The Different Systems Of

Britain And France

A SYDNEY radio talk by Ameri can Judge William Douglas, wherein he compared the British and French colonial admini strative systems, to the disadvantage of France, recently brought strong comment from Senator Henri Lafleur, who represents New Cale donia in the French Senate.

Judge Douglas had compared the restlessness in Morocco and other French Territories with India’s peace and goodwill towards Britain.

This, he said, was because Britain had handed over to the Hindus, an India in which administration had functioned soundly and efficiently.

The Senator wondered where Mr.

Nehru had learned how to govern, seeing that he “had passed half his life in English gaols”. He appeared to challenge the suggestion that the British teach their subject peoples the fundamentals of good admini stration. “We French”, said the Senator, “prefer to form an elite among our natives and, through the play of our Constitution, give them equal political rights.”

That system can be seen at work today in New Caledonia and French Oceania. It has its critics. The British seek the same end, by dif ferent methods. The ultimate aim of both Powers is to keep these “liberated” countries permanently within their present Empires.

Britain seems reconciled to the probability that all will ultimately become completely independent.

France, up to the present, will not accept that.

As a further measure in the re organisation of Government in Western Samoa, the Samoan Affairs Office is to be abolished on Decem ber 31, and most of its functions will be taken over by the Secretariat Department.