New-York tribune., 1920-11-22
Seizures of Land
Becoming Frequent
I'm Troublous Sicily
Peasants Take Possession of
Tracts Already Under
Cultivation in Violation
of the Cabinets Decree

MANCHESTER, England, Nov. 11.--A
correspondent at Rome reminds The
Manchester Guardian of a somewhat
unnoticed revolutionary activity in
Sicily--the seizure of large estates.
Such seizures have grown more and
more frequent of late, occurring es-
pecially at the time of elections. 1t has
often happened that the invaders,
realizing their inability to cultivate the
property, have returned it to it's orig
nal owners
In September, 1919. with a view to
reguari2ing such seizures of estates,
the Minister Visocchi, member of the
Nitti Cabinet, issued a decree which
reserved to the prefects-represent
tives of the central government in the
various provinces-the right of au-
thorizing the seizure and cultivation by
lands not actually under cultivation by
cooperative associations of agricultural
workers, provided they we're legally or
ganized and we're willing to pay an in
demnlty to the owners.
The occupation of the seized prop
erty was TO last four years. and. of
course. it was understood that it would,
III no case, be construed as claim to
possession. This was an attempt to
foster the agricultural interests of the
nation by taking advantage of all op-
perfume initiatives. At the same time
he urged landowners to put their prop
critics to full use SO as to avoid seizure.
The ultimate purpose of all this was to
open a safety valve to the resentment
of farm labor and to stir up the negli-
gent owners of latifundia.
Peasants Flock to Cities
1t is a fact however, that the re-
suits Of Visocchi's decreee did not COM
! pletely come up to these expectations.
In certain parts of Italy. in Latium,
for instance, the war has greatly in
creased the tendency of people to flock
to the cities. 1t has weakened the
home.
In Latium the invaders seized almost
Invariably properties just at the out
skirts of the cities, properties which
often were already under cultivation
and which could not in the least be
classified as real latifunda.
On the other hand, the agricultural
associations, whether Red or White,
are technically unprepared for the
task. At any rate, these seizures of
land have been progressing as stated,
subscribing to the most different po-
litical creeds-Maximalists, Social Re-
iormists, Catholics.
Special conditions in Sicily seem to
justify such proceedings. The dispro-
portion between small farms ard vast
latfundia is really enormous. Out OF
a population Of 3,7O0,0O0 inhabitants
only 100000 are land owners. Of these
900 families alone--. e., 5000 persons
IN all-own more than one-half of the
entire area Of the island, much OF
which they leave completely una tend.
ed to.
The other half is divided among the
remaining $4,000 inhabitants, who
therefore, do not possess more thar
14.S acres per capita. while each of tn.
privileged 5000 latifundia owners pos
sesses an average of 617.7 acres. These
are official figures. The whole ares
registered in the Survey Office is 6,l77,-
500 acres.
Invasions Orderly
Translating the above figures into
their money value and appraising al
two billion liras the total value ot
landed property in Sicily, we find tha
these two billion liras are in the hands
Of only 100000 people out of more thar
3,700, 900 inhabitants. Half OF this
amount. e., one billion-is lying idle
in the hands OF only 5000, while the
remainder is divided among 1866 in
dlviduals. The remaining population
cannot lay claim to s single square
foot of ground.
The most recent invasions Of latl
fnnda occurred at the beginning OF
last month. At SAINT Angelo Muxand
near Girgenti, 800 mounted peasants
| invaded a feudun
AT Alcamo 1000 returned soldiers
regularly enrolled In the Catholic
party, preceded by monk carrying a
cross and by their leaders carrying
national flags, followed by their womer
and children, invaded more feuda.
The same occurred at Caltanisetta
and in the counties of Piazza, Aigore
Bella and Montedoro. In these siciliar
iavasions the Catholics are uppermost
aa the Socialists have little or no fol
lowing in Sicily. AS fact, there is
not single seat in Parliament occu-
pied by a Sicilian Socialist. The So
cialist newspc pers ignore the Stellar
invasions cf lands.
These invasions have generally taker
place in a very orderly way, without
giving rise to unpleasant incidents ant
only real and neglected latifundia have
been their object, small properties hav
ing been absolutely respected The.
have been free from political PARTIAL
ty, the political creed of the owners
against whom they were directed hav
ing been completely ignored. They
have not been tainted by any of tn,
Malta spirit They have, rather, beer
accompanied by certain amount o
theatricality quite in harmony with tn
spirit of that population, religion
symbols, silver spurs and ancient trap
} pings having been much in evidence.