THE CURRENT SITUAT BRITISH WEST AFRICA
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THE CURRENT SITUATION IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA
SUMMARY
rent manifestations of nativeunrest in British West Africaotential threat to US Interests, because theurnishes overercent of the US supply of columbtte and someercent of Ihe US supply of battery gradeajor contribution to Britain's dollar balances;epresents aImportant source of wartime bases and manpower. Nevertheless, it appears unlikely that this threat will materialize In the next few years. Although the postwar emergence of political self-consciousness, notably in thc Quid Coast and Nigeria, has already resulted in some violence (and will probably continue to dohc continuing Ignorance and apathy of the bulk of the population, existing divisions among politically active elements of the community, and the efforts being made by the British to speed up the extension of self-rule should suffice to avert any serious crisis In the short run. Communism has made
virtually no headway, although variousleaders have maintained somewith the British Communist Party and there are some indications that the USSR is beginning to take an increased interest In exploiting African unrest.
In the economic field, the British have since World War II had considerable success through the import limitations, production controls, and development programs, Inup British West Africa, bothollar earner andource of consumer goods for the British home market. One notableis an irrigation and electric power scheme for the Gold Coast which calls forarge aluminum plant. British West Africa's most pressing economic problem is the control of swollen shoot disease, which is causing widespread damage among the cocoa trees which furnish the Gold Coast's principal export crop
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THE CURRENT SITUATION IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA
General.
The (our prosperous, heavily populatedwhich make up British WestGold Coast, Sierra Leone, andol significance to the US asof strategic malcriuls, as key elements in thc British colonial system, and aswartime suppliers of military bases and manpower. British West Africa currently provides mure lhanercent of the USof columbite andercent of its battery grade manganese, as wellariety of other mineral and agricultural raw materials. The Gold Coast, the UK's most prosperous West African colony, is Britain's second largest net dollai earner Also, British West Africa, though now garrisonedredominantly native force ofight havemilitary value In the event of war.if the Mediterranean supply line were unavailable to the Western Powers. Thereirst-class international airport at Accra, In the Gold Coast, and large fields are being developed at Lagos and Kano inMajor portsgos. Nigeria, and Takoradi, Gold Coast, in both of which large-scale improvements are now going on. while small, deep water quays are being built at Freetown. Sierra Leone (which has the best natural harbor on the African West coast' and at Ba'.hurst. Gambia. Moreest African troops participated in World War II. notably in the Burma
British West Africa ts currentlytate of political and economic change. All four colonics have been affected by the general, postwar stirring of political consciousness
'Alio ncueially conuderal pari of British West Africa at* tlie UN trusteeship Icrntorlra of British Cameroon! and British TOflOlftnd. widen areiiitfaraled with the ad)ac*n'. colonics oland Outd Coaat losuectively. Including Uiescent Africa lias Mi area of about SOOnoo square miles andpopulation ot Oterillion
among hitherto apathetic colonial peoples, and with frequent demands forand "Africa for the Africans" now being made, thc question of how to cope with nativean area where not more than0 of thc total populationrebecome the UK's major problem in the region.
Bad communications, widespread illiteracy, and the continuation of local and tribal loyal-tics tiavc handicapped the spread of unified, colony-wide nationalist movements, whileCommunism has thus far made littleNevertheless, the emergent demand for self-government has already resulted in some violence, and the British, who have In the past stimulated political self-consciousness toimited extent, arc now carrying out what is essentially an orderly retreat,trong effort is being made to retain sufficient authority to assure the continuation Of ellec-tive government Reforms are being granted piecemeal with tho short-range hope oiuprisings and with the long-range hope that eventually the West Africans will decide to remain in the Commonwealth understatus. Jn this, the UK is bema watched ciosely and sometimes suspiciously by the other colonial powers, as well as by the Mai.in Government in South Africa, whose own policies contrast sharply with suchpractices as the discouragement ofwhite settlement and general support of native paramountcy.
