UPRISINGS IN MADAGASCAR
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP78-04864A000100020006-2
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
12
Document Creation Date:
November 11, 2016
Document Release Date:
March 1, 1999
Sequence Number:
6
Case Number:
Publication Date:
May 27, 1947
Content Type:
IR
File:
Attachment | Size |
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Body:
Approved For Release I 999/09 i -RDP78-04864A000100020006-2
CENTRAL. INTELLIGENCE GROUP
INTELLIGENCE REPORT
25X1A6a
COUNTRY
SUBJECT Uprisings in Madagascar
25X1A6a
OrlG;N
USUALLY RELIABLE
A
E
FAIRLY NOT USUALLY NOT NNOT
COMPLETELY
CA B E
RELIABLE
RELIABLE RELIABLE RELIABLE
JUDGED
STATE
SOURCE t4ithin CIG-
I JUSTICE
25X1A2g
DATE:
INFO. April 3 to date
DIST. 27 May 1947
PAGES 12
SUPPLEMENT
EVALUATION OF CONTENT Documentary
2 4 5 DOUBTFUL PROBABLY 6 CANNOT BE
PROBABLY
POSSIBLY
TRUE
TRUE
FALSE JUDREC
M&K
A revolt, consisting of simultaneous attacks on French garrisons and arms depots
at widely separated points, occurred during the weekend of March 30 April 1.
~
Incidents centered in Diego Suarez, naval base in the north, Bdoramanga, in the
center near Tananarive; and a group of southeastern coastal villages (Manakara,
Vohipena, Farajangana),
Reports indicate that the revolt was directed from Paris by a new national poll-
tical party, the Democratic Movement for Madagascar Renovation (the Movement
Democratique de Renovation Malagache). (Pages 3, 4, 6) This party was formed in
1946 by the native Madagascar Deputy in the French National Assembly, Dr,: Ravo&hangy.
aided by fellow-deputies Briefs and Rahemananjarae (Pages, 5, 7) These three
deputies have demanded autonomy within the French Union.
President of the Council Ramadier (April 3) said ttY"therE had been somei
distant, ocgasional contacts" between Viet Nam and the Madagascan Restoration
Movement, but he indicated that this was not serious. (Page 2)
Early reports indicated that French Communists favored the movement, but they later
reversed themselves rather than cause the fall of the Government and thus lose
their seats in the Cabinet (Pages 7, 8)
2m Forces ~nvove~=
From the day of the outbreak to the present the French have been sending in reinforce-
ments by air and by ship. On May 18 the vessel. "Sontag" arrived in Tananarive from
France with troops, but there is no indication of the numerical strength of the Frentt
forces. Rebel strength has been assessed at 6,000 troops (Page 10).
a three-weeks tour of inspection in the area, General Pellet and the High Commission]
have recommended certain measures to restore order. There is still active and wide-
legal proceedings have been instituted against the leaders of the movement. After 1W
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EVALUATION OF SOURCE Document
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Paris, French Home Service,
Apr. 5, 1547, 1:30 a.m. EST--L
91.45
CPYRGHT,- . %
"i,ladagascar--The situation has remained substantially the same during the
past 24 hours. Every day the high Commissioner receives many messages from
the nature population expressing its 'attachment' to France and her insti-
tutions. It has also expressed its indignation at the events which have
occurred in ',:adagascar.
"In Antanarivo, a curfew has been ordered between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.,
end the big market '.field weekly has been canceled.
"The air mission w',ch had to supply the Luropean population in Mahanoro
on the east coast ?:a.th arms and amimunition has reported that it had to
machine-gun a conce;tration of 300 mutioneers (mutins) 20 kilometers to
the north of that t :gin."
