The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” MONDAY, APRIL 18. 1938. Anglo-Italian Agreement

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1938, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

MONDAY, APRIL 18. 1938. Anglo-Italian Agreement

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THE much discussed and oagorly-looked-forward-to agreement between Brim in and Italy has been signed at Rome. The principal leaf tiros of the agreement are printed in today’s ‘.‘Advocate.” and it is safe 10 say that they will he surveyed critically. In their general scope, the provisions of the agreement are largely in accordance with tin outline given by various press correspondents. In one important respect, however, there is a difference' which will be welcomed by the people of the British Empire. It had been stated t hat Britain would officially recognise Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia in return for concessions made to Britain by Maly. ' Had this been done, it would have aroused intense resentment throughout the British Empire, in that it would have been regarded as ‘shaking hands with murder. W hot her recognition of a fait accompli can be longer delayed, and .whether, after all. any good purpose would be served by refusing to give the desired recognition, are matters open to debate.

However that may be, there would unquestionably have been sincere regret if recognition of Italian sovereignly in Abyssinia bad been included in the agreement negotiated between the Governments of Britain and Italy. According lo the cabled summary of the agreement. Britain lias undertaken to initiate in the Council of the League of Nations steps to clarify the situation regarding recognition of Italian, sovereignty in Abyssinia. That is probably onlv another way of approaching a difficult problem to which there is but one solution. Nevertheless, the attitude adopted hr the British Government will be appreciated.

A sore point in the agreement is Jhat which deals with Italy’s participation in the Spanish civil, war. The falsity ot Italian denials that Italy was co-operating with General Franco is clearly demonstrated, but she has now agreed that if the evacuation of troops from Spain is not accomplished before the civil war ends, the remaining Italian volunteers will, forthwith leave Spanish territory, and all Italian war material be simultaneously withdrawn. This undertaking apparently applies to Spain, the Balearics and Spanish Morocco, for Italy declares that she has no territorial or political aims, and does not seek a privileged economic position in the Spanish zone mentioned. Italy also agrees to reaffirm the Anglo-Mediterranean declaration made in January, .1937. There can be no question as to the value from a British point of view, of the arrangement that has been made —provided, of course, it is honoured by Italy. Britain, to ensure that development, repeats that she regards the settlement of the Spanish question- as prerequisite to the coming into force of the agreement, which undoubtedly will be of far-reaching importance to Italy, who is to lie given security of passage to her African Empire through the 'Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Bed Sea.

At the same time, Britain, in granting that security to Italy, has reduced a menace to the peaceful movement of British shipping. She has agreed to a periodical exchange of information concerning armed forces in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, Egypt, the Sudan, Italian East Africa, British Somaliland. Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika. If such an agreement is observed faithfully, there will ho avoided that cause of suspicion which first breeds unfriendliness, and then war.

Italy undertakes to relieve the tension, in Northern Africa by withdrawing* troops from Libya at the rate of a thousand a week until the peacetime strength of her garrison is reached. This will ease the strain which has been imposed upon Egypt, and, incidentally, ease a heavy strain upon Italy’s financial resources.

Britain and Italy undertake to respect the independent integrity of Arabia and Yemen, and to refrain from publicity propaganda calculated to injure the position of either nation. This is an important agreement in view of Italy’s determined policy to use radio for the undermining of British* prestige in Africa and Asia.

Though Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia has not been recognised by Britain, Italy has made important concessions to the British point of view, She has apparently recognised the water conservation rights at Lake Tsana secured by Britain by agreement with Abyssinia in 1902. Under this agreement Britain was given exclusive conservation rights at the outflow of the lake, which is the principal source of the Nile waters that give life to agriculture in the Sudan and Egypt.

In 1926 Italy agreed to recognise these exclusive rights in return for Britain’s non-opposition to Italian railway extension in Eritria and Somaliland. Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia placed Lake Tsana in Italian territory, hut the agreement now made removes what might at any time have created a major difference between the two nations. Italy has also made important concessions in the shape of absolving natives in East Africa from undertaking military service, and giving religious freedom to British nationals in Italian East Africa.

Taken altogether, the agreement reached between Britain and Italy is one .which should ensure, for some time, at least, peace in a vitally important theatre. There is more beneath the agreement than appears on the surface. British Labour contends that Britain has made a bad bargain, and has abandoned League ideals for the Mussolini attitude. It urges the working classes to oppose Britain’s armaments policy, and to offer a solid front to defeat the Government. It is argument of this kind which no doubt moved Mr Chamberlain to go further than he otherwise might have been disposed to go in an effort to promote peace.