AFRICA: Conflicts & Opportunity

While most of the world had its eyes on the East-West struggle raging across Europe and Asia, the continent of Africa was stirring wakefully. Its coming to consciousness promised both treasures and trouble. Last week the three corners of this triangular continent made headlines—in Egypt, where a young King sought release from British control and power over restless mobs; in Morocco, where Americans rolled out big bomber bases on French soil; in South Africa, where a Prime Minister, trying to disenfranchise his country's colored voters, was stopped by the courts (see below). Since all of these were troubled waters, the Communists fished there. But the conflicts of power, pride and race in awakening Africa existed with or without the Communists. So did the opportunities.