II
elopmnoroi de d
A sen!! by:wb Kha
53. On the fall of M. Clemenceau's government in July, the direction of the ministry for the colonies passed from the hands of M. Milliès-Lacroix to those of M. Trouillot, who was colonial minister in M. Brisson's cabinet in 1898. Little or nothing appears to have been done during 1909 towards the reorganisation of the central colonial administration, although a decree on the subject was issued as long ago as 1907. Hopes had been entertained that the "Conseil Supérieur des Colonies would have been reconstituted, and thereby rendered more capable of dealing with the great mass of work which, owing to the progress and development of the colonies, is more onerous and complex now than it was twenty-five years ago, when the "Conseil" was first instituted. The conseil is, however, still waiting for a definite decision as to its powers and duties. The qualifications of the members of the corps of colonial inspectors also need revision. "Hitherto, these functionaries have almost invariably been selected from ex-military candidates.
It appears anomalous that colonial institutions, many of which are of a purely civil character, should be inspected and controlled by soldiers, who cannot have had the training necessary for the fulfilment of their duties. It remains to be seen whether M. Trouillot will have the time and the energy to inaugurate the reforms which bave so long, and up to now so vainly, been advocated by those who interest themselves in the French colonies.
512