The 1810 Capitulation and the French Language in Mauritius

Mauritius Times – 71 Years

By Peter Ibbotson

In a short history of Mauritius, Barnwell and Toussaint say on page 122 that “…before the British actually began their double attack on Port Louis, he (i.e. Decaen) offered to capitulate. His terms were that all his land and sea forces should be sent back to France, and that the inhabitants should retain their religion, language, laws, and customs…” On page 126, we read that after the Treaty of Paris, the British governors “would have been legally justified in at once setting aside the terms agreed upon by Decaen and Abercrombie in the 1810 capitulation; that is, they might have tried to compel the inhabitants to give up their former religion, language, laws and customs.” Michael Malim, in his Island of the Swan, also says that the 1810 capitulation guaranteed their language to the inhabitants of Ile de France, and the capitulation is relied upon by those who defend the place of French in the primary schools as the Magna Carta of French in Mauritius. The capitulation, they say, guaranteed us our language; the capitulation must be respected. However, I have been looking at the terms of the 1810 capitulation, and what do I find? There is nothing in the capitulation about the language of the islanders. Nothing; absolutely nothing. Article VIII of the capitulation says “Que les habitants conserveront leur religion, leurs lois et coutumes. — Accordé”; but of “leur langue — their language” there is no mention. I hope that in any new edition of Barnwell and Toussaint, this will be dealt with so that the fallacy is no longer perpetuated in school that the capitulation did in fact guarantee the settlers’ language.

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Christianity, Family Planning, and Population Control

Mr. Kenneth Greet is secretary of the Department of Christian Citizenship of the Methodist Church. In the July issue of Family Planning, he reviewed an important book dealing with population and parenthood: The Population Explosion and Christian Responsibility (Oxford University Press) by Richard Fagley, executive secretary of the Commission of Churches on International Affairs set up by the World Council of Churches and the International Missionary Council. Mr. Fagley deals with the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and Communist attitudes towards parenthood, then discusses at length the Jewish and Christian teaching on the subject. He compares the Roman Catholic and Protestant teachings. Says Mr. Greet of Mr. Fagley’s reference to Roman Catholic teaching, “Mr. Fagley is more than kind to an attitude which, in view of the urgency of the demographic problem confronting the world, seems stubbornly doctrinaire.” Mr. Greet also quotes a reference by Reinhold Niebuhr to the Roman Catholic attitude: “the prohibition of birth control assumes that the sexual function in human life must be limited to its function in nature, that of procreation. But it is the very character of human life that all animal functions are touched by freedom and released into more complex relationships.” Mr. Greet ends his review with this paragraph:

“Mr. Fagley quotes many other Protestant writers and indicates the emergence of a consensus of opinion which sees the creative power of sex at work in the cementing and deepening of the man-woman relationship as well as in the begetting of children and which recognizes the importance of the former function for the health of the whole family, including the children born into it. A new external factor is the quickening awareness of the population explosion. The movement of thought resulting in a positive approach to planned parenthood needs to be deepened and carried forward with an increasing sense of urgency. The problem of a rapidly increasing world population must be tackled in every possible way, but in a balanced and comprehensive program, population policy must take its rightful place if there is to be any chance of success. The rapid advance in the ecumenical fellowship within the Protestant churches offers the best hope of securing the educational drive which is necessary if planned parenthood is to be widely accepted and practiced.”

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Language Policy in Ghana

Ghana is a multilingual country. The Bureau of Ghana Languages publishes a number of weekly newspapers in various of the country’s vernaculars: Akuapem Twi, Nzema, Ga, Ewe, Fanti, Twi, Kasem, and Dagbani. A commercial firm also publishes a weekly in Fanti. With all these vernaculars, there is a clear need for one common tongue as the language of instruction in schools. Since 1959, English has been introduced into the primary schools of Ghana as the medium of instruction.

In The Civil Service

Promotions

Mr C. Ulcoq, Malaria Inspector Grade I, Health Department, promoted Zone Supervisor.

Mr A. Rouge, Executive Officer, promoted Senior Executive Officer.

Mrs G. Latour and D. Cerdor, Stenographers, promoted Confidential Assistants.

Mrs M. Fortuno, G. Assirapen, E Thomas, G. Serendat, A. Victor, H. K. Naudeer, J. G Curé, D. Antoinette, A Fabre, P. Pauline, L. Gellé, Y. Adolphe, W. Ettia, L. A. Nadeau, A. C. Grizzel, S. Appave ; Misses A. R. Chavrimoutou, R. E. Bussooa, D. L. O. Laurent, O. Chellembrun, M. F. Groeme, M.R.G Hope, L. Sangaraille, F. Gregoire; Messrs Y. Dulloo, M. A. Virginie, D. Ramtahal, A. Khodabaccus, E. Mallet, F. M. Tourneur, J. K. O. Tanner, D. E. Rayeroux, J. E. Ramnac, C. M. Nubboo, L, Kodye, N. Joomun, V. Kowlessur, J. G. Cangy, L. Daurat, M. H. Daurat, J. S. Babajee, A. Constance, A. S. Dasan, S. Lauljee, E. Rosette, D. Gopaul, M. Brigemohane, R. Bhurtun, S. Soobrayen, S. Banymandhub, G. Munglah, R. Descombes. R. Letimier, Nursing Officers Grade II, Health Department, promoted Nursing Officers Grade 1.

Miss M. A. Moutou, Midwife, Health Department, promoted Rural Health Nurse.

Appointments

Mr A. H. M. A. Hassam, appointed Clerical Officer, Mr J. Aukhojee appointed Clinical and Clerical Assistant, Health Department, Messrs K. Ramsorrun and S. Apollon. appointed Messengers, Mr G. R. Meurier appointed Temporary Prisons Officer, Miss E. L. Latour appointed Temporary Typist.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 29 August 2025