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Part II CHILDREN OF FRANCE, 1914–1940 World War I had a significant effect on the French outlook on the empire because of the material aid sent to France from the colonies, the visible numbers of non-French soldiers on the continent, and the impact these soldiers had on the military situation during and after the conflict. No one could deny that the empire helped France survive the destructive war. North African , Malagasy, and Indochinese laborers replaced mobilized French factory workers and ensured industrial output. Close to 200,000 of these men filled jobs while the French fought on the front. About 1 million tons of food and material from sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and Indochina reached France.1 The French military conducted a major recruitment effort in Africa and Indochina for workers and soldiers and forced thousands into service of the colonial state.2 About 172,000 Algerians fought on the side of the French. 86 children of france, 1914–1940 Tunisia mobilized 60,000 men, West Africa 134,210, Madagascar 34,386, and Indochina 43,430.3 Thousands more were recruited but were not mobilized . Roughly 800,000 men from the French empire played a part in the war effort. The large number of workers who served in France made an impact on the communities adjacent to the military bases where many were posted after the war. Writings, posters, and advertisements praised and poked fun at the many African soldiers gathered at military bases or recovering in hospitals .4 The German press, however, attacked the French for using “savage” black African troops, especially for posting them in the Rhineland.5 French trademark registrations from Paris and Marseilles also reflect the impact of the Great War on business activity. The number of trademark registrations with images of Africans and Indochinese decreased from 1915 to 1918 but had returned to prewar levels by 1920.6 In the fall of 1920, the Ministry of Commerce reorganized its system for registering new trademarks . The new system updated the classification system created in the mid-nineteenth century by grouping and numbering trademark classes according to similar types of products.7 New trademarks were now valid for twenty-five years instead of fifteen. The wartime environment produced a whole new set of French commercial trademarks that represented products used by soldiers or illustrated with drawings of soldiers. Exotic black African troops, portrayed as a crucial factor in the war, became the emblem for several new products and represented the “loyalty” of colonial peoples to France. Background and Organization of the Interwar Colonial Expositions Enthusiasm for the French colonies and disappointment over the financial arrangements, inadequate displays of “natives,” and space limitations at the 1900 colonial exposition spurred Jules Charles-Roux and a group of Proven çal colonial supporters to formulate plans for a new exposition entirely devoted to France’s overseas territories. The idea of a special exposition in Marseilles with colonial elements was first proposed to the leadership of the Marseilles Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1894 by L. Mirinny, an engineer residing in the Paris region.8 Mirinny suggested that Marseilles organize an annex to the 1900 world’s fair that would showcase the city’s role as a maritime and colonial center. His suggestions included presenting aquatic races, a giant aquarium, exotic dwellings, and an underwater palace. This event would celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the city’s founding and help revive Marseilles’ economy. Mirinny emphasized that Marseilles was the only logical place to hold this type of exposition because Paris did not have the aquatic facilities. He proposed that special arrangements be made to encourage world’s fair visitors to pass through Marseilles on their 87 introduction to part ii way to or from Paris to experience the annex and anticipated that the state would provide a sizable subsidy. Although Mirinny’s ideas were not accepted in 1900, organizers of the 1906 Exposition coloniale incorporated several of his suggestions.9 In 1902, Dr. Edouard Heckel of the Institut colonial, who had been a member of Charles-Roux’s staff in 1900, proposed the idea of a national colonial exposition in a speech to the Marseilles Geographical Society. With the support of the Marseilles Chamber of Commerce and other important regional and governmental organizations, the city of Marseilles brought the plan before the ministries concerned in Paris. They approved of the plan and named Charles-Roux as their representative and de facto commissioner general. Parliament, however, offered no special...

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