ITALY’S AFRICAN POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 May 1936, Page 6

ITALY’S AFRICAN POLICY

A RECENT cablegram from London said, “The Italians propose to use Lake Tsana (in Abyssinia) as the base for a large fleet of long-range aeroplanes. They will also seek to conduct discussions on tiio flow of the (Blue) Nile waters to Egypt with the Governments of Cairo and Whitehall.” What use “a large fleet of long-range aeroplanes” based on Lake Tsana would be, except to menace the Sudan (including Khartoum) and the shipping, using the Red Sea route, is difficult to see. But there has also been a rumour that the conquerors of Abyssinia are contemplating the diversion of the Blue Nile (which carries the waters of Lake Tsana to the White Nile at Khartoum, and thence to Egypt) to Eritrea, which is Italian territory, aud thence to tho Red Sea; the object being (it is said) to irrigate Eritrea, and make it an important field for Italian colonisation. Tiie engineering difficulties, presented by such a plan, are very great indeed, as indicated by an article published in another column of this issue; but then it must be remembered that the Italians are among tho greatest of engineers; and the Italian Government might possibly undertake so great a work if it could be shown that it would pay, when completed. From the British point of view the objection to the diversion of the waters of Lake Tsana, as suggested, would be the depletion of the waters of the White Nile, and the consequent reduction of Egypt’s water-supply, and the decrease of the inundation of tho Nile in Lower Egypt, including the Nile Delta. There is no doubt that Britain, who is so largely responsible for Egypt’s welfare, would refuse to stand inactive if any such diversion of the Blue Nile, as that suggested, were carried out. There is no cause for wonder why British opinion is critical of Italy’s African policy. It would bo inaccurate to say that there is danger of serious international difficulty arising from that policy, but there is no doubt that in all circumstances Britain will safeguard the rights

which the Sudan and Egypt have from time immemorial possessed in the Nile and its tributaries.