The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-09
WHY THE WAR?

KEY was sudden in its beginning; and
the challenge which Italy made was
peremptory. And yet, back Of that,
there has been a period Of years of
italian dissatisfaction and a growing re-
solve 10 shape things more to Italy s
liking in Tripoli than they have been,
whenever an opportunity arose so to do.
Whatever may he said about the uu.
substantial nature of lIaly's grievance
or claims, the truth is, that Italy has
real grievance This is lost sight Of
by such writers AS the one who says
editorially In the New York Tribune
that Italy has no claim upon TripolI
Of any sort, either hy way of rcprls-
ais or as compensation for injuries, or
for the protection of her vital interests.
"She simply wants it,, says that
writer. !'because it is the part of North
Africa which lies nearest TO her own
shores, because it is the only part Of
that coast which has not been precmpl-
cd by some other power; and II is thus
free for her to seize
Not quite so. That idea loses sight
of the facts Of history. Italy had very
substantial interests in Tunis by reason
of Italian trade and settlements in that
province When France seized Tnnis,
Italy was very much grieved and made
protest against the seizure. But IN
1900 France, in a secret agreement,
agreed to recognize Italy's prcdomi-
nance on the Mediterranean shore in
All the region from the eastern boundary
Of Tunis to the western boundary OF
Egypt This was secret agreement,
but it was afterwards communicated TO
the German and Austrian governments;
and these made no objection. SO that al
any time for eleven years Italy has been
free to assert her predominance in Trip
oil as compensation for her loss in
Tunis. Besides this. Italy has been
making complaint for good many
years about discrimination against
Italians in Tripoh. restrictions placed
upon Italian trade and the freedom of
movement of Italian subjects. For years
Italy has represented to Turkey the
"absolute necessity of correcting the
state of disorder to which the govern
mcnt of Turkey has abandoned Tripoli
and Cyrene. - No attention was paid by
Turkey to these representations. Italy,
therefore, seized the occasion presented
by the settlement of the Moroccan diff
ficulty between France and Germany TO
assert her latent claims upon Tripoli,
and to punish Turkey for the Turkish
disregard of the Italian complaints OF
discrimination against Italian subjects
there. 1t was favorable occasion, aud
as the stipulation between Italy and
France of eleven wears standing was
well known 70 the European powers. and
automatically assentcd to. there was no
likelihood Of Italy having to deal with
any other power than Turkey. save only
that Italy must make her movements
invade the Turkish domain proper. The
occasion was recognized as fit, and ac-
tlon was taken promptly. with the re
suit that Italy is likely to be accorded
the suzcraInty. of Trlpoli by the assent
of all the European powers.
Turkey is helpless in this kind Of
war She has no navy; she can Get
but few transports; and with the Itai-
ian navy IN command of the sea. so
far as Turkey is concerned. it is
quite impossible for Turkey TO send any
force of consequence 10 Tripoli 10 re-
sist the Italian advance. There is said
to be "A Turkish force of 10000 in Trip.
oil; this, however, is probably great
eXaggeration. We do not believe that
Turkey has any force to amount to any.
thing in Tripoi; but even if there were
10000 well disciplined, available troops,
they would be as nothing TO the army
that Italy can easily transport the short
distance across the Mediterranea
The dispatches indicate that the war
will not be lasting one, aud that, OF
course, there will be no great battles
fought. because Turkey cannot get
sufficient force to Tripoli 10 fight z
great battle. Germany is represented As
anxious to intervene or mediate and
probably the other powers will Join her
in acting on this line within a short
time But il is assured from the first
that Italy Will not he interfered with
in imposing her protectorate over Trip.
oil, with the eventual assertion Of her
full governmental power over that coun-
trv fully established.