British West Africa also appears to be on the vergeonsiderableeasant-type economy ;ont:nues to predominateour colonies, increasing attention ls now being paid to lhe development of the area's minora! resources, which already play an important part in the annual contribution0 ir.il-lieu net which West Africa is currentlyto the UK's dollar pool ECA and the British. Colonial Development Corporation have both shown interest in various long-range
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projects, while the colonieshave all laid out ten-year plans for the Improvement of living conditions and output Although these political and economic trends are present throughout British West Africa to some degree, their Impact has varied. The fact that the tour colonies areseparate and, in all important respects, administered Individually, has tended todistinctive problems.
2. Nigeria.
a. Political.
Nigeria, which accounts for more than three-quarters of thc area and population of British Wests nowritical point In Its history. The nationalist movement, the main impetus for which has been provided by young, foreign-educated men with some civil service experience, haselatively short time spreadoint where its two major groups have at least nominal representation throughout the colony. The nationalists have been quick to appreciate the potentialto be obtained through the laborand have actively supported the trade unions, which noweportedof aboutillion, mainly among the dock workers and In the tin mines. The nationalists also exert great influence through the press. Dr Nnamdl Aziklwe. orself-made. US-cducatcd man In his middle forties, who has been the most prominentin the movement. Is himself the owner of several newspapers. In an effort toreceptivity to their agitation, theare also attacking illiteracy through such media as small "bushonducted more or less informally with the Idea ofat least elementary educationuch broader segment of the population. Meanwhile. detribalization, particularly among thef the Eastern Provinces, and the general drift to the cities are providing the nationalists with new opportunities foradherents.
aauarc mltaa Population of aooiilmillion, of whom not morere non-Africans
6 the British granted the Nigerians some voice In their government through the so-called Richards Constitution. Although this contains such fairly liberal featuresreatly enlarged legislative council and African majority representation ln allbodies, the retention of detailedpowers by thc Governor means that it does not give much real autonomy to thc country, and steadily mounting opposition to this constitution, led byinallythe UK8rastic review, originally not scheduledhould be made immediately. raftinginvolving progressive consultations at the district, provincial and regional levels, was set up. During January andeneral Conference attempted to draft proposals for submission to the regional houses of assembly, the Legislative Council, theand finally the Colonial Office.
One major difficulty facing the conference was the divergence in interest among the three major subdivisions of the colony. In the Northern Provinces, inhabited by Moslem Hausas. Fulonis. and other tribes withof Mediterranean or Semitic blood, tribal loyalties are strong, and the northern leaders, who are inclinedeelingeluctance to subordinate local interests to national ones, have even talked of relumingystem of separate colonies within Nigeria. Some diHerenecs also cropped up between Lagos and the Western Provinces, both inhabited mainly by Yorubas. and the Eastern Provinces, peopled by Ibos. Intensive debate produced no real agreement and only tiic exercise of great tact on the part of the presiding British official prevented an open break between the North and tho South. In general, the North favored continuation of the pit-sent Legislative Council, with someautonomy; the West favored something close to dominion status,trong federal government, and the East and Lagosiddle position. Further controversy arose over the method of apportioningand expenditure, with the Norththat Its large population and revenue should entitle it to half the seats in the new legislative body and half of all development
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The Legislative Council, which took up the problem anew when It convenedarch, proved no more successful than the conference In arrivingorkable compromise, largely through the inability of tho Northernalready committedefinite position, to concede even the smallest point. Thus the constitutional reform question remainsFurther discussions were held by the three regional houses during August, and the matter will be discussed by the Legislative Council shortly. II seems likely that the North's demands for representation equal to that of the whole South will be met through the expedienticameral legislature. At any rate, the discussions thus far have served to bring the question of constitutional reform out into the open, to delineate theregional differences which must be reconciled before any basic changes can be made. British approval of the work done soiven formallyecent despatch from the colonial office, indicates that regardless of how the details Of the new governmental structure are worked out, It will certainlya much larger measure ofthan was envisaged even three years ago and should thus satisfy all bul the younger and more extreme nationalists.
Few problems are presented by the Britisharrow strip of territory along thc eastern frontier of Nigeria, whichritish Mandate under the League of Nations, wllh the dissolution ofGermany's overseas empire. Thehave partially integrated itswith that of Nigeria, but the UNGA will undoubtedly oppose any tendency toward complete absorption of the territory intoA UN mission visiting the Cameroons late ineported that the British secior was not as well developed as that of the Frenchstatement which probably has some basis in fact despite British denials. The UN Trusteeship Council has indicated its bciief that more attention should be paid lo developing the country, particularly Itseducational, and transportation facilities.
