The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-05
PROBLEMS
IS CONCERN N ITALY
Practice In Efforts 70 Extend Terri
tory Faulty ~ Times. but Policy In
Based on sound Principles.
ny GUGIAELMO F,ERERO

BY GuG5IAEIMO EERERO
Rome, March 2.--What are we to
choose as our guiding principle In set
thing the colonial problems in Italy ?
During the whole of the nineteenth
century, UP to the outbreak Of the war,
- ne. Iss,nA spiyjt ~ nnfNendly Fiyal-
s%asata.al- S,ssxasng Ssass a:ssopeen s,,>w,s
ers in the older continent. !
Each power strove TO COLOMBO lAfricn
In spirit OF ar,tagonism to some other
power or powers. and to their detri-
ment. French colonial policy was op-
posed to that Of Great Britain: italian
policy othat OF Germany: British
colonial policy was constantly clash
ing with that OF France, italy and Ger
many. while Germany strove TO insinu-
ate herself between Great Britain and
France TO the detriment OF both these
powers.
This untiring rivalry IL clearly writ
ten on the map Of Africa The terri
tories of the different powers intersect
one another In the oldest and most ir-
rational way possible way which
betraye hostile thoughts, the desire to
diminish the productiveness. and safe
ty OF the neighboring territory to in
crease its difficulties and lessen its
profts. There are. countless instances
OF what French writer's call bees de
canared" {pointcs de crayon) 'an-
tennes" boundaries drawn in q spirit
OF rivalry, merely to arrest the devel,
opment OF the colonies belonging to
the other power and to cause endless
disputes,
The peace congress or the future
league OF nations must. when reset
Ting Africa do its utmost to simplify
these features by effacing from the
map Of the dark continent the traces
OF that spirit Of rivalry and discord
which inspired European colonial pol
icy during the nineteenth century.
We might thus bring about a more ra-
uonal settlement Of the individual col
onies-one which would enable each
state to civiiize and make the most of
Its colonial possessions In peace with
out being hampered by Its neighbor or
In any way preventing his doing the
same. II Europe would bring herself
to this great act of self-denial. a new
era would begin in Africa
1t would take too long to study how
this settlement could be brought
about in the case of each European
colony in Africa. Hence. this article
deals merely with the Italian peace
terms. and will connne myself to
showing how these principles should
be applied to italy and her colonial
possessions in Africa. italy has three
colonies In Africa-Erythea and Ben
adfr in East Africa and Tripoli in
North Africa.
Erythea is vast colony on the Red
sea-. Eenadir lie a still vaster tract OF
the indian ocean, which has It's
shores from Cape Guardifu to the
mouth of Cuba. The hinter,and of
both these colonies Ia the immense
Ethiopian empire which, az we have
"A ts
native state in Africa
Erythea lice between Ethiopia and
the sea On the north. Benadir on the
east
There can bs no doubt that, given
this geographical situation. the most
important mission which Italy can be
called upon to fulfill in Africa is that
OF bringing the Ethiopian empire az
far as possible within the sphere OF
western civilization.
Italy has prepared herself for this
by the untirinE work Of her
explorers and by a colonial policy
which 10 now upwards Of fifty years
old. Unfortunately. the war of 1896
checked what appeared to be a most
beginning for over twenty
years. IT. however, her practice was
some times faulty. he's policy was
based on sound principles, ana unle..y
tho course Of civilization is TO undergo |
some change Italy will sooner or later |
take up the thread Of this policy once !,
more, with more experience, more !
thought. less haste and i'm I
patience than led to tho disaster OF 4
1895
1t would therefore. he well II the
peace treaty placed italy in a better
position for the fulfillment of this his
.orfc mission mission which Nigh,
easily he for the universal veal. Hence.
lei us ask what territorial settlement
would enable Italy to carry out this
mission more easily? In my next ar
icle I shall attempt to answer this