ETHIOPIA AND THE ITALIAN COLONIES
Sut—Brigadier Longrigg's article on the future of Eritrea and Somalia will disturb not only the friends of Ethiopia but those who believe that we have renounced Imperialism. His proposals are: (i) to attach to the Soudan the healthy uplands of the former Italian colony of Eritrea ; (2) to combine the best part of the coastal area, including the port of Massowa, with the Tigre province of Ethiopia under British or American or international trustee administration ; and (3) to place Italian Somalia and the Ethiopian province of the Ogaden—which is at present a reserved area under British military administration—under another trustee or mandatory Power. The justification put forward for depriving one of the United Nations of part of her territory is regard for the well-being of the inhabitants and the incapacity of the Ethiopian Amharas to rule other peoples. The suggestion is made that Egypt might receive the trustee-. ship for Somalia because " she is rich, Moslem and progressive." The present social conditions in Egypt hardly recommend the extension of her rule ; nor do we apply to the Soudan the considerations which Brigadier Longrigg advances for the disposal of' the Italian colony.
Ethiopia claims Eritrea as part of her old territory. before the Italian aggression ; and it is her vital need to regain access to the sea. Massawa has been recognised as the principal port of her littorial from the days of the Portuguese explorers of Africa ; and she should not be fobbed off with the inferior Assab, while we or the Americans take the best harbour. Ethiopians may require for a time expert assistance in managing the port ; and the Emperor recognises the need of technical help and will seek it.
As to Somalia, something might be said for uniting all the Somali peoples, who were divided between Great Britain, France, Italy and Ethiopia, under one trustee administration, not being British or American. BUt Brigadier Longrigg is sceptical about the plan. Failing it, the case for severing the Ogaden province from Ethiopian administration -Cannot be maintained. Italian Somalia may be placed under the system of the Trusteeship Council, in which Great Britain with other Powers would exercise supervision ; but in that case the claims of Ethiopia for facilities in the ports should be recognised. Ethiopia is blamed for the backward- ness, which is the result of the action of the European Powers during the last hundred years in isolating her. With help from the United Nations for her rehabilitation, the restoration of access to the sea, and respect for her sovereignty, she would show herself fit to rule and be enabled " to walk freely among the great boulevards of the world."—Yours, &c.,
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