'Totalllrs. population. ;uat over one million.on-Ratlm
*wet
oint where some degree ofcan be envisaged.
b. Economic.
Long one of the UK's most valuable colonial assets, Nigeria isajorto the British economy, bothroducer ol foreign exchange andupplier of such raw materials as peanuts, palm oil, and palm kernels for home consumption. Under the stress of the dollar problem, the British have made strenuous efforts to maximize Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings. Nigeria'sfrom the US, which represented about one-sixth of total imports during andafter World War II, before Britain'splant returned lo peacetimehad9 been reduced toillion, or about four percent of total imports. At the same time, exports to the US steadily mounted, andigeria was the sterling area's fifth ranking net dollar earner,et balance ofillion.
Agricultural and forestcocoa, peanuts and palm kernels and ail, as well as Umber, rubber, cotton, andcurrently provide five-sixths of Nigeria'sby value and are likely to assume even greater importance in the future. It is hoped that Nigeria's tin deposits will maintain'put0 tons of tin andons ofear forten years, but depletion of ore reserves and increasing competition from the Far East may start reducing production at any time. Nigeria's coal output, used almost entirely In West Africa, was seriously threatenedhen an industrial dispute at the mines in Enugu developediot in which over twenty miners wereixed British-African commission under tho chairmanship of Sir Williamoted jurist, was immediately appointed toand its report was finally published early ir.' It is probable that the affan. already overshadowed by more impor-
Publicav.on ot thc report was delayed bym?-imie between the Colonial Office and theaiming that ils Utrnis were so critical ol his administration that he would have to resign if tlteere accepted completely by the Colonial omce.
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events, will soon cease toiveissue- Moreover, tho appointment in0roup of experts to study the general labor and trade union situation in Nigeria raises the hope that long-term benefits may be realized from an incident which served to highlight the glaring deficiencies in the held of labor relations.
In their attempts to maximize yields and profits from agriculture, the authorities have gone in heavily for productionarketing board for cocoa was set up during the war, and similar boards have since been established for palm oil. peanuts, andThese boards follow the familiarpractice of purchasing all crops from the growers at fixed prices, regardless of world market conditions, so as to provide funds for the payment of subsidies in bad years, for such development activities as the combatting of swollen shootn the case of cocoa, and for research andThus far all of the boardsrofit; the cocoa board,eries of good years, endedeasonotal capital ofillion. The boards encountered considerable Initialfrom the farmers, who complained of getting lew for their crops than they could get on the open market, and there was much talk lo the effect that the British would never even thc farmers' accounts. During partowever, the cocoa board actually paid more than the open markotfact which should do much to quiet the farmers* fesra Such an improvement in publicof the boards should meanwhile help eliminate the remaining opposition to theout of cocoa trees in the fight against swollen shoot.
Major efforts are also being made to raise thc economic and social standard of the colony in generalen-year development progiam. callingotal expenditure of0 million, was inaugurated This program, one of Uie largest in the Empire,such basic matters as the develop-
A virus disease which Is readily transmitted from tree to tree by iniecu and which Kills the trees in from two to fire years, over which period the yield gradually diminishes
ment of water supplies, roads, medicaland education but also includes projectsariety of other fields, such as the partiallyacre mixed farmingwhich the Colonialovernment-owned organization) has recently put in operation. The programhole is at present considerably behind schedule but may be getting over Its growing pains; while It Is still handicapped byof technically qualified personnel, the initial dearth of equipment is now decreasing. The program to date has been completely British financed, though ECA hasumber of projects.
In the Camcroons, the principal postwar problem has been the restoration of theplantations which form the backbone of the economy. These plantations, badlyduring the war, are just now reaching their prewar standards of productivity, under thc direction of the government-owned Cam-eroons Development Corporationhich hopes to raise production from therate nf about six million stems per year to eight million stems or about eight perceni ol world production,DC has alsoin stimulating production of cocoa and palm products, both on the plantations and on small native farms, but efforts to do as much for rubber have not been as successful.1
3. GoUCoott.
a. Political.
