Italian Claims
In a public speech in Rome Count Sforza, who holds the office Minister without Portfolio in the Italian Government, put forw a plea for the return of her former colonies to Italy after the w adding that "the legitimate right of a great people cannot be viola with impunity." Count Sforza must be reminded that Italy forks all rights to her former colonies by the manner in which her Gos ment abused the possession of them, using Eritrea and I Somaliland as bases for unprovoked aggression against Abys and Libya as a menace to Mediterranean' communications and jumping-off ground for attack against Egypt. These matters have to be considered in the Peace Treaty not in reference to righ which have been lost, but with sole regard to world interests, which, of course, Italian interests will be included. The Allies th selves have declared that they have no territorial ambitions will they desire to satisfy by victory. But this does not mean that conquered countries will simply go back to the pre-war status As to Libya, it will be wise to keep all the southern coast of Mediterranean in Allied hands. Eritrea and Italian Somaliland another matter. Here two factors that will have to be considered the, need for providing Abyssinia with an outlet to the sea, and need for safeguarding the southern exit of the Red Sea, which Aden on the Asiatic coast and Assab on the African. Count Sfo wisely makes no claim for the return of the Dodecanese ; the island will certainly desire to be incorporated in Greece. He suggests the port of Treiste should be internationalised. As for Fiume, will almost certainly be restored to Yugoslavia ; but a city so ma sible to most of the Allies is scarcely likely to become, as he pro the seat of a "super-League of Nations."
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