AFRICA Africa means many things to many people. To the average American it has long been a great unknown continent of steaming jungles and pagan peoples ranging in size from 4-foot pygmies to 7-foot Watusi warriors. To the geographer it is a continent replete with opportunities for research, for here are some of the driest desert and the heaviest rainfalls in the world and the terrain varies from snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to the marshes of west and central Africa. The economist regards its rich and undeveloped agricultural and mineral resources as a golden lode waiting to be mined. Africa's possibilities are almost limitless, but the continent is burdened with social, economic and political problems. One of the most dramatic and far-reaching changes of the last decade has been the emergence of an independent Africa. Some 15 years ago, 35 countries covering nearly five-sixth of the continent were still colonies, their voices silent in world affairs. Today, there are 45 sovereign nations, proudly determined to shape their own future. And contrary to fears so often voiced at their birth, these nations did not succumb to Communist subversion. Africa is one of the world's most striking examples, in fact, of the failure of the appeal of communism in the new nations. African states now comprise nearly one-third of the membership of the United Nations. African issues have become important moral and political questions. African views justly merit and receive the attention of the world. But this rebirth of a continent has been hazardous as well as hopeful. Africa was the scene of many of the recurrent crises of the 1960's. There was the factional strife and international rivalry in the Congo, an arms race between Ethiopia and Somalia, the establishment of white minority rule in Southern Rhodesia, and the agonizing human loss in the Nigerian civil war. The Sudan was split with conflict between the Hamites in the north and negro tribes in the south. We Our policy is based on mutual respect and a commitment to frankness in our relations with the nations of Africa. agree wholeheartedly with African aspirations for social justice, self-determination, and economic progress throughout the continent. We have taken concrete steps and have subscribed to peaceful change to support these aims. In all our contacts with the nations of Africa we have opposed the use of force by any party in dealing with the political, economic, and social problems of the continent. In his report to the Congress on February 9, 1972, titled UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY FOR THE 1970'S--THE EMERGING STRUCTURE OF PEACE, President Nixon included the following section on Africa. It has remained the basis for subsequent American policies and actions. "We owe it to ourselves and to Africa to define clearly and to state candidly American interests, aims and possibilities in the African Continent. We owe it to ourselves and to the Africans to understand clearly their aims and priorities. "Our African diplomacy, including my own meetings these past three years with the leaders of 14 African nations, has been directed to the establishment of an honest relationship with the peoples and governments of the continent. "Africa is in its second decade of emancipation from colonial rule and the achievements of independent Africa have been impressive: --Despite great obstacles, African states have maintained their political independence and territorial integrity. --Though progress was uneven, a number of African states have taken significant strides to broaden their economic base and to develop untapped resources. --In the face of overwhelming domestic strains, African leaders in the main have succeeded in moving toward internal consolidation. --Despite great ethnic diversity and unnatural geographic divisions, Africans have created new regional institutions to grapple with common problems. "Africans, however, still face two awesome problems: --The hope for modernization is spreading across Africa more rapidly than the means to assure its realization. The problems created by slender resources of capital and skilled manpower are aggravated by the narrow scope of national economies. Many African countries face a harsh choice between policies involving cooperation with others which hold realistic promise of growth--and the jealous guarding of unmitigated sovereignty. --The quest of southern Africa's black majorities for full participation in their countries' political and economic life continues to meet minority intransigence and repression, and to divert African attention from the problems of development. "America's Interest in Africa "Historically, U.S. interests derive from the many American citizens of African descent, and the long involvement of American churchmen, educators, and businessmen with Africa. In the last two decades, Africa's drive for independence stimulated our interest, and commanded our understanding and our support. The creation of new independent governments in Africa gave a new focus to our relationship and opened new opportunities for fruitful contacts between us. The special identification of black Americans with their African heritage adds intensity to our inherent interest in demonstrating that men of all races can live and prosper together. "One-third of the world's independent nations are in Africa. Their voice and views are increasingly important in world affairs. Our global responsibilities require that we seek their understanding and diplomatic support for a wide range of policies. * * * "The Need for Mutual Respect and Restraint "If these American interests in Africa provide a firm basis for relations of mutual benefit--and I believe they do--I am equally convinced that both African and American interests are served by political restraint in our policy toward Africa. * "Restraint must be mutual to be effective. Non-African powers should not seek, nor Africans provide, opportunities for exploiting local conflicts. Africans have demonstrated, in their drive for autonomy and self-reliance, their ability to solve their problems without outside interference. "Mutual respect in relations with the United States also includes African recognition of our non-interference in African political affairs. We expect African nations to resist the temptation to serve domestic political purposes by making unsubstantiated charges of American interference in their affairs. Such charges appeared in a few places in Africa in 1971, particularly in Madagascar and Guinea. * * * * "The Dimensions of Cooperation "The United States responded, in 1971, to the special and priority concerns of Africans. This Administration was able, even in the face of declining worldwide aid resources, to increase U.S. support for African development. Our development loans to African nations increased 30 percent and Export-Import Bank activity rose 140 percent. In addition, we provided almost 40 percent of the total cost of multilateral assistance programs in Africa. Last year the Peace Corps maintained 2, 500 volunteers in 25 African countries, providing teacher training and vocational skills. American assistance to Africa totaled about $550 million last year, compared to $450 million in 1970. * "Private American investment in Africa is growing at an annual rate of 14 percent, a fact of the greatest promise for Africa's economic future. Private investment will undoubtedly play a major role in providing the Continent with the capital and technology it needs. We will continue to make every effort to |