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1/10/1953 - A White Man Explains by John B. George

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Restant BG A White Man Explains Arusha Tangan East Africa I0 January Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers Different people East Africa different ideas regarding causes Man Man violence Kenya These conflicting notions correspond strictly either racial economic distinctions Africans Europeans Indians means definite camps However iutelligeut lucid three races clearly divided basic question Are there genuine economic grievances behind movement simply ambitious unscrupulous native political leaders using tribal suwerstition atavistic tendencies obtain selfish advantage Mr F S Joelson founder editor authoritative London weekly Ea frica Rho taken stand issue Repeatedly editoria3ized Man movement selfish dissident leaders capitalize tribal barbarism economic basis whatsoever Many resident uropeans Asiatics Eikuyu natives shocked series murders atrocities concur The result general tacit outlawry Kikuyu tribe throughout East Africa every member being garded potential murderer Validly enough Joe praised Europeans their restraint durin period anger sound reason condemned ondon Di Mirror__ having printed article referring Kenya settlers trigger minority howlin Kikuyu There touchin experienced observer would expect armed uropean polation burdened comrlex indignation With publication timely entitled Ma Man Eikuyu ondon Methuen Dr I S B Leakey tweedy haired curator Coryndon Museum Nairobi clearly denies economic causes argument His background childhood Kikuyu playmates later status member elder tribe intin knowede Kikuyu language intervreter I trials aleged eaders makhim knowledgeable white regarding tribe Dr Leakey explains Eikuyu psychology respect these natives cannot avoid thinkin their stolen whites though settlers point legally purchased generously Leakey explains Kiambu distrct north Nairobi bartered Kikuyu under tribal Wanderobo before arrival settlers It communal tribal basis owned members escene original purcha later settlers arriv they_ found almost vacant intervening invasions rinder smallpox drought locust inhabitants rights Not knowing Kikuyu triba which forbade except between brothers Europeans failed sanctify purchase ceremonially makin blood brotherhood Eikuyu fulfill other requirements demarcation boundaries accompanied religious ceremony securing areement members The Kikuyu since unable regard transactions bindin Way They devoutly believe Kiambu lands stolen tribal This particular small Kikuyu constitutes small portion Kenya white highlands native leaders found convenient since propagandize European highlands similar While these claims preposterous Kikuyu because increase populatiou through introduction European medicine hygiene abandonment traditional methods birth control grossly populated Many Sandless found Nairobi though often regard residence artificial devoid future security I eakey describes breakdown through contact missionaries administrators white civilization general Kikuyu education initiation marriage customs religion which early mouded young tribesmen instilled respect tribal order While pagan stabilizing religion respect tribal radually eroded fully replaced Christian morality reverence government Leakey feels changes marriage customs responsible content among Eikuyu youth He explains after easily exneudab largely taken exchange place cattl which normally keeing after marriage bride family bride ceased guarantee Food faith between become burden young Kilyu He describes Kikuyu naturally religious superstitious people feels sectarian Christianity found replace needed spiritmal allegiance The desire Kikuyu European clothes bicycles other items generally beyond their incomes contributed basic discontent A educated Kikuy emerged absorbing European traveled abroad These leaders often demagogues Ispivsn Europeans found theme harping temarshall followings various associations pledged restore stolen Even louder demands higher wages government unceasing Land Land The Man Man Society Leakey grees solely economic grievances fundameutaSly terrorist organization intended drive Europeans viole He thinks activities became overt earlier eaders intended actual violence timed intended attacks Europeans would serious widespread I But strongly opposes economic grievances ooiut saying Manmu ucould never achieved present position genuine grievances existed minds Kikuyu population Dr Leakey suggests several measures Kikuyu discontent The first program water deveSopmeut recSamatiou bring permanent water considerable areas Kenya which could productive during seasonable rains This wouSd enable Kikuyu resettle permanently He suggests fearless attack problem population increase which spels setting birth control clinics In final chapter enlarges religious faith among ikuyu Agnosticism Christianity answer plethora confusing doctrines dogmas various churches He touch matters color discrimiuat0ry rates thevery serious barrier understanding language Very Europeans Kikuyu standard mdium Swahili satisfactory The answer speed teachin EngSish The successful intent provide ground uuderstandlng current events Kenya Its sketch Kikuyu tribal concise Elspeth Huxley novel Red Stra uzers should replace readers quick familiarization East African agricu tribe breakdown tribal I Mr Pritt Us c0unl trial Jomo Kenyatta other alleged Man Man leaders recently requested Dr I eakey placed trial interpreter because hints Dr leakey believes defendants guilty after arrival Its principal limitation proposed remedies thought narrow frame Kikuyu EuroFean relations reality solution sought without conslderin whole Kenya East Africa picture The Kikuju tribes East Africa Other tribes crowded historic faints against another against Europeans legitimate those forward Kikuyu After similar amount contact Europeans other peoples could becom fully vocal Kikuy The appease native hunger Fst Africa would possible forced departure holdin Europeans A program Nappeasement Kikyu demands timed appear response terrorist threats could persuade idents other tribes violence Sincerely B Georg Received New York