1939: Italian East Africa

Italian East Africa. Italy's foremost colony, and the foundation of her empire, consists of the Italian colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland and the former and ancient empire of Abyssinia or Ethiopia, which Italy conquered in 1936. Italy annexed the country on May 9, 1936, and on the same day the King of Italy was proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia. By a decree of June 1, 1936, all these lands were united under one common Viceroy. The country consists, in addition to the capital Addis Ababa, of six provinces, Eritrea, Amhara, Harar, Galla, Shoa, and Somaliland. The whole area is estimated at 1,708,000 square kilometers and the number of inhabitants at about 8,000,000, but no exact census has ever been taken.

Development of Ethiopia.

Since the conquest of Ethiopia the Fascist regime has maintained order by stern and ruthless measures. It seems, however, that even now some parts of Ethiopia are not yet passive to Italian control and keep fighting for the independence of the country and their loyalty to Haile Selassie, who lives in exile in Great Britain. The Italians have rebuilt Addis Ababa on a modern plan, have constructed a large number of roads, and have modernized the life in the few larger cities and along the main roads. A relatively small number of Italians have gone to settle in Ethiopia, but so far the new colony has in no way fulfilled the great economic expectations which were held in 1938. There were repeated rumors that Italy will offer part of Ethiopia for settlement by Jewish refugees from Italy and other parts of Europe. It was especially the region around Lake Tana that was declared a possible field of large-scale colonization. These projects, however, have not yet left the stage of vague schemes.

Demand for French Somaliland.

At the beginning of 1939 Italian politicians raised repeatedly the demand for the annexation of French Somaliland and its capital, Djibouti. This small territory, which has only about 50,000 inhabitants, is of great strategic value, guarding the exit from the Red Sea and controlling part of the traffic with Abyssinia by means of the railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa, which is 485 miles long. This railway, completed in 1917, is under French management; but by the Franco-Italian agreement of 1935 a proportion of the shares of the railway were handed over to Italy. The Italians have meanwhile diverted a part of the traffic from Djibouti to their own port of Massawah in Eritrea, which is connected by railway with Asmara, which in its turn is connected by an asphalt motor road with Addis Ababa. The Italians, however, continue to demand French Somaliland. As these demands have never been officially and publicly formulated, it is not certain whether the Italians demand the outright cession of French Somaliland or whether they would be satisfied with the exclusive control of the railway and certain rights in the port of Djibouti. The war which broke out in September 1939 brought about a temporary relaxation of Italy's insistence upon the cession of French Somaliland. This may be explained by the general uncertainty as to the course of the war and Italy's share in it.

On the other hand the outbreak of war increased Italy's interest in the Suez Canal as a most important approach to her East African Empire. But little is known about the strategic preparations which Italy has in all probability taken in Libya and in Italian East Africa to be ready for any eventuality. See also ITALY.