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a .? -5- ) countries: "Look at you Westerners! You have everything. We can't afford the Luxu- ty of an opposition." In many of these countries an effort is being made to take the oppositian 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 oppesition party, now merged with the Government party. His position is honorable and useful, 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 cx- 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 President. Those elections were not the direct, universal democracy which we now re- vere, but involved the votes of only a privilered few, cast indirectly, through an Electoral College not bound to reflect the will of the voters. The system didn't work very well. Differences of political view were too strong to be contained within the structure of a functioning govermsent. But the parallel should not escape u In early times, Americans experimented and improvised, just as the Africans are doi: now, and we would not have taken kindly to having anyone tell us what to do or how to do it. The U.S. Governzent shows more concern for French Africa than do many of its citirens. Ours is the enly government with a full-time ambassador and embassy staff actually resident in every new country of Black West Africa, This, of course, would not be the case if France had not fatlen out with Nigeria over the atom bomb tests and had her diplomatic mission sent home. 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 newest 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 Amcrican organization has no connec- tion, expressed or implicd, with the U.S. Government or with national policy, I have been for two months almost daily in and out of the American embassies in the arca, and have devcloped a forthright respect, and in many cases affection, for the men and women who represent us there. ‘They ere typteally hard working, dedicated, above cil interested in the countries in which they serve and in their people. Many of then have voluntecred for these posts. In one post I was told jubilantly that the U.S. vives’ populaticn had just doubled: a nev U.S.1.8. officer had brought his family. It {s sometimes a lencly life, for the children especially. Every one of our peopie must reselutely leave as much of bis cultural baggage behind as he possibly ean, to eut down berriers of race, of wealth, of pessescions, and to help build as many bridges of uncerstanding as he can munage. There is one post jn vhich, during the past year, the died of assorted tropics} discases, and from which several ated by air for treats evacuees are el) back o Deputy Chief cf Miesion rericans had to be evecu- tL at the U.S, Army Hospital im Frani.fort, Germany. Tie duty. Nobody quit. There Js another past where our ambassador does not ploy tennis, hia favorite sport, because all the courts Jn town ave "restricted." T don't suppose many native y tennis, but hov would it leok for our smbassadur to enjoy hir- eitivens want to pla H ers, waile the Tocal people to whaa ve have sect ecif£ on y court with other fore hin as our representative Ieok on through the fence? Iwas told he is building o