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here. But here we succeeded, and we learned this and that." It is the visor, and the uncomseromisinre, non-apoloretic quality of the self-criticism that fascinates the thoughtful coserver. These people are poing to get somewhere. So, I am not saying that the Enrlish-speaking countries are less significant or interesting, but rather that we Americans are palpably ignorant of the French-speaking area. It is true that, taken as a group, the French-speaking countries are much more under the influence of theiry former "metropole™ than are the English-speaking coun- tries, But they differ so widely among themselves that an over-all judgment is Likely to be taulty in detsil. Breed differences in the extent and quality of this intlu- ence may be illustrated by reference to Ivory Coast sand Toya. In Ivory Coast I was told that, taking that portion of the upper public service beginnirg with secondary scheol teachers up to and including members of the Council of Hiaisters, there are probably teice as many Frenchmen as Ivoiriens, This is a pretty heavy salting of metropolitan influence, thousn not all eof these men by any ricans are eppointed hv the French government. A considerable number come, for in- stance, from Nertinigue or some other French possession, and are professicnally on their own. President Houphouct-Boisny of Ivory Coast handles foreign afrairs himself. There is no Ninister of Forcign Arfairs. In the Ministry, where I want on business, the senior official was e Frenchman, a soecalled Conseiller Technique. There is no Ivoiricn on duty in this Ministry above the clerical or housckeceping grades. Toso, on the other hand, has asserted its independence by refusing the massive French actuinistrative anu finciucial assistance characteristic of Ivory Coast. It has few Frenchmen, and has selectively recruited outside help from several countries, in- cludins Germany end Israel, for example. While the political influcnee of France varies widely, its commercial and eco- nomic cominancs Is striking. The two coineges of the area =- Central and Vest Africa e- heved to French money aad guarantee.) by France, are set at an unrealistically high Yate of emchance. An Africsn franc ecests two French franes. Trade and touriem arc, hy this monetary svstem and raw resource subsidics, almost preempted by France. hy hotel rooms on this trip, frequently at the only decent hetel in a capital city, huve cost un tu SE3.50 per night. deals are typically $3.50 ta $4.00. Each eaniteal in the Frenchespesking countries is connected by overnight air serv- Jee with Paris st leart several times a woek. Air connections among the sever) African ccpitais themselves are less frequent, aud with the En:lish-speaking capitals ceecdingly sucrse, For example, there is air service only tuvice weenty fren (Cuncroun} to Conatvy (Guiness). The airline distance is about 1769 miles, tine is about LO hours, but the trip requires three dzys. This is typieal, not A cable or letter fram Yuountle, Libreville, or Banguid to Freetown is sent by way Toris, Te fs mach faster, Even the atrmnail retes are ripeed. Te econts more fo ecnd a letter fros Bragnaviite to Leopoldyville, three miles avoy across the Congo Tiver, then gt deus to Paris, atveral thousand miles distant. The President of Topo cenrol telephous Prom Lees ta Acera, the next capital along the coast, bet Le can pict up has telephone end tefk weth Paris in 30 seconds. Only on Anpust 9, 1962, was the first telephones ifuk epenc!l aver the border between Wiperfa and Dahoucy. I have beoen diosresces with a sood neay individusis da bigh govermacnt post : aking At : tim Bony, Minister of Education in Ivory Comsty Ff ednecu Gene), BG eter of Fuereipen Aftisirs in Dehomeyi JenaneMardie Ecoh, Minister e8 Peacetion dn Getery fie i Shey 5 in C rot J . mat Of the Rational Agsenbiy of hiper, te nance only =