Minneapolis spokesman., 1962-07-06

tegrated economic social and cul
tural features. These permit the
drawing up Of program based or
joint requirements and respect fol
each country's special character.
istics and internal system Of gov.
ernment. I hope the Cairo confer.
ence will be able to offer all the
Governments of African countries
a proposal for an Inter-Africar
conference"
WHILE SOME observers have
indicated that the recent verbal
exchange between Ghana and Nj
geria might tend to increase the
grounds for disagreement between
the Casablanca and Monrovia
Groups, others feel that it would
be improper If not dangerous to
attach too much Importance to the
incident. The exchange between
some leaders and the press of the
two West African countries fol-
lowed statements attributed to
Jaja Wachuku, Nigerian foreign
minister, in which he warned
Ghana to desist from policies
which were harming relations be-
tween Ghana and Nigeria.
Wachulu was quoted as charg-
ing the Ghana High Commission in
Lagos with subversive activities.
However, George Doe, the Ghana-
ian High Commissioner, formally
denied the alleged charges. The
first Ghana government reaction
to the charge was made in a
broadcast by Tawiah Adamafio,
minister of information, who de-
clared: IAN we desire for Nigeria
is success"
THE NIGERIAN foreign min
lister repeatedly ended his charges
by pointing out that the Monrovia
Group charter is identical with
the Casablanca charter. Moreover,
Nigeria, as a leading member of
the so-called Monrovia bloc, has
been a strong force in the efforts
to establish African unity. The
Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Taf-
ava Balewa, speaking at the first
Monrovia conference in May, 1861,
expressed regret that the Cas-
ablanca countries were not in at
tendance. He said the door would
remain open for future confer
ences.
OBSERVERS OF the African
scene have expressed the hope
that any misunderstanding be-
tween Ghana and Nigeria can be
resolved peacefully in the best in
terests Of African unity. Inde-
pendent African states already are
confronted with existing differ
ences between sister states. For
example, the "cold war; between
Ethiopia and Somalia was a major
topic Of the first Monrovia con-
ference. The border clashes stem
from traditional religious and RI
valries. The 100000 Somalis OF
the region are Moslem, the Ethiop-
ians are Christian.
In 1854, Britain signed an agree
ment with Ethiopia giving Somali
herdsmen seasonal use Of a mar
row and fertile strip Of Ethiopia
known as the Haud. The frontier
was relatively peaceful until after
British Somaliland and Italy ad.
ministered Somalia united as an
independent state In 1860. The
Somalis claim that the Haud Is
historically their land. In addition
they maintain that large stretches
Of Ethiopia's adjoining ogaden re.
gion were part of the territory OF
their old chieftain, Hail Moham-
med bin Abdullah Hassan.
A SIMILAR dispute exists be-
tween Morocco and Mauritania
Morocco, 1t might be recalled, die
not attend the conference Of Heads
of African and Malagasy States
at Monrovia because Mauritanis
attended as an independent ma
ton. Also, Morocco once blocked
Mauritania's entrance into the
United Nations, claiming that the
territory belonged to Morocco
Also, boundary disputes are the
chief cause Of the differences
which have existed between Ghans
and Togo.
SINCE MOST Of the existing
boundary lines in Africa were set
up, not by Africans, but by white
settlers under colonialism, it Is
understandable that some differ
ences would arise after independ-
ance. However. If the spirit OF
African unity is to prevail on a
continent-wide basis, these differ
ences will have to be settled peace