Dakar’s production directives drove colonial subordinates toward coercive enforcement

Evidence

Between 1918 and 1932, many more colonial inspectors were sent on mission to West Africa than before the war. Their reports provide invaluable information on how local governments implemented Dakar’s circulars exhorting them to increase production; for, if Paris was pressuring Dakar, the Government General was unquestionably pressuring its subordinates for quick results. For example, the 1924 cotton circular was followed by another two years later that recalled its basic points; a further directive went out in 1930.45 More generally, all circulars from the minister relating to mise en valeur were passed on to the individual lieutenant governors, with comments by the governor general. The results of this pressure were not what Dakar had ostensibly requested. Cotton production went up only marginally; meanwhile, force was used indiscriminately, with disastrous consequences for the local populations. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 808