In the smaller and less densely populated Gold Coast/for self-government and progress toward sweeping constitutional change has dovolopcd even more rapidly than in Nigeria, in part because of the greater ln-
' Accurate trade figures are hard to find since only bananas and eceoa ar* exported direct from Cameroon* porta, with other exports andn transshipment from Nigeria or through rrench territory. Trade wiih the U8 In any form is limited to small amounts, ol cocoa,three percent of the amount exportedvr:a. and to the territory's share of the curtailed imports from
The Oold Coast, including British Togoland. with an areaO0 ttquare milts, is about one-fourth uie slsr ol Nigeria andopulation of four million,oii-Afncani oi about one-sixth thai of Nlgr-na
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and aggressiveness of the Gold Coast natives and ln part because theyess diversified population. Although the Gold Coast is divided Into three distinctColony, or coastal belt, with aand more or less dctribalizedthe Alhanti Kingdom, inhabited mainly by farmers livingtrong tribaland the arid and generally backward Northerninterests and ways of life do not conflict lo the extent that they do in Nigeria, and, in particular, there is no group which has even considered
Returning veterans of World War IIthe impetus for the present nationalist movement, which has not only attackod the present system of non-elected Africanbul has alsoromise of full scir-governmenloreseeable time. Infter more than two years of growing unrest, full-scale rioting andbroke out In Accra and several otherostensibly in protest against thecost of living but In reality forpurposes, with the most prominentgroup, the United Goldlaying an Importantrole.
Although the immediate eflect of the Accra affair was to stimulate racial animosity. It also ledajor move toward constitutional change, the appointment of an all-Africancommitteender theof .Judge James Coussey, which in9eport suggesting sweeping changes in all phases of governmeni and in particular calling for greatly Increased authority and responsibility for the people of the colony Specifically, the Coussey reportroadening of the franchise and although the British Governor would retain his reserveprovision lhat eight of the twelve members of his Executive Council would be selected from the legislature ami be responsible to It as well as to thefor the conduct of their departments.
The Coussey report was approved in general by the Colonial Office and by the majority of responsible Ould Coasters, and at first ittopeedy solution to the of nationalist agitation Opposition
quickly crystallized, however, particularly over the recommendations that the Governorhis reserve powers and that he, not the legislature, have authority to appoint therepresentatives on tho Executive Council. The principal leader of thiswas Kwame Nkrumah, whosePeoples Partyepresenting the most fanatically nationalistic elemont ln the Gold Coast, had broken oft* from the UOCC inhroughout the latter halfkrumah demanded the attainment of self-government before the end of the year, threatening "positive action" if his demands were not met. This threat finallyin the form of an abortive general strikeesult of which Nkrumah and several of his more important followers were arrested, tried for inciting others to take part in an illegal strike, and :entencedear ln prison.
With ils founder-leader In jail, the CPP at first seemed to be goingecline. Byowever, it had rallied sufficiently to sweep the Accra Town Councilurprise victory which clearly demonstrated lo the more moderate UGCC that it would have to take drastic action to avoid being shut out of the new government altogether.work is actively going forward onof the Coussey report,the sections dealing with division of the country into electoral districts and withelection procedures. It now seemsthat by next year the Gold Coast will haveong step toward internal sclf-govern-ment.
The Trust Territory of Britishparsely populated, land-locked territorybetween the Gold Coast and French Togo-land, is at present concerned mainly withof the Ewe tribe ofersons at having Its tribal area split up among French Togoland, British Togoland, and the Gold Coast proper. Many petitions, most ol them demanding unification ot the Ewes, have readied the UN. and the whole problem was taken up by the Trusteeship Council in June, although no results have us
'Total0 sonar*. including SO non-African*
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yet been announced. It Is doubtful whether much can be done except to minimizeand annoyances resulting from arbitrary division of land by Immigration and customs barriers, double taxation, and disparity ofpolicies, but the French and British have nevertheless recently agreed to enlarge the joint Standing Consultative Commission, at the same time broaderimg Its authority, in an attempt to bring about some improvement Replying to criticism In the UN that they seek to destroy the identity of Togoland, thestate that they have not gone further than the creation of an administrative union aimed at bettering the lot of the Inhabitants. artial answer to internal complaints of lack ofember of tho Southern Togoland Council was admitted to the Gold Coast Legislative Council In. Economic.
