BRITISH RULE IN AFRICA

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 12, 1 February 1940, Page 3

BRITISH RULE IN AFRICA

Tribute by the Negroes A NOTABLE MEMORIAL Sometimes a sensitive conscience may wonder if the rule of the British over Negro or other backward peoples is all for their good, and there are often unpleasant hints of exploitation arid oppression. No doubt the past history of the British Empire has not been stainless, but it is a great joy arid comfort to read m the Church Times of the memorial addressed by the natives of Tanganyika to the Governor of that country. No need m this case to fall back on the old trick of saying that other European nations would have "been worse. Here is the memorial:— His Excellency, Sir Mark Young, K.C.M.G. We, the undersigned, being Africans of Tanganyika Territory, and loyal subjects of His Gracious Majesty King George, desire to express our unwavering faith and trust that His Majesty will not relinquish the trusteeship which he has assumed for a young and backward race. We can remember the past years before we became citizens of the British Empire, and, moreover, we have seen the intent and ideals of the British Empire m the governance of this territory. We have learnt with warm appreciation and gratitude the meaning of the term freedom, m the establishment of indirect rule where our own natural chiefs and leaders have been restored to their authority, and have been trained and helped to rule us according to our Customs and institutions, without, at the same time, any blessing of civilisation being withheld from us. Freedom to Follow Religions. We have freedom to follow our own religions without interfererice. We have had the door of education held open to us, from the beginnings

to the lately constituted Makerere College, and we- know that with pur , feet on the ladder - r 6f education and< civilisation, there will be no obstacle . to our progressing to the uttermost, „ as time, opportunity and means msiy' permit. We have seen how we can be admitted to posts of trust and responsibility and can hope to take a real share m the building up of our people. We have seen the great efforts made by our Government to improve the health and well-being of our people. We have appreciated most deeply the ready and unstinted help given us to learn better methods m our own. peculiar avocations, to wit, agriculture and animal husbandry. We know that m times of drought, locust invasion, famine, the Government has helped those m distress. We know that the poor, the afflicted and the aged are as much the care of the Government as the able, the young and the wealthy. We enjoy peace and free movement m our land, and we are protected from maraudings and exploitation of all those who would threaten our lives and property and prgress. We acknwledge the real justice and fairness which is accorded to us m the courts. We have seen slavery completely disappear and forced labour also. In their place we have rejoiced with deep thankfulness m the freedom to choose our own profession and work, and to follow them quietly and with all encouragement. We have been able to move freely into neighbouring countries, and to feel at one with their peoples, and we are very conscious of a growing unity and friendship with our brethren all over Central Africa who, until the arrival of the British, were but a name to us. It has always been the deepest joy to us to know that our children would be able to grow and develop under the care of the British and under the same flag of freedom and justice. We do not believe m the feeling held by some among us that Britain is afraid, and m her cowardice will ,

yield up the trusteeship which she accepted with such generosity and out L ole pity forias helpless people, and by so doing rob us of our free,.dpm, our vision of growth and participation m the good things of God's world, our self-respect and eagerness -to take our place m time, and to contribute our little part to the progress of mankind m its journey towards unity, peace, freedom and selfrdetermination. Finally, we humbly beg that we may become a colony of the British Empire, ,and become one with pur neighbours, Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, so that we may be secure m the knowledge that our father His Gracious Majesty will continue to rule over us. We realise that we, the signatories, are few; but time did not permit to obtain more to sign, yet we are wholly confident that we speak for the overwhelming majority of our brethren in ' this territory. „ , (Signed) PETRO MZABA. DAUDI MFUKO. YUSTINO DODO. PAOLO MIHNA.