COLONIALISM IN AFRICA

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 9

COLONIALISM IN AFRICA

“Testing Time” For Whites

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 14. Colonial and European governments in Africa were no./ entering a “testing time” and should keep calm, resist pressure where it was unjustified and help Africans on the road to independence, “The Times’’ said today. The anti-Colonial struggle had now broken into three regional blocks led by the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) in Asia, President Nasser of Egypt in the Middle East, and the Ghana Prime Minister (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) in Africa, said “The Times.” “The Times” described the visit of Dr. Nkrumah to Delhi, and his shorter visit to Cairo, as symbolical epilogues to the PanAfrican People’s Conference in Accra. “Taken together, these events amount to a formal declaration of war in the all-out thrust against Colonialism and white domination in Africa. “Colonel Nasser has made it plain in his writings that he regards Africa as his sphere of influence. “Now Dr. Nkrumah has arisen and has clearly shown that he does not intend to play third or even second fiddle to anyone,” “The Times” commented. “The Accra conference made it very clear where he plants his flag.” “For the Colonial and European Governments there is a testing time ahead. ... In a hundred years’ time the Africans will still be in Africa. The question is, will the Europeans?” asked “The Times.”

Another newspaper, the “Daily Telegraph,” believed that certain nations of Africa did not yet provide a fertile field for democracy.

“Neither in the areas where the blacks are dominant, as in Ghana, nor where the whites are dominant, as in Kenya, is there any immediate chance of democratic governments.” the “Daily Telegraph” declared.

Grass Fire at Bromley.—When gorse-burning operations on Mr R. Moore’s property at 139 Dyers, road, Bromley, got out of control at 1.10 p.m. yesterday, a grass fire was started. Engines from the Central and Woolston Fire Stations were called. The fire was put out before it spread far. no damage being caused.