Question

It was my privilege to attend the All African People's Conference held in Ghana. The conference was significant because it brought together the most representative gathering of African leaders ever assembled. There were about 300 delegates representing some 65 organizations coming from 28 African countries. Of the nine independent African countries only one, Sudan, was not represented.

The nationalist organizations were represented by their top leadership. Therefore, whether the colonial powers like it or not, the decisions of the conference must be taken with some seriousness. The conference announced clearly that African freedom and independence are a necessity, and that the struggle to achieve independence would continue. The conference's declaration on colonialism and imperialism significantly called upon 'the independent African states to render maximum assistance by every means possible to the dependent peoples in their struggle.' The final decision of the conference was to commend nonviolent methods but also to endorse other methods if they are deemed necessary.
Presently, there is negligible Russian influence in Africa. Nevertheless, this influence will grow unless the problem of racism in the multi-racial areas of Africa is solved. It is my opinion that American influence will decline steadily unless the United States is much more vocal in its support of responsible movements for independence in Africa. The United States does not need to be as cautious as it currently is."
George M. Houser, president of the American Committee on Africa, a nongovernmental organization founded to support nonviolent African independence movements, report about the All African People's Conference held in Ghana, 1958
The conference's decision to "endorse other methods," as mentioned in the second paragraph, is best explained in the context of which of the following?
A. The increasing influence of Russia in Africa.
B. The commitment to nonviolent methods in the struggle for independence.
C. The representation of nationalist organizations by their top leadership.
D. The need for maximum assistance from independent African states to dependent peoples.
E. The decline of American influence unless more vocal in supporting independence movements.
F. The urgency of solving the problem of racism in multi-racial areas of Africa.

Answer 1

The conference's decision to endorse other methods for achieving independence, if deemed necessary, directly aligns with the commitment to nonviolent methods in the struggle for independence, showing readiness to adapt as the situation may require. The correct answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decision to endorse other methods 'if they are deemed necessary', as mentioned in the report on the All African People's Conference held in Ghana in 1958, is best explained in the context of B. The commitment to nonviolent methods in the struggle for independence. This reflects a strategic and situational flexibility within the broader nonviolent independence movement, which recognized that while nonviolent methods were preferred and central to their efforts, there may be scenarios where additional tactics might be necessary to achieve the overarching goal of independence. This approach aligns with historical patterns in the struggle for independence across Africa, where peaceful methods were initially sought but sometimes gave way to armed struggle in the face of intransigent colonial powers or severe repression.

The urgency of solving the problem of racism in multi-racial areas of Africa was also a significant concern during the conference, as it was believed that the unresolved racial tensions could facilitate the growth of foreign influence, such as that of the Soviet Union, within the continent. This statement, while reflective of a broader geopolitical concern, does not directly relate to the conference's endorsement of potentially more forceful methods if necessary.