The Gold Coast's overriding economicis Uiat of controlling swollen shootwhose destruction of cocoa treesmenaces what has always been themost important export crop. It isthat one-eighth ofilliontrees in thc Gold Coast are Infected and that IS million additional trees are becoming Infected every year. The cutting out oftrees, the only effective method ofdiscovered so far, is still not being carried outufficiently large scale to match thc spread of the disease; only aboutillionear are being cut out at present. The government, however, has finally enactedproviding for compulsory cutting out as thc only alternative to complete destruction of the cocoa industryeriod of flltcen to twenty years There has also been some diminution of the opposition to cutting out on the purl of the growers, many of whom failed to understand thc necessity for theor were swayed by propaganda depicting it as an imperialistic method of holding the African down. Meanwhileocoa crop is up lo the prewar level ofons. Up toercent goes to the US. which relies on the Gold Coast for about one-third of its supply of cocoa.
, first column, page 6.
The Gold Coastocoa Marketing Board, similar to thc one In Nigeria, which regulates prices and production. The board currentlyurplus of several millionwhich Is used for cocoa research,expense and compensation grants for cut out trees. There are Indications that the Tarmers are gradually acquiring someof tho problems they face, at least to the extent of accepting cutting out lessand of appreciating the Marketing Board's efforts to stabilize the industry.
Of the other principal Gold Coastgold, manganese, mahogany, diamonds, andis currently the product of most direct Importance to the US. although thereossibility that relatively largeof bauxite may be imported for the US stockpile. With Soviet exports of manganese to the US greatly reduced, the Gold Coast Is now supplying about one quarter of USercent with respect to battery grade ore) and virtually all that the UK uses. On the financial level. Gold Coast exports to thcprincipally cocoa, manganese,8 yieldingillion in foreign exchange as against about jaIn purchases from thc US. The Gold Citast's standing as one ofthe British Empire's largest net dollar earners may well be raised even higher as import control of goods from dollar areas stiffens and exports to dollar areas are pushed.
ECA Ls currently studying various projects aimed at stimulating development of the Gold Coast, notably an irrigation and hydroelectric power scheme calling for constructionam across the Vol la River. This dam isto funilsh power for an aluminum plant with an annual capacityons, plans for which are currently being studied Also being considered arc measures toswollen shoot disease, railwaythe enlargement of Takoradi harbor, and urban electrification. The ColonialCorporation has not as yeton any specific projects in the Gcltl Coast, but several arc under consideration.
The economy of Togoland Is closelywith that of the Gold Coast,onsiderable proportion of its exports are han-
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through the port of Lome, French Togo-land, owing to the existenceailway In the latter colony. Principal products are the same as in the Gold Coast, except that there is no mining.
4- Sierra Leone.
a. Political.
As ln the cases of the larger colonies ofand the Oold Coast, Sierraad been moving gradually towardsince the end of World War II, although, because of Sierra Leone's generaldemands for constitutional reform have been less vehement than in the otherew constitution, under discussion for two years, has just been approved by the British Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor and will probably go Into effect early Its principal significance is that it allows Sierraegree of self-government comparable to that of the other British West African Colonies byegislative Counciltteable unofficial1 majority and an Executive Council composed of hall official and half unofficial members; it also opens the way for the later widening of eligibility for appointment to the Legislative Council, for combining the Colony andinto one unit, and for setting up ministerial portfolios for the unofficialCouncil members.
Controversy still continues over the familiar question of how many seats should beto the relatively advanced Colony, which includes the city of Freetown, as against the more primitive Protectorate, and even now al! elements are not entirely satisfied Opposition has also come from extreme nationalistsuch as the West African league and tlic west African Youth League, both under the leadership of Wallace Johnson, Sierra Leone's most ardent nationalist, who maintains some contact with Nkrumah Ln the Cold Coast and with the West AfricanSecretariat In London. These groups do not, however, appear strong enough to cause any serious trouble.
ZSOOO square miles, population. lasa.OOO.on-African*
An unofficialn tier led or appointed member who holds no other government orMcc.
b. Economic.
