"It sure is, man," Abe grinned. "And the point is that the job is
educating the people and freeing them to the point where they can
develop their potentialities. Educate the African and he will see the
same need that does the intelligent European, American, or Russian for
that matter, to limit our population growth." He sat down again, and
there was a scattering of applause and more laughter.
Sandell, still glowering, took his seat, too.
Homer Crawford, who'd been hard put not to join in the amusement, said,
"Thanks to both of you for some interesting points. Now, who's next? Who
else do we have here?"
* * * * *
When no one else answered, a smallish man, dressed in the costume of the
Dogon, to the south, came to his feet and to the head of the room.
In a clipped British accent, he said, "Rex Donaldson, of Nassau, the
Bahamas, in the service of Her Majesty's Government and the British
Commonwealth. I have no team. Although our tasks are largely similar to
those of the African Development Project, we field men of the African
Department usually work as individuals. My native pseudonym is usually
Dolo Anah."
He looked out over the rest. "I have no objection to such meetings as
this. If nothing else, it gives chaps a bit of an opportunity to air
grievances. I personally have several and may as well state them now.
Among other things, it becomes increasingly clear that though some of
the organizations represented here are supposedly of the Reunited
Nations, actually they are dominated by Yankees. The Yankees are seeping
in everywhere." He looked at Isobel. "Yes, such groups as your Africa
for Africans Association has high flown slogans, but wherever you go,
there go Yankee ideas, Yankee products, Yankee schools."
Homer Crawford's eyebrows went up. "What is your solution? The fact is
that the United States has a hundred or more times the educated Negroes
than any other country."
Donaldson said, doggedly, "The British Commonwealth has done more than
any other element in bringing progress to Africa. She should be given
the lead in developing the continent. A good first step would be to make
the pound sterling legal tender throughout the continent. And, as things
are now, there are some _seven hundred_ different languages, not
counting dialects. I suggest that English be made the lingua franca
of--"
An excitable type, who had been first to join in the laughter at
Sandell, now jumped to his feet. "_Un moment, Monsieur!_ The French
Community long dominated a far greater portion of Africa than the
British flag flew over. Not to mention that it was the most advanced
portion. If any language was to become the lingua franca of all Africa,
French would be more suitable. Your ultimate purpose, Mr. Donaldson, is
obvious. You and your Commonwealth African Department wish to dominate
for political and economic reasons!"
He turned to the others and spread his hands in a Gallic gesture. "I
introduce myself, Pierre Dupaine, operative of the African Affairs
sector of the French Community."
"Ha!" Donaldson snorted. "Getting the French out of Africa was like
pulling teeth. It took donkey's years. And now look. This chap wants to
bring them back again."
Crawford was knuckling the table. "Gentlemen, Gentlemen," he yelled. He
finally had them quieted.
Wryly he said, "May I ask if we have a representative from the
government of the United States?"
A lithe, inordinately well dressed young man rose from his seat in the
rear of the hall. "Frederic Ostrander, C.I.A.," he said. "I might as
well tell you now, Crawford, and you other American citizens here, this
meeting will not meet with the approval of the State Department."