Williams Pledges Support For African Independence

G. Mennen Williams, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, told a Lexington audience yesterday that "the right to self-determination" in Africa "must be achieved." Williams and top level diplomats from 16 African nations were visiting the historic town for the annual Patriot's Day celebration in a gesture to "reaffirm our attachment to the cause of liberty in Africa and America."

The former Michigan governor admitted that on his recent trip to Africa he had found "some fear that our NATO alliance would overbalance our commitment to freedom," but emphasized that under the Kennedy Administration, "African questions will be considered on their own merits."

Nearly all of the visiting Africans, Ambassadors to the United Nations, were optimistic about the future course of U.S. African policy, although Ambassador Conte of Guinea warned that his country would "judge intentions along the lines of future actions."

W. H. Fitz-John, Ambassador from Sierra Leone, a country which receives is independence from the British on April 27 noted that in view of "the embarrassing position of the United States in regard to its NATO friends," the Angola vote in the United Nations "was a very heroic stand." He and many other African representatives said they saw no reason to "doubt the good faith" of the U.S. in the Cuba crisis.

Reporting that "there is tremendous interest in Africa for the Peace Corps," Secretary Williams said he had received "many specific requests" for Corps projects. The African ambassadors also praised the Corps, but said that they wanted to study detailed plans before passing final judgment.

Ambassadors Praise Peace Corps

Ambassador Halm of Ghana said the Corps seemed "acceptable," especially since his government "wants all the help we can get." The Sudanese Ambassador called the program "a wonderful idea," and predicted it would "serve a vital purpose" in the development of his country.

While believing that the Corps "might be a solution for our current technical problems," Ambassador Conte warned that "you must not send students as a gift. We do not want charity." He felt that the best way to make the program one of "cooperation" and "preserve the dignity and honor of the host country" would be to "incorporate the students into the technical base of the country."

Particularly emphasized by both the Africans and Williams was the need for careful selection and training of Corps personnel. Fitz-John hoped the students "would be highly motivated and extremely well prepared." Williams called for "realistic methods of selection" which would take into account "the very hard life these people would have to live."

An African student, J. Charles Hansford, Secretary of the African Students League suggested that one way to give Corps trainees a "feel for the country" would be to use African students as instructors.

In discussing the future of their continent, several Ambassadors stressed the hope for an eventual United States of Africa. Guinean envoy Conte, whose French was translated for the CRIMSON by Charles L. Mack, Jr. '48, maintained that "the road to union passes through independence.