> Max >What I had in mind was natalism, a la > >France, hardly eugenics. > > Still, natalism is obnoxious, since it is supposed to build up > the "native" population. France did it to build up their army, I believe. This would help them fight the "Huns" and Algerians. . . . Not necessarily. It could aim to grow the 'national' population, as opposed to the native one. Immigrants from Algeria, Martinique, etc. can be perfectly French and natalism could be pushed in this spirit, and may be now for all I know. I believe the original impulse stemmed more from a desire to keep up with the U.K. and Germany, rather than with respect to the colonies. You are right that it verges on national chauvinism, or could be constructed in that light. But that's not the only outcome. Au revoir, MBS
