DUCE’S PLANS FOR LIBYA

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 May 1937, Page 12

DUCE’S PLANS FOR LIBYA

AMNESTY FOR REBELS ROME, April 10. This morning’s Cabinet Council dealt almost exclusively with Libya, Italy’s colony in North Africa, and approved the measures announced by the Duce during his recent visit there to reward the inhabitants for their loyalty. It was during that visit that he proclaimed Italy to he “protector of Islam.” In future the Ministry of the Colonies will be known as the Ministry for Italian Africa. It will he extended and housed in a more worthy building. At the same time an autonomous

aval command will be set up in Lib-

ya. as well as a national army corps. All armed forces, including the air force, which also will have a. separate command, will be under a Commander-in-Chief, who will be the Governor provided he is not. a civilian. Four districts in Libya, will become provinces, each under a Prefect, while the southern territory in the Sahara desert will continue under military rule. Local administration will be entrusted to the communes, and in small places the mayor may be a native. In levying taxes due regard will be paid to local customs and traditions. Land confiscated from rebels will be handed over to the communes and the proceeds spent in favour of the Moslem population. Those who have been declared rebels will come under the amnesty decreed on the birth of the Crown Prince s son recently and those who have been exiled will have' their land restored on their return.

A loan of about £45,000 will be raised for the building of workmen's houses, while other measures relate to agriculture and the use of esparto grass for the making of cellulose and paper. A new submarine telegraph cable will be laid between Tripoli and Sicily.

These measures, it. is pointed out, afford evidence of Italy’s intention of making her colonial possessions a real part of the empire. The expression "colonial exploitation,” it is said, has now ceased to have anv meaning in Italy.

Naturally the Press extols the measures, which are defined as imperial in character • and worthy of Imperial Rome.

It was also decided to build a new port, at Assab, in the East African Colony of Eritrea, in view of expected developments following Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia.

-The- Cabinet also approved a law, exclusively relating to Italy for the institution of special poor relief bodies in each commune. These will take over the activities of all charitable institutions, especially of the so-called Congregation of Charity,