Paris, AFP, French r?ess Service, in French L"orse to Latin erica and
Canada, Apr. 3, 154"i, 10:29 a.m. EST--W
CPYRGHTText )
"Regarding the incid- ats in Madagascar, the President of the Council stated
that one should not E caggerate the military significance of these revolts,
in the course of whi(i no firearms were used at all. On the other hand, he
stated, order has al;wady been reestablished in certain areas without the
French troops having 'lad to take recourse to their arms.
in a general sort if way, the state of siege was not at all necessary,'
Ramadier stated, add ng however that, 'French officers and Iadagascans had
been killed. Basic ecessary measures and order for arrest were sent
out.' Ramadier stye,sed that the French policy in Madagascar was Iua.t,_
of the French Union, for we must not forget that we established local
Assemblies there and that Madagascar is represented in the National Assembly,
as well as at the Council of the Re_oublic.'
"Questioned on relations between Viet I;am and the *Madagascan restoration
movement, the President observed that there had been some distant, occasional
contacts, but that the Viet I amese Government now sees its contacts being
cut off on nearly all sides.'
"On the question of bread, Rar:a ier stated that 'there is no question of
a reduction in the bread ration for this month, and next month we will add
up the balance sheet of .that has been reaped and -,hat has been imported.'
The President concluded by asking that no more such alarming questions on
such serious problems be asked in advance."
Paris, French Home Service, Apr. 10, 1947, 12 noon EST--L
CPYRGHT(Text)
"Ramadier devoted his weekly press conference today to the general situation
in Madagascar. After recalling the recent incidents and confirming that
the situation was developing satisfactorily, he defined the causes of these
incidents. when in 1942 detachments of Free France arrived in Madagascar,
then occupied by the British, French authority over the Island had been
contested. No longer feeling that links existed with Metropolitan France,
the local elements lost their unity and various parties were gradually formed.
There is "i+"al. agasy Renovation Party," which prevails in the center of t' e
Island and constitutes a kind of feudalism. There are also two small parties,
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the 11. alagasy Democratic P1'arty,11 and the "t,.alagasy Cocial t,.ovemcnt," which,
although different from the religious point of view, both advocate autonomy
but without any specific program.
ft'A new party was recently formed, namely, the "Party of :.lalagasy Disinherited,"
consisting of descendants of slaves of the plateau district and of descendants
of the populations of the coastal districts who were enslave' by the conquest
of the L? Yati.S. and who still bear a grudge against their conquerors. They
are less coherent and organized that are the D.V.A.S. but their social claims
are more acute and the conception of the French Union prevails strongly among
them. It is the Malagasy Renovation '.ovement which dominates the political
situation.'
"Ramadier then pointed to the obvious links between the recent incidents
and the action of the latter movement. 9A legal investigation has been
opened. and several arrests have been made among the leaders of the i.alagasy
Renovation Committee. Jules Ranevo, elected Councilor of the Republic, was
arrested before his election. It is possible that the Council of the Republic
will be called upon to take a decision regarding the matter.'
ISM reference to military steps, rtmadier said that they consisted of
the garrisons being reinforced by airborne units, but only in small numbers.
He then furnished details proving that France had fulfilled all the obliga-
tions to which she had committed herself concerning ;:3adagascar."
Paris, in French to Guiana and the Antilles, Apr. 9, l447, 5:30 P.m. EST--W
"The IIigh Commissioner of ?.adagascar convoked the Council of the Government.
Dimpault was present at this conference. The Council examined the
situation on the island and heard the report of the l;ig:A Conmiasiorer on the
considerable reinforcements who are arriving from the mother country by
special plane.
"The High Commissioner liktaiee announced that the Island of Reunion, the
French Coast of Somaliland are placing at the disposal of :.adagascar
considerable reinforcements. I-.oreover, the high Commissioner receives every
day numerous telegrams in which the natives confirm their loyalty and their
devotion to France and disapprove of the attacks which are shedding blood
on rlagagaacar."
Paris, French Home Service, Apr. 3, 1';47, 5:45 p.m.rST--L
CPYRIxt
"The :Minister of France Overseas has entrusted Gen. Bornil Desbordes, former
General Officer Commanding the Levant, with investigating events in Iadagas-
car. The situation in Madagascar is considered satisfactory, and a return
to peaceful conditions is indicated. Certain extremist elements of the
;:lalagasy Renovation :ovement are considered as responsible for the regret-
table incidents, and not the movement as a whole. The parliamentary group
of the Lemocratic