I am delighted to consider with an audience of academicians a subject as filled with both philosophical and political considerations as is the nature of American interests in Africa. It is a subject with which we in the government are confronted everyday, and to which we have, perforce, given a great deal of attention — even though we may not always articulate these interests as fully and clearly as many students of Africa would wish. As you may be aware the Department of State recently developed a new and more systematic approach to policy analysis and resource allocation in the aftermath of departmental task force recommendations contained in the report, Diplomacy for the 70's - A Program of Management Reform for the Department of State.