Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19

have been strained to the point of break
ing because of the many
Situation elements of discord which
e., have come into their rela-
0tAo1Aeu' tons. The present situa
weeks past, but 1t is still sufficiently seri-
Gus to merit recapitulation of the I'M
fortunate incidents which have caused
apprehension in Europe.
Tho first trouble was over the excava-
ton in the Cyrenaica. where concessions
had been accorded by the Ottoman gov
eminent to an American archaeological
mission which had preference over Ital-
ians. That affair created in all Italy a
very strong feeling and was made the
subject of an Interpolation in the Italian
chamber by NJ. Mariris. A few weeks
later another incident occurred: jour
nalist named GuZman published a violent
article against the Italian colony in Trip
OIL The Italian consul dema nded the expui-
sion of the offending Guzman. which was
obtained only after some veXatious delay
The matter was further aggravated when
1t was discovered that the authorities
permitted the return of the Journalist A
third incident more serious than the pre-
ceding because involving real economical
interests, Is that of sulphur mines Now
in these sulphur mines, as In the arche-
illogical excavations, Americans appear 10
have obtained valuable concessions sup
ported by the Turkish vail. notwithstand-
ine he op~os ton OF the Italian consulate.
This latter incident produced a great
cOmmotion in Italy, especially In Sicily.
largely interested I'm sulphur mining. one
of it's principal industries. 4 great num-
Der of the laboring class. notably those
in the regions of Etna. find in the sui
phur industry their principal means OIL
existence. The revenues are consider
able because Of the almost entire tacR
of competition. and If after the augmen-
tation of wages as the result OF the re-
cent strike there should be developed a
competition which might threaten the 81
Gillian sulphur monopoly the Italian gov
eminent could not fail to take an inter-
est In the matter.
The MARQUIS de San Giuliano was very
emphatic in his affirmations in the ltal-
ian chamber, December
Yfa1v and 2, when he said: Italy
-. =. desires that the Tripoli-
AIIpou. tan should remain Turk.
but Italy would prevent any other infiu-
ences than her own from impiantns
themselves there. Italy desired to CO.
operate in a privileged way with the
capitalists and the Ottoman exploitation
of the Tripolitan enterprises.
The Italian government attributes the
aforementioned disagreeable incidents TO
the systematic hostility OF the van OF OF
Trpoli The Giornale d1talia writes Oh
this Turkish official: This young Iurn n,
ish militant vail has taken possession Oh
his post with the object publicly an
nounced Of opposing all Italian projects
for the pacific penetration OF Tripoli.
He commenced by boycotting the BANK
of Rome. which represents In ir.poii lta.-
hind intricate court proceedings in order
to obstruct and prevent Italians from
purchasing lands He had supported tne
Americans in the matter Of excavations
and the concessions for the sulphur
mines, and the Giornale accused the vail
of unfolding and melting the Argentine
Journalist Guzman to attack Italians;
the vail had inspired the Argentine To
prepare q carnavalistic cortege when
had paraded the streets of Tripoli and
before the Italian consulate uttering Of
fensive EXPLANATIONS against Italy; the
vail had given himself mighty airs ana
had affirmed publicly that Turkey. sup
ported by Germany and Austria Hungary
could defy Italy.
A fourth incident reported by the Cor
respondance d'Orient happened at Mon
astir. At ball given by
E1ao the consular corps Of that
city the flags Of all ma
hVW. tons were intertwined.
Above the door the Italian and Turkish
flags were placed side by side, which not
being to the taste of the italian consul
he caused the Turkish flag to be removed.
The incident caused intense excitemeht
and no little i'll feeling.
The Tribune and the Corriere della Sera.
however. in the polemic that Followed,
seized the occasion to deny the truth OF
a statement in telegram to the Beriner
Tageblatt, which announced that Italy.
because of the aforementioned incidents,
would occupy the Tripolitan." The Cor
riere declared that the irony Of the Ber-
liner Tageblatt dispatch was in Its en-
ceeding bad taste, and, considering the ex.
pansionism Of Germany, Germans should
be more modest.
There is still another incident Italo-
Turk which merits mention because OF
the possible consequences. 1t appears that
some weeks ago sailing vessel from the
Italian colony of Erythrea. of which Mas
sowa, in the Red sea. is the port, stopped
in at the Turkish port at Hodeidah and
discharged a part of its cargo in order to
make repairs A conflict with the Gus
toms resulted in the course of which the
Italian consul interposed the "capitula-
TONS in bar of execution of judgment by
the Turkish authority against the vessel.
The Italian government maintained that
the vessel should be treated as an Ital-
ian vessel. Turkey replied that the Fry
threa was formerly an Egyptian posses
sion. The discussion was carried to Con-
stantinople, where the Turkish govern
ment proposed to submit 1t to arbitra-
ton. The Italian government refused to
accept that alternative because 1t could
not admit that it's situation In the Fry
threa nor the capitulation could be for a
moment questioned. The German en-
bassy, become all-powerful at CONSTANT
nople, interfered to arrange the matter.
Up to this time nothing appears to have
been accomplished, and the question still
remains in suspense.
Without doubt the Italian government
Is within its rights in pleading the capitu-
lations. If the cargo of the boat is
the Turkish governments point is well
taken In the matter OF the Italian situa-
ton in the Erythrea. which Is contest
able. The suzerainty of Turkey over
Egypt, on the other hand, is incOntest-
able, and for a fact has never been con-
tested. Erythrea was not taken from
Egypt either by purchase or by an act
of war. but by a violation pure and
simple of territory. 1t does not excuse
1taly's act that England was guilty about
the same time Of similar aggressions at
Zeliah, Aismayu and in Uganda. For
fact England's continued occupation OF
Egypt constitutes a fragrant violation of
that territory and Of treaties to which
England is one of the signatories.
For these systematic violations of the
treaties to saw nothing Of solemn prom