TRIPOLITANIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 256, 27 September 1945, Page 4

TRIPOLITANIA.

Scene of many conflicts down through the centuries, Tripoli tania again figures in the news, for the Tripolitanians are reported to be demanding independence and have clashed with the Italians, in whose hands the administration of the territory remains

until the Peace Conference settles its future. Tripolitania, at the north-western corner of Libya, has four distinct regions. The first, along the seaboard, is fertile and contains palms and fruit trees. The second, the highland or Jebel region, is suitable for cereals and contains fertile tracts. The third region contains a number of oases, and the fourth, extending into Fezzan, is mainly desert. Inland trade is solely by caravan. Of the pre-war population of 710,000, only about 29,000 were Europeans, mostly Italians. The natives are Arabs, Berbers and Jews. Originally a Phoenician colony, Tripolitania has a romantic and at times violent history. The Greeks, the Ptolemies and the Homans all had control at various times. In the seventh century it was overrun by the Arabs and the decay of a civilisation which had lasted 1000 years began. From then on Tripolitania was conquered, pillaged and reconquered, and its coast became the lair of pirates who scourged the Mediterranean. In 1835 Tripolitania was declared a Turkish province, but the Turks renounced _ sovereignty after the Italo-Turkish War and the Italians began an attempt at colonisation which was seriously interrupted by German and Turk-ish-promoted risings among the Arabs during World War I. Not until 1921 did the Italians resume their efforts _ and under Mussolini’s later drive colonisation was partly successful. Now the question is being raised as to whether Tripolitania is to remain in Italian hands.