Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-15
Sierra Leone Envoy Represents
Struggling New African Nation

themselves from the natives In
the interior. who came to resent
them. and. to the surprise Of
many, they prospered. Freetown,
now the capital, came to be
known as the BLACK Athens" In
1927, when many Americans did
well to read and write, Foural
Bay College was teaching young
African scholars Greek and He
brew.
Attended British School
Mr.. Collier can thank his birth
as o descendant Of these former
slaves for his position today. His
father, an educated civil servant,
was able to send him to q British
style grammar school in Freetown,
Fourah Bay College and then the
University Of Durham in England,
where he studied law. HIS expe-
rience In England was what
formed his passion for politics Che
had wanted to become an anthro-
pologist or sociologist) and his
hatred for colonialisrn.
He became more aware than
ever Of the gulf between the
British who ruled Sierra Leone
and the Africans who served
them. His father had gone a. far
as he could; where his Job ended
the job Of q young Englishman
Just beginning his career started.
But Mr.. Collier and the other
Africans he knew In England were
less concerned with social than
political reform. They had been
under British influence four or
five generations, and British
mores were their own. The West
African Student Union met TO
discuss revolution at high tea on
Sundays.
Involved in Politics
After graduation and Q short
career as q barrister In London,
Mr.. Collier returned home to
make his fortune. He did, and
then he became involved in poll
tics. With Albert Margai, younger
brother Of the Prime Minister, Mr..
Collier and some other young
patriots formed an opposition
party.
When the subject Of Sierra
Leone's independence arose, Sir
Minton's Peoples Party and
several splinter parties met to
form Q united front before going to
London. The British colonial
office, expecting long, embittered
negotiations among the various
tribal factions, was surprised and
the conference ended several days
early. In April, 1861, Sierra Leone
became q member Of the British
commonwealth.
The present government can be
described as moderate, and 1t is
firmly tied to the Commonwealth.
It has an active Parliament and .
functioning opposition, both Of
which are nearly unique In Africa.
The $50 million annual budget
must cover the needs Of nearly
three million people.
Sir Minton took the leaders Of
the splinter parties who went With
him to London into his govern
ment, and his brother, now So, is
his apparent successor. Sir Min
ton Is 90. Mr.. Collier. without an.
elective seat In the Parliament,
was not eligible for Q cabinet post
and had to content himself with
an Enthusiastically to the United
Nations. From there, he came to
Washington. \
Career Is Ahead of Him
81 have Q career ahead Of me,
and I'm fervently preparing for
it." the Ambassador says, describ-
ing his lo-hour daily regime. -
He Is UP ut 7 am, has two cups
Of coffee. reads two newspapers
and answers his personal mail. He
gets to his office. Q large but bare
remodeled town house at l701
Nineteenth street NV. by Q am,
when he receives visitors.
After lunch, the Ambassador
takes care Of his diplomatic func-
tions-with the State Department,
the Agency for International
Development, the international
Monetary Fund, the United Ma
tons Special Fund, the World
Bank and others.
Every once in Q while, the
Ambassador gives o cocktail party
to fulfill his obligations. He also
holds small dinners for friends.
CHis wife, the principal Of q
Methodist girls school. Is In Free
town.
The Ambassador insists he Is
unhappy in his post here. He says
1t Is almost q financial hardship
for him, and he could be engaged