"Organized Friendship"

Sixteen months ago, Charles de Gaulle swept grandly through France's black Africa empire--the biggest European holdings on the continent--offering self-government and membership in a new French Community. Only Sekou Toure's Guinea turned him down. De Gaulle was able to put together a Community of eleven autonomous African states, plus the island republic of Madagascar. What if they wanted independence? "You have only to ask for it," said De Gaulle.

Already at least two of the twelve are asking. The states of Senegal and Sudan,*which last April joined as a new entity called the Federation of Mali, now want to have their own diplomatic delegation at the U.N. and elsewhere, instead of letting France speak for them. They still want to be "confederated" with France.

The economy of Senegal, which produces some of the most beautiful women and best fighting men in Africa, is almost wholly dependent on peanuts, which France buys at 25% over world prices. Neighboring Sudan is even poorer. But the Federation of Mali, said its first Premier, Modibo Keita, 44, supports "the principle of independence as soon as possible."

"It Is Your Right." Since the very next meeting of the French Community's executive council was to be held in Mali, a showdown with Paris was unavoidable. Three weeks ago De Gaulle invited the leaders of Mali to Paris, and when they asked for full, free control of foreign affairs, defense, and finance (previously reserved by the Community, i.e., France), De Gaulle answered affably: "It is your right." Old Soldier de Gaulle added a piece of paternal advice: Be wary of creating an army and thus a troublesome independent political force, as in South America. De Gaulle's package proposal: "Full competence" would be handed over to Sudan and Senegal (for later delegation to the Mali Federation) at the same moment that the two states signed accords keeping them in the Community.

Last year, when De Gaulle visited the Senegalese capital of Dakar (pop. 230,000), its leaders stayed away with diplomatic illnesses, and crowds held aloft DE GAULLE GO HOME signs, as the general rode through the streets. But last week everyone was happy with the new state of affairs. Premier Keita told a mass meeting at Dakar's sport stadium: "The stranger who comes to our house is like a god. Ladies and gentlemen, you must treat De Gaulle as a god."

"You Are Independent Now." Next day De Gaulle arrived. Pausing en route in desert Mauritania--poorest of the Community's twelve states--he had answered his hosts' independence talk by saying: "You are independent now. The Community is going to change and develop, but we shall make the changes together."

He had the same message at Senegal's three-century-old port of St.-Louis, where calico-dressed women pounded tom-toms and pantalooned lancers held aloft the French tricolor as well as Mali's red, yellow, and green flag. It is normal for "young states to show their personality," said De Gaulle, and he no longer seemed worried by the evolution going on in them. France's new idea of its Community, he said, is that it should consist of "organized friendship." He quoted from St. Luke the words of the wayfarers on the road to Emmaus: "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent."

*Still known as the French Sudan and not to be confused with the Republic of the Sudan, lying astride the Nile 1,300 miles to the east, which got its independence from Egypt and Britain in 1956.

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