The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-10-17
BY William c. uTLEY

BY WILLIAM c. UTLEY
ITALIAN conquest of Ethiopia is
something that should have been
started % years ago when Italy
acquired its first property bor-
dering the ancient African monarchy,
In the light of events since that time.
Begun then, the program would have
been unquestiOnably one of colonial
ton" a parallel with similar pro-
grams Of other European nations in
the dark continent. Today it is er-
roneOusly regarded by every one ex-
cept Italy as a bold act Of aggressive
warfare and open TO forCible oppOsi-
ton by other nations, despite the fact
that, even as warfare, il is justified
by more than a half century of bloody
Ethiopian violation of Italian rights
and good faith, eliminating in the now
famous incident at UaI-Ual in 1884.
That. generally, is Premier-Dictator
MusSolini's excuse for what all the
rest of the world has considered
shocking invitation to world disaster
and an openly willful breach of inter-
national faith. This is generally all
that has been said on II Duce's side in
the English-speaking press the details,
naming names and establishing dates.
have usually been passed over.
Since these details form hitherto
sighted angle to the story of the Italo-
ETHIOPIAN fuss they will bear looking
into. Editors note: 1t must be re-
membered that the following story is
not being defended, but is simply
reporting Of the facts Italy has used
TO explain her acts Interpreted from
the other side of the fence, these
facts" probably could be made to as
sumo another aspect)
Giuseppe SapetO of Genoa in 1888
was the first Italian TO land at Mas
sawa, the port of Eritrea. He returned
in 1851 to explore the region and, IN
der his influence, the Rubattinon
Shipping company in 1869 purchased
the promontory that shelters the Bay
of Assab. The company's land be-
came the property of the italian state
in 1882. From that time dates the
actual Italian penetration of Ethiopia
and-says the Italian government-the
long series of treacherous Ethiopian
hostilities to Italian cooperation and
bloody abrogatiOns of agreements
with the Italians.
ItaIy's Sympathy Helps.
About that time a chieftain named
MeneIik, after battling with many of
the principal Ethiopian tribes. assert
ed his power as chieftain over them
all. In 1889 he signed the Treaty of
Uccialli, recognizing Italy's positionn
in Africa and empowering Italy to rep
resent him in diplomatic relations
with other nations. 1t soon became
apparent that his real reason for sign
ing the treaty was the emphasis of his
own authority over all the Ethiopian
tribes. for Immediately afterward be-
gan a string of Ethiopian rebellions
and attacks which took a heavy toll
of Italian lives and came TO a full eli
max ar AdOwa in March of 1896, when
5000 Italians under francesca Girls
pi were wiped out by Meneliks army
of 100000 after an heroic stand
which has been oft recalled of late in
arousing Italian public enthusiasm for
the present Ethiopian invasion. By
reason of this defeat Italy was re-
quired TO keep within the bounds of
what is known today as Eritrea.
The lives of pioneers and soldiers
were also sacrificed in great number
in developing the second Italian col
ony, Somaliland. although Italy at
tempted TO develop it and improve it
in peaceable cooperation with the ma
tives. Somaliland, too. was first set
tied more than fifty years ago.
A population of 60 600 exists in the
$500 square miles of Eritrea and
$4,000 in the 10000 square miles of
Italian SOmaliland. Both areas have
long common frontiers with Ethiopia.
but the border lines have never been
definitely designated. Therefore it