THE ABYSSINIAN LURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 8

THE ABYSSINIAN LURE

The war cloud on the Abyssinian frontier grows darker. The truth is, Italy requires new colonisation Melds for her rapidly increasing population. Owing to vvant of iron and coal she cannot develop into an important manufacturing country. There is already a large Italian emigration to the United States, South ' oerica and other countries, but Mussolini would naturally like to see this surplus population diverted to a country under Ihe Italian flag; hence the envious eyes which his Government has always cast on Abyssinia. Owing to heat and aridity, the coastal lands acquired in that neighbourhood have little value for colonisation purposes, but the inland plateau of Abyssinia is fertile, well watered, and possesses an ideal climate for the European. A friend of the writer, who has visited the country, describes it as a veritable undeveloped paradise. The original home of the coffee plant is not Arabia, as many suppose, but Abyssinia. Indeed, it is said to derive its name from the province of Kaffa in that country, where it may still be found growing wild. To a coffee-drinking people like the Italians, this fact alone is of great value.

The Italian colony of Eritrea is in great part composed of territory formerly claimed l)y Abyssinia. In 1594 the Italian general, Baratieri, even occupied the fertile district of Kassala, now included in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. In IS9(>, however, he was defeated with heavy loss by the Abyssinians near Adowa, and thereafter Italy acknowledged the independence of the country. But matters have changed since, then. Aeroplanes had not come into use at the time of Baratieri's expedition; Italy now relies on this new arm to play an important part in military operations, though Abyssinia also possesses a small air force. Great Britain, France and Italy all possess territory bordering on Abyssinia, and any attempt on the part of, Mussolini's Government to occupy the country would probably result in International complications. i —J. D. LECKIE.