Evening star., 1949-05-16
The Italian Colonies

The resolution adopted by the Political
Committee of the United Nations concern
ing the disposition of the former italian
colonies is an important step towards the
solution Of that complex and controversial
issue The fate of Italy's colonial empire
has involved many conflicting interests
and has become in large measure a foot
ball of power politics" ever since the close
of the late war Besides Italy itself
Britain, France, the United States, Soviet
Russia, the Arab States, and even the Latin
American nations have all participated in
the game, for various reasons.
The first attempt at settlement was
made by the Big Four" victors in the late
war-Britain, France, Soviet Russia and
the United States. But it soon became
evident that their views were mutually
irreconcilable. So, under the terms of the
peace treaty with Italy, it was stipulated
that 1t should be referred to the General
Assembly of U. N. whose decision should
be final. The resolution contentiously
worked out by It's Political Committee
presumably foreshadows its adoption by
the Assembly as whole. But this is not
a foregone conclusion, at least at the
current session, which is approaching its
end. Failure to adopt now would postpone
a decision until autumn.
The committee resolution follows the
lines of an agreement in principle arrived
at recently through direct negotiations
between the British and Italian Govern
mentS. The outstanding question has been
the disposal of Libya, the big though
barren Italian possession which lies in
North Africa, fronting the Mediterranean,
between Egypt and French North Africa,
and extending southwark deep into the
Sahara Desert. Libya was conquered by
British arms during the war and has re-
manned under British military administra-
ton. 1t divides naturally into three
settled areaS-Cyrenaica, adjoining Egypt;
Tripolitania, adjoining French North AZ
rica, and the oasis district of the Fezzan
adjoining French West Africa and Algeria.
Britain is deeply interested in Cyrenaica
for strategic reasons and has made en-
gagementS with the native Arab popula-
ton not to return 1t to italian rule. France
conquered Fezzan during the war and
wants to retain p. control Italy wants
to get U. N. trusteeship over Tri-
politania for both practical and prestige
reasons All four claimants unite in op-
posing Russian plan for joint U. N.
trusteeship over Libya, because that would
give the Soviet Union a voice and foot
hold In Africa. The committees report
recommends that trusteeship be awarded
Britain over Cyrenaica, France over the
Fezzan and italy over Tripolitania, with
the proviso that the whole of Libya be
enviSaged as independent ten years hence,
thereby placating the demands of the
Moslem natives and the Arab states for
immediate independence. This is obviously
a series of compromises, based on political
pressures. Everybody gets something ex-
cept Soviet Russia, which is effectively
frozen out.
The other Italian colonies were more
easily disposed of, since power politics was
less involved. Italy gets another sop to
its pride by being awarded U. NJ trustee
ship over Italian Somaliland, an almost
worthless strip of territory lying along the
Indian Ocean. Most of Eritrea, another
strip of territory on the Red sea, goes to
Ethiopia, thereby fulfilling it's desire to get
access to the sea. The status of Eritreas
West Province, adjoining the Anglo-Egyp-
tian Sudan, if left undetermined
If adopted, this settlement will follow
traditional lines for the disposal of
conquered colonial territory rather than
marking out new pattern of truly inter-
national administration. But it is in
accord with prevailing political and
diplomatic realities. And as such, 1t
stands the best chance of successful
implementation.