The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-09-30
LONG WRANCLE over TRIpOLl
ITALY MAKING READY FOR
THE SEIZTRE SINCE ISIS.
Got Right of peaceful Penetration At
close Of RussO.Turkish war Pressed
Turkey Year After Year with Com.
plants Of Outragcs on Her settlers.

SOt HlBnt NJ PeoCcIW PCuctTutNOU NJ
close Of RussO.Turkish war Pressed
Turkey Year After Year with com.
plants Of OutraGcs ON Her settlers.
TnpoG has been a potential source
OF trouble between Italy and Turkey
ever since 1878. when the Powers ct the
time Of the making Of the Treaty Of Berlin
which ended the Russo Turkish war,
agreed 70 allow to Italy the pacific pene-
tration Of Tnpoli." Translated out Of
the diplomatic tongue. this meant the
establishment In Tripoh of Italian centres
OF trade, the exploration and exploitation
OF the country by adventurous Italians.
and a. a natural result ever growing
Italian interests in a country not ltalys.
Turkey agreed to the pacific pene-
tration" and became responsible for the
economic and personal safety Of Italians
in the Ottoman vilayet. And Turkey
has always maintained that she has given
this protection. During the years since
1873 Italy's coloni zation OF Tripoh has
gone on until her interests in that corner
OF the Turkish domain are extensive.
The thought that some day the flag might
follow trade and the pacific penetration"
grow into actual occupation Of Tripoh
as an Italian province has long been one
pleasing to Italian statesmen. Ever since
the eos Of the last century. when unified
/ Italy had begun to assert herself in north
ern Africa. although forced to give way
in Tunis she kept on cultivating her
interests in Trpoli.
Royal schools" for the gratuitous
teaching OF Italian we're established.
! Then Turkey became alarmed at the too
vivid display OF interest in the province
on the part OF Italy and after the French
occupation Of Tunis the Sultan Of Turkey
despatched 10000 soldiers to reinforce
the Tripolitan garrison. Italy. as Sir
Harry K. Johnston remarks In his book
"AHistoSy OF the Coloniz zation Of Africa"
decided that the time was not now"
Since that time. no matter what her
reverses in other parts Of Africa. Italy
has kept up her activity in Tripoli and
has found frequent excuses TO assert that
her subjects were mistreated by the
Ottoman authority and that her mer-
chants were constantly Disseminated
against. Again and .again it was an
nounced: Italy is near war with Turkey:
but each time the Turk returned the soft
answer and. aided by the jealousies Of
the ether Powers, succeeded in tarning
away the Italian wrath.
But always Italy was Strengthening her
foothold. Ten years ago she secured
from France. in return for a declaration
of Italys disinterestedness in Tunis. an
acknowledgment of Italy's predominence
in Tripo. Turkey wasn't greatly con-
sidered in these interna tional argainings
and it was generally understood that when
the Sick Man" had a fatal attack Italy
would demand and receive Tripoli as her
share in the division OF the Ottoman
EmpiIe.
Tht most recent actual crisis in the
Italian -TOrkish affairs, except the one
leading to the actual declarat ton OF war
yesterday. came in 1903. when Italy
assembled a feet OF thirty-four vessels.
including twelve battleships. and an
nounced her intention of exacting imme-
diate satisfaction for various grievances
against Turkey. Among Italy's COM
plants was the old one that her peaceful
penetration" of Tripoli was being inter-
fered with. The Porte's attention was
called to Italy's claim that Italian steam.
ships had been forcibly prevented from
landing and embarking merchandise at
Tripoli and that arbitrary vetoes and
punishments' were inflicted OH Ottoman
subjects for selling land and property to
Italians in Tripoli.
The war scare only lasted few days.
for the Sultan Abdul Hamid backed down
and the Italian feet remained in home
waters. At that time Italy in note to
the Powers gave assurances that she had
no design to capture territory. Since
then affairs in north Africa have pro-
crossed rapidly and Germany. at least
after the affair at Agadir. il hardly in a
position to object logically to Italy's oc-
cupation Of Tripoli, although when war
that Germany would object strongly to
such course. On the other hand u has
been suggested that during the adjust
ment OF the present Franco-German dis
pute over Morocco the consent of France
and England was given to Italy having a
that she would not side with Germany in
case of European war growing out Of the
present situation.
At any rate il was while the Franco
German differences concerning Morocco
we're most acute that Italy turned her at
t-ntion once more to iripoh, CONSTANT
nople again heard of outragcs against
Italian subjects in Tripoli This time the
representations" had a sting in them and
two weeks ago Italy notified Turkey that
unless she was willing to recognize italian
influence in Tripoli in the form OF what
amounted to.a protectorate Italy would
proceed to military occupation. Turkey
tried to gain time once again by diplo-
matiCI sparring; she appea ed 10 the
Powers. protesting that 1taly's plea that
the Ottoman Government was not fur
nishing proper protection to Italians in
Tripoli was not founded upon fact.
But in the meantime Italy went on
mobilizing her army and her fleet. A few
DAYS ago the first squadron Of Italian
war vessels WAS sent TO the Tripolitan
coast. which it has since patrolled and
at the same time Turkey was warned
not to send soldiers or munitions of war
to Tripoli On Thursday Italy sent an
utimatum to Turkey announcing in sub
stance that unless Turkey at once recog-
nized Italy's sovereignty in Tripoli she
would proceed to military occupation.
Turk ey pleaded for more time and further
negotiations. but the plea was not granted
and war was declared.
II ia generally recognized that the
Turk o- Italian conflict NAV seriously con-