Sierra Leone has been making good progress in reducing Its prewar adverse balance of trade and in improving Its dollar position. For the first five monthsho latest period for which figures arc available, itspalm kernels, diamonds (of which Sierra Leone produces about fiveof the world'snd iron ore 1were upercent over the previous year's figures, while In the same period exports to the US were increased fivefold and thealready limited purchases from the US cut byercent toavorablebalance. Later figures are expected to show additional gains, and the colony'sposition should be further improvedesult of the ten-year development program which has been set up. ECA Ls currentlyprojectsillion, theof which call for improvements of theand constructioneep-water quay at Freetown. The British have already started work on the quay, but rehabilitation of theight line of" gauge which is in dire need of complete modernization, has still to be begun.
5. Gambia. a. Political.
The tiny territory ofontinues to be one of Britain's most loyal and leastpossessions. Although there has never been any organized nationalist movement, slow progress is nevertheless being made in the direction of self-government.he legislative Council for the first time had nof unofficial members, and three out of the eight Executive Council members wereThe Native Authorities are being given more responsibility, and many signs pointteady handing over ofpower to the Africansate rapid enough lo forestall any major civil
Sierralso produces ginger (about half ol which is sold to theolaeanuts, palm oil. cocoa, piassava, and chromite.
Area. fl.txio square miles;
10
Gold Coast and,ess extent. Nigeria. Demands for an increasing degree of will undoubtedly continue until something at least comparable to dominion status is achieved, and the British will thus be saddlederiod of years with the difficult task of keeping the population reasonably satisfied without either unduly lowering the effectiveness of the colonial government by loo rapid extension of native authority or threatening the UK's economic position in the aroa. This problem ts complicated bythat the USSR is beginning to take an increased interest in exploiting unrest in Africa. The British Communist Party hasestablished contacts with variousand Gold Coast nationalist and labor leaders and has penetrated the West African National Secretariat In London, of which the Gold Coast leader Nkrumah (who has re poiiedlyember of thc BritishPartyas the first
In the short run. It appears unlikely that thc situation will get out of hand. Theauthorities appear to be well aware ot the nature of their problem, and although riots and demonstrations can be expected lothe violently nationalistic elemenL In British West Africa does not yet appear lo have ihe strength needed to present anythreat to British control. Popular ignorance and apathy still Inhibit theof nationalismroad, masswhile attempts to unify the nationalist movements ol the four colonies, notably on the part of Nkrumah. have so far failed.
The Communist danger also appears to be more potential than actual atumber of West African leaders are undoubtedly taking advantage of Communist sym|>athy. they are primarily dedicated to the elimination of any foreign control and have thus far been as unresponsive to Communist direction as In that of other outsiders Even Nkrumah. who has been strongly affected by Communist ideology andlan for the unification of West Africaoviet Socialist Republic calledas proved by tils actions Ihat his Communist inclinations are more nationalist than Stalinist. Thus, the
b. Economic.
The most significant development inis the trend toward economic 8 peanuts made up overercent by value of total exports, with palm kernels, beeswax and hides being the only other exports. owever, the Colonial Developmentacre egg and poultry project gatheredand by0 commercial shipments had begun which will ultimately attain the objective of supplying Englandggs and one million pounds of dressed poultry annually. Other new activities in the colony include experiments with rice growing in the interior, development ofeneral attempt to stimulateof crops other than peanuts.
ECA has under considerationillion, including principally swamp reclamation in the Rathurst area andof the medical service, while the Colony's own ten-year plan, under the Colonial Development and Welfare program, provides lor various long-range projects, mainly in the fields ot health and education. Gambia's trade with the US is negligible
6. Probable Future Developments.
British West Africa Is likely to grow into the US, not only because of its valueroducer of strategic columbite and manganese but also because of the increasing dependence of thc UK on the urea. Britain is already relying heavily on West Africa for dollar exchange, and will undoubtedly make every effort to increase its dollar yield there. British plans for the economic development of Ihc region are also notable for their emphasis on the production of foodstuffs and other basic commodities tor the British market. these pluns may well encounter some of the basic difficulties inherent In any African development scheme, West Africa's economic potential provides the UK with one of thefew opportunities it has forits dependence on non-sterling areas for the necessities of life.
The rising tide of Wesl African nationalismajor long-range challenge to Western interests in the area, particularly In
Original document.
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