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However, on the next day, a general strike was organised by the merchant-women. All shops were closed down in the market and the life of Lomé seemed paralysed. A restless crowd filled the streets of the capital.

But while the Commissar of the Republic - Mr. De Guise - was officially promising that no new taxation would be carried out and that taxes would be left as of 1932, he was, at the same time ordering extra troops from Dahomey and the Ivory Coast. Then an unprecendented [[unprecedented]] reign of brutalities, exactions and terror against the natives started.

BUTCHERY AND MAN - HUNTING

Although calm had been long since restored, the troops were called in to organise a real butchery and man - hunt in the native district of Ahanucope  on February 4th. The defenceless and peaceful natives were shot down - 9 were killed and two severely injured. Among the dead were one woman and a child (see picture). Besides, this man - hunt continued and 150 were arrested without any reason.

[[image]]

The official explanation for such an unjustifiable repression given in the official Press was that <>, which was, of course, a shameless lie.

Although it might seem that, after such a terrible blooth [[blood] - bath, the French Government would have stopped the repression, nothing of the kind happened. On the contrary, the League of Nations (officially entrusted to defend the mandated territories) paid no attention whatsoever to the various complaints and telegrams for mercy sent from Togo. The taxation 

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burden is,in fact,still being increased. And to the ruthless exploitation of the white oppressors one must add the native chiefs who also contribute largely to the exploitation of the poor natives. They recruit them, just when and as often as they like, for their own private work without paying them, or, if the natives do not obey they just fine them, for instance 7 or 8 francs. Besides this, they also raise - out of their own authority - special taxes on some villages and fine the inhabitants sums amounting sometimes to 250 - 500 francs. - To this, not only do the white administrators pretend to be blind, but they actually, quite often, share in this robbery. It has been officially admitted that the administration of the district of Porto - Nuovo received not less thans 3.000 francs from the chief he had assisted in nominating.

All this shows to the oppressed native masses, clearly enough, on whom they can depend for help in their struggle against exploitation.

On the one side, they have seen with their own eyes what the so - called <> of the League of Nations has done to rescue them, and they are daily convinced that the majority of their own chiefs are not only mere puppets, but as well direct oppressors of their own countrymen and work hand in hand with the white rulers to drain them to the very marrow of their bones.

On the other hand, they have seen, also, during this last revolt what solidarity means - when women, men, children, unemployed presented a united front against abuses and oppression. This page in the history of the long down - trodden natives will not be wiped out so quickly. The women themselves have now also awaken and though this short and spontaneous uprising was crushed down in blood, the poor and exploited have felt, nevertheless, their own strength and must learn to co - ordinate it so as to reach the final goal : the unconditional independence of their country.

Continued from pg. 17.

calling his proposed <> and publishing a magazine is very dim. This is too much for Padmore. He wants anything to happen which will prove him right and the revolutionary movement wrong. Failing this, there is nothing left but to join hands with the international counter-revolutionary forces which are gathering to baptise the world in another blood bath; nothing left but to join hands with the forces opposed to internationalism.

But the great masses of toilers are already set in motion, Padmore. - Yot are but a little ant caught between two great forces.

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