### HANDS OFF GABON
The US of the Fourth International issued the following press release on the use of French troops in Gabon.
"De Gaulle's intervention in the internal affairs of Gabon through the use of French troops in Libreville yesterday is brazen revival of gunboat diplomacy.
"The swiftness with which French imperialism reacted to the attempt in Gabon at a military coup d'etat, casts a most revealing light on the servile character of the government of Leon Mba. This is obviously a puppet government entrusted with preserving French exploitation of Gabon's rich mineral and forest wealth at the expense of the Gabonese people.
As justification for this brazen intervention in the internal affairs of a country granted its independence in 1960, reference is made to the recent British intervention in the internal affairs of Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya where imperialist troops were employed to bolster neo-colonialist governments there. "The question that is really raised, however, is whether the use of French troops in Gabon following the use of British troops in East Africa, does not signify a new phase of imperialist domination of Africa-the resumption of naked use of force on an increased scale.
"Another grave question is implied-if France and Britain can get away with it in Africa, won't this encourage the US to try it in Cuba and elsewhere in Latin America?
"Freedom fighters in Africa and throughout the world must consider the ominous implications of these recent imperialist power plays, and step up their own struggles accordingly.
"Get the imperialist troops out of Gabon, Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya!
"Hands off the newly independent countries!"
20th February 1964