AFRICAN COLONIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22865, 21 October 1937, Page 13

AFRICAN COLONIES

ITALY'S DEVELOPMENT BIG SCHEME FORMULATED (Received October 'JO, p.in.) LONDON, Oct. 10 In the course of an article in the News Chronicle, Mr. Vernon Bartlett savs Italy is working intensely on the foundation ol her Alrican Kmpire. Three hundred propagandists are preparing documents in 28 African languages for the most intense use in radio broadcasting in Abyssinia, concurrently with cultural propaganda and military training. It is hoped to have a native army of 3.000,000 men within five years with 300,000 on the active list. The world's greatest Moslem university is planned. A company with a capital of 100,000,000 lira, 51 per cent Italian and 49 per cent German, has been formed to exploit Abyssinia's iron, coal, copper and zinc, and preparations have been made to tup sources of timber and water power. A message from Rome says the Italian Cabinet has decreed upon the creation of three colonising bodies to settle Italian agricultural workers in Abyssinia. Special provision is to be made for organising a Fascist militia in Abyssinia and other African colonics.

FRENCH POSSESSIONS MEASURES FOR CONTROL PARTS. Oct. J!) The French President, M. Lebrnn, has signed a decree empowering Al. Sanaut, .Minister of the Colonies, to take what measures he considers necessary lor control of France's possessions and protectorates in North Africa, regarding which the Government lately has been much concerned.