Italian Forces Scatter Arabs

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 13

Italian Forces Scatter Arabs

SUCCESS IN LIBYA AFTER 16 YEARS’ EFFORT Laconic dispat dies from across the African deserts report that the Arab j insurgent stronghold of Murzuk, the capital of the province of Fezzan in Libya, has at last fallen to Italian colonial troops under the Duke of Apulia. Resistance of the revolting tribesmen in this area is thus definitely broken, and it is only a matter of weeks before the whole territory immediately south of Murzuk will be in Italian hands, says the Rome correspondent of a United States exchange, writing on February S. The success of Italian arms in this desert province, after 16 years of Arab insurrectionist control, brings to the fore again the troublesome Franco-Italian territorial dispute in Southern Libya, one of those issues that has contributed to misunderstanding between the two countries in the post-war era. In view of Italy’s desire for a discussion wit h France, in connection with the naval arm conversations, of all the political issues now affecting the relations of Rome and Paris, it is conceivable that something will be heard of the Libyan boundary question before the London conference is ended. The capture of Murzuk, in its bearing on the Franco-Italian dispute over Southern Libya, gives pause for thought in view of the important part similar African territorial questions have played in European politics during the last forty years. One need mention only the Fashoda incident in the upper Nile Valley, which nearly brought France and Britain to an armed clash at the turn of the century, and the arrival of the German cruiser Panther off Agadir a decade and more later. Italy regards the Southern Libyan frontier from the town of Tummo to a point on the border of the AngloEgyptian Sudan as yet undefined. Signor Tittoni, Foreign Minister in 1919, states that M. Simon, French Minister of Colonies in that year, was prepared to advise cession to Italv of the South Libyan regions of Berku and Tibesti, provided Italy would guarantee to occupy these territories effectively and px-event the formation in them of robber bands. Always following Tittoni’s version, the question was left open because Italy was not in a position then to give the guarantees asked by France. Thus the conclusion is drawn that Italy is justified in asking a renewal of negotiations and the cession of Berku and Tibesti or equivalent territories. A glance at the map will show how reluctant France is likely to be to grant Italy’s request, however well grounded that request may be. Ceding these territories would permit an Italian wedge to. be driven two-thirds of the way southward to Lake Chat which would verge upon severing French West Africa from French equatorial Africa. With Italian troops rapidly approaching the border of that territory occupied by France, Rome will shortly oe in a position to give security guarantees which Prance, according to Tittoni, asked in 1919. u will be curious i- under these new conditions Italy tails to press her Libyan claim.