French policy made native chiefs auxiliary instruments, not real authorities.

Evidence

On this point, Van Vollenhoven was inflexible: “There are not two authorities in the circle, French authority and native authority; there is only one. Only the commandant of the circle commands; he alone is responsible … The native chief is only an instrument, an auxiliary … the native chief never speaks in his own name, but always in the name of the commandant of the circle and by formal or tacit delegation from the latter.” — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 631

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the precise doctrine of French ‘association’ — native chiefs retain office but hold zero independent authority, all power flowing from the circle commandant.
• SEED: A sharp distinction could be drawn between French ‘association’ whose chiefs are pure auxiliaries and British indirect rule where chiefs retained fuller judicial/administrative powers.