Clinton's visit to Africa

Bill Clinton has reason to be pleased with his sweep through Africa's sunnier uplands. With the exception of South Africa's government, which acted as though ungracious carping were the hallmark of national pride, his hosts have accepted his good intentions and kept to themselves whatever doubts they may have had about this American "rediscovery" of Africa.

Clinton has repaid them by being a better listener than they might have hoped. He came to preach the virtues of trade, not aid; he goes home with a better understanding of how far even the best-run African countries mostly are from economic viability. Clinton was modifying his free-market message with a pledge to restore U.S. aid to the levels before he took office.

Africans should not hold their breath. Clinton's once remarkable ability to work his way through Congress is a thing of the past. His public conversion to the cause of more aid for Africa will meet a hostile reception there.

-- The Times, London