Serious Trouble In Italian Somaliland

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1949, Page 5

Serious Trouble In Italian Somaliland

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

, Cojpyripht)

Received r ndav S.oO p.m. XEW YORK, Oct. (5. Britain told the Politieal Committee of United Xations today that four people were killed and 13 injured m "planned demonstrations" in Mogadishu (Italian Somaliland) ycsterday. Mr Clutton, the British delegate, said demonstrations had been planned against the very proposals for the disposal of Italian Somaliland which had been made in the committee. He described the situation as tense and said he hoped the committee would endorse the aetion of the British administratiori in maintaiuing law and order. A curfew had been imposed and all politieal elubs regardless of party had been closed. He said that yesterday information came to the knowledge of the British administration in Mogadishu that demonstrations were being carefully planned against the proposals for Italian Somaliland made in th.e Politieal Committee. '.'Due preeaution was taken, but later in the morning erowds assembled and refused to disperse. In subsequent aetion by the authorities to preserve law and order four people were killed and 13 injured." 'Mr Dmitri Manuilsky (Coramunist, IJkraine) declared: "It is clearly implicit in the British statement that all existing organisations are being suppressed and people were being shot aitd forbidden to go into the streets. What do you eall that? In all legal terminology it is known as a state of siege. The Politieal Committee is entitled to demand of the United Kingdom that such measures should be stopped forthwith. These demonstrations and these expressions of the people 's will are among the factors known as the selfdtermination of a people. When they are violated we have a right to be eoncerned. " The committee adjourned until tomorrow.