SOMALILAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 5

SOMALILAND.

. MENELEK RECOGNISES ITALY IN LUGH. TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTHIGH7. ' • ' ;(Rec. May 22, 8.55 p.m.) ■ :■■■■■■■..•.,. Rome, May 22. Abyssinia and Italy have signed a Conven- ' tion leaving Lugh to Italy,-! also conceding f ' i; otbOT. important rights, in return for £120,000 compensation. ITALIAN RIGHTS IN LUGH. i'-The. Italian .sphere -in East Africa includes the":'.southern - part of :'. Somaliland- (the" . Peninsula' between the Gulf of 'Aden , and the equatprial coast of. the Indian • Ocean) and : its hinterland. Tlie British- territdry. 'adjoins.'; Italian rights, in- Lugh',' whicli ia 200 ' miles ..from",' the' coast, , began in'.;. 1895, • under a, treaty made by Italy with Hassan Nur; Sultan of Lngh. The possession of I.ugh has ;•<... been.always regarded by Italy as' of supreme' . .importance, to.;th^.:interests of Italy's .coastal ■ . possessions,, and much, blood has / been, spilt • pv.er,,tte:Soinali hinterland.; . Italy lias had a .■ Bindll,'occupyingforce/ which for .some time Kis led;a precarious (existence in Lugh,'owing, "to tribal raids. ' '•• • ■ Hitherto;'the: Emperor Menelek-has'never becn':reconciled to the' Italian occupation, and has'not recognised the'treaty'with tho Sultan i, . .: of , Lugh:.; For; somej time,'.however, 'negotiations - :■ for, delimitation'of 'the frontier :have been pro--,!;j■■.coeding.tfSignjfj Tittpni;,.ltalian .Minister for ":-V : -»l?oreign. Affairs, .stated"recently 'that tho;h'ego-. tiations would. the .road front ■ ,Dolo ;to "Lugh,; and the .'possession of Lugh ■'.i itself with the'surrounding; territory, and Italy ;' rwouldcompensate. r Abyssiriia"'with; pecuniary; V , ln'deirinifltan6hV"bh I .th"e , ;pre , cedent' of the 1 Eri-; :"',,l'^'t^tf;-'fttoHw''.MttiMehtyiii'''l9oo;'-'''This\:aiiti-cipation'.'w-ould. how seeiri . to' be realised;' Sig--nor< Tittoni : also. said -hey expected l that Lugh • would'be' in , wireless .communication with the r .coast .'by April. JHeitemphasised the value of .cotton;- cultivation-'in the'new. territory. Tho . caravan routes to .Lugh would be, seourediby / . tho' submission -of . the.- B.imal tribe and 'by -. further occupation. ■ ;- . . -.' '■'■ ;Pending';the.' negotiations,; Men'elek'-nnaertook . to maintain the status quo in Lugh. Never- .,; theless,' the country . was -raided last year, and . again; this;'year,- and, in some 'cases at least, • Abyssinians .assisted. - Menelek laid', tho whole '■; responsibility ..on;.rebellious Ambara chiefs, arid . ; promised to recall any Abyssinians remaining, at Lugh "and .'in the Benadir; hinterland.' ;H.e ; also promised to punish', the' guilty, and to in- • demnify the sufferers. .. "