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countries: "Look at you Westerners! You have everything. We can't afford the Luxu- ry of an opposition." In many of these countries an effort is being made to take the opposition into organized political life, to use its skills and loyalties in the common effort. In Dahoney, for instance, the Vice President is the leader of the former opposition party, now merged with the Government party. His position is honorable and useful, a 5 7 4 - a = warat ast r a rT Mal though one hus the impression of a certain amount of mutual discomfort. In Gabon, the chief of the oppesition is Minister of Foreign Affairs. One could cite other ex- amples, There is another comparison here, too, which ought to interest Americans. In the original system devised by our Founding Fathers, the winner in a national elec- tion became President, while the loscr, leader of the defeated party, became Vice Presicent, Those elections were net the direct, universal democracy which we now re+ vere, but involved the votes of only a privileged few, cast indirectly, through an Electoral Collesze not bound to reflect the will ef the voters The system didn't work very well. Differences of political view were tou strong to be contained within the structure of a functioning povermaent. But the parallel shovid not escape us. In early times, Americans experimented and improvised, just as the Africans are doing now, and we would not have taken kindly to having anyone tell us what to do or how to do it. The U.S. Government shows more concern for French Africa than do many of its citizens. Ours is the only government with a full-time ambassador and embassy stafi actually resicent in every new country of Black West Africa, this, of course, would not be the case if France had not fallen out with Nigeria over the atom bomb tests and had her diplomatic mission sent heme. On my checklist of the countries of the area, the U.S.S.R. is represented in only six, and the other Communist countries in fewer. Even in the two nevest countries, Ruanda and Burundi, independent only since July 1, 1962, U.S. missions are being opcned, Though my work in West Africa for a private American erganization has no connec- tion, expressed or implied, with the U.S. Government or with national policy, I have been for two months a@imost daily in and out of the American embassies in the area, and have devcloped a forthright respect, and in many cases affection, for the men and women who represent us there. They are typically hard working, dedicated, above ell interested in the countries in which they serve and in their people. Many of them have voluntecred for these posts. In one post I was told jubilantly that the U.S. wives! populaticn had just doubled: a new U.S.I.S. officer had brought his family. It is sometimes a lencly life, fer the children especially. Every one of our peopie must reselutcly leave as much of his cultural baggane behind as he possibly can, to cut down hsrriers of race, of wealth, of possessions, and to help build as many bridges of uncerstandinz as he can munage, There ia one post gm which, during the past year, the Neputy Chief cf Mierion diced of assorted trepicnl Ciscases, and from which several Americans had to be evacu- ated by air for treaetuent at the U.S. Army Hospital in Frani.fort, Germany. The evacuees are el} beck an duty. Nobody quit. There ds another post where our ambassador does not plcy tennis, hia favorite sport, becvune all the courts dn town are "restricted." YT con't suppose many native citizens want to play teneis, but how would ir Jeek for our smbassader to enjoy hir- ecif£ on the court with other foredpners, woile the lecal people to whoa we have pout hing @6 our representative look on through the fence? Iwas teld he da building o