Administration in Conquered Country
For a civilised State the conquest of enemy territory carries with it certain human responsibilities which it cannot shirk even if they are burdensome. We can guess what Germany Cr Italy would do if either of them found in a conquered countrY ten thousand settlers of enemy nationality whose well-being depended on a subsidy from her: But in such matters Germany and Italy under their present rulers cantor be accounted civilised, and Great Britain's standards are not theirs. When Marshal Graziani evacuated Benghazi he left a tetter commending the ten thousand Italians settled on the land to the care of the British General. It might seem an easy matter to hand back to the Arabs land on which at one time they had rights of pasturage. But to do so would be to inflict undeserved hardship on a generation