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
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PDF icon CIA-RDP78-04864A000100020006-2.pdf1.05 MB
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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 Approved For Release 1999/09/01 : CIA-RDP78-04864A000100020006-2 N EVALUATION OF SOURCE Document .Approved For Release 1999/09/01 : Clio RDP78-04864A000100020006-2 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, Approved For Release 1999/09/01 : CIA-RDP78-04864A000100020006-2 C #iMed For Release 1999/09/01: 90.&RDP78-04864A000100020006-229 5 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