Some Remarks on European Co-operation in Tropical Africa

Abstract

THE unsatisfactory conditions in tropical Africa can only be remedied 1 by long term international treaties or by European federation. Partisans of the latter idea, like the writer, give much thought to the colonies. This is all the more true, if their own studies were connected with colonial administration in the past. As long as their interest is unselfish, we feel sure that everybody will welcome such studies. Of course, their writers have constantly to keep in mind that only the federation as a whole will have to enjoy the advantages, that might result from ideas, which theyhave put forward. I think here of colonial experts, belonging to countries that do not dispose anymore of overseas dependent territories themselves. Those Western European powers that might be willing to bring in their colonies, under certain conditions, into a federation or long-term treaty, will perhaps at first have to suffer some decrease in the profits and the employment, that resulted for their own nationals out of the sole possession of national colonies. It is therefore all the more to be welcomed, that countries like France and Belgillm, though at first having both to lose and to gain in the case of federation, in which their colonies are involved, nevertheless take part in all the European steps that are now being taken (army, coal and steel). They support the federation-idea although they may presume that finally their own colonies will also be more or less included.# For this reason it seems just that they will continue to enjoy very important privileges in the areas which they have developed and that not only the federal government, but also the national governments, will have considerable influence in their own colonial matters.