The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-10-04

The quarrel between Turkey and
Italy over Tripoli, which has develop
ed with such surprising suddenness,
bids fair to plunge southern Europe
into the horrors of war. The Italian
government is moving rapidly and
with determination in the matter of
an Italian protectorate over Tripoi.
Its plans are no longer concealed,
and it's attitude is favored by all
classes in Italy except the advanced
section of the socialists, who threat
Ell to call general strike in the
event of hostilities. The Turkish
government, on its part, has for some
time been dispatching arms and mu-
nitions of war to the disputed terrific
ry and now has ordered the chief of
staff of the Salonica Army Corps to
proceed thither. The tone of the
Turkish press is very hostile to Italy
and determined resistance is
threatened If the Italians attempt to
seize the coveted territory.
The dispute over Tripoli has arts
en- out Of Italy's old desire to have
possession Of that portion of the
northern coast of Africa, desire die
tated by political rather than com
mercial reasons. Of the old Roman
colonies Egypt, Tunis, Algeria and
Morocco have passed out of the
hands of the modern government of
the Italian peninsula and of the FIVE
powers on the Mediterranean, Great
Britain, France, Spain, Italy and
Austria, and only the last two are
without base for their fleets on the
south shore.
Although the country has formed
part of the Turkish empire since
the middle of the sixteenth century
until 1885 the authorities of the
Sultan had long been purely nomi-
nal. Then, after an extended period.
during which the country was
stronghold of pirates, an expedition
was dispatched from ConstantinopIe
and the state was made a vilavet of
the Ottoman empire.
Formerly Tripoli was of high COM
mercial Importance as the gate to the
interior, but since the Sudan has
Deen chiefly approached by way Of
the Atlantic TTipoH has dwindIed in
this respect and her commercial val
ue today rests chiefly on the fertile
coast lands.
laly and Turkey had a dispute
in April, 1908, over the refusal Of
Turkey to permit Italian pOstoffices
in Turkeys territory. At the same
time considerable irritation was felt
in Italy over the murder of an Ital-
ian missionary in Tripoli and the
persecution by the Ottoman authori-
ties of natives who had sold land to
Italians. Government circles in
Rome had felt for years that Turkey
had been taking advantage of the
international situation to act in a
high-handed manner toward Italians
and to show little respect for Italian
rights. Italy prepared at that time
TO send large fleet to Turkish wa
ters, Whereupon Turkey Immediately
withdrew all objections to the post
offices and practically Acknowledged
the other Italian claims with regard
to the right of the Italians freely to
purchase property on Turkish terri
tory and with regard also to coast
navigation
While Turkey yielded on the ques-
ton of the pOstoffices the main reas-
on OF difidence, distrist and antago-
nism remained, as the sultan was de-
termined to do all in his power not to
yield Tripoli, with Europe's consent.
as field for Italian expansion. In
virtue Of the accord concluded by
the Marquis ACKNOWLEDGMENT with
france and afterward acknowledged
by all the powers, Italy, while re-
nouncing her interest in Morocco
was left free to exercise her influence
IN Tripoli, and thus she is in a posi-.
ton to take advantage of any pre-
text to occupy it under the form :
'protectorate" such as France eyer