THE SEIZURE OF TRIPOLI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 61, 26 October 1911, Page 3

THE SEIZURE OF TRIPOLI.

n ——t —- , ITALIAN j.iifI(WSSERVATniE The, .Romo correspondent o’f the “13a ily New?,”, who. was particularly well informed c)pring the early stages of the. Tripoli ,t;nisis,, wrote on' September 15th;—“Now qr..never”;is the burden of the clamour dip tjie' Conservative and .reactionary press for an immediate occupation of Tripoli.. A decision must her made new., of the chance will he lost for .ever. Russia, it is argued, would ho quite unconcerned ; Austria-Hungary gave a specific assurance at the time of the annexation of Bosnia-Her/.egovina that she would not stand in the way of Italian compensation; France would like to oppose, but she could not do so very well after the settlement with Germany, and more especially as she has already accorded Italy by treaty a certain measure of freedom in Tripoli ; England is most to he feared as occupying the neighbouring territory of. Egypt and as posing as the protector of tlio. Key*Turkey, hut Pari:: might he expected to exorcise a restraining influence, up,on London. Only Turkey remains, and alone she is helpless. No greater opportunity was ever presented for securing a colonial outlet for Italian enterprise? On the other ham], Turkey in a few gears’ time will ho stronger, and will certainly have a .formidable navy; at this moment she has quite a considerable squadron under construction abroad. Even before that time, however,' Great Britain or Franco may rush ,in from-Egypt or Tunis and rob Italy;of her, prixo. Such is the process |of reasoning, for what it is worth. Little or,no attempt is made to justify this contemplated act of piracy on moral or .economical grounds '; tho favourable character of the opportunity, and nothing; else, is tho topic or tho moment. A strenuous and.reasoned opposition is, of course, being offered by the Liberals and Socialists, who point out that there is a Tripoli in tho Italian Peninsula that requires colonisation and development. Italy should not dream of colonial adventures while 'she has the south to civilise and educate—a task that is pre-eminently her duty to .undertake at once, which will repay the effort a’ thousandfold, and, unlike expressionist follies, bring no train of embarrassments,, expense, and even disaster ’in its wake.