The Comoro Islands, situated between Mozambique and the island republic of Malagasy, are not only one of the world's least-known places but also one of the poorest. The 290,000 people who inhabit the four islands have a per capita G.N.P. (mostly from vanilla, sisal and copra) of about $100. If France, which acquired the islands in the 19th century, did not provide an annual $35 million, or 80% of the budget, their misery would be absolute rather than conditional. Last week, after a 27-day flirtation with total freedom from France, the Comoros...
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