didn't fight, France would be writ
ten off once and for all as reliable
member Of the Western coalition.
Today, to be sure. the search is on
for less costly solution Of the Indo-
Chinese problem. At the moment. the
probabilities point to a deal with
the Reds along Korean lines that
would mean at least a temporary
halt in the shooting war. But it is
a safe bet that neither French secu-
rity nor French prestige will be
traded for the sake Of an easy
bargain.
Similarly, the three factors of Sc
curity, future hopes and prestige
outweigh all the negative factors in
the African picture.
French Nightmare
From a purely military point of
view, firm control of the North At
rican coast has long been fixed
idea in the minds of French Strate-
gists. The possibility of a hostile
power so close at hand has been a
recurring French nightmare for
more than a century.
The French stake in Africa, how
ever, does not stop there. 1t in
cludeS also a carefully laid plan for
the development of Africa'S resources
that offers, in the French view at
least, the ultimate solution to
Frances own acute economic prob
lens.
The plan which started seriously
in 1947, is already well under way.
Like a specialized point four pro-
gram, it calls for a concerted effort
to build up food production and
export products in the huge French
African preserves Particularly, it
calls for a search for strategic ma
terials, for minerals and oil. vitally
needed by the West and by Frances
own industrial machine.
A Long, Slow Job
Even the optimists admit that it
Will be long, slow process. 1t will
require increasing amounts Of pub
lie and private money which France
cannot come by readily these days.
The results may be imperceptible
for at least decade.
But in the end, the French hope
to build in Africa something which
they cannot build at home-an eco
nomic system integrated closely with
the homeland. big enough and vari-
GUS enough to pay it's own way and
reduce substantially Frances pres
ent need for dollar imports. Such
a development, combined with poll
tical and social stability throughout
the area, is not an entirely selfish
dream. It holds the promise also
of creating in Africa something solid
to add to the strength of the West
ern world.
Viewed in this light, French colo
nial policy makes considerably more
sense than might appear on the
surface. It also begins to emerge
as policy that is not entirely Sepa-
rated from the long-range aims and
interests of the United States. Today,
undoubtedly, the French colonial
picture is gloomy and full of dis
couragementS. But with hard work
and luck and time, the present sac
rif1ces, from every ones point of
view, may seem more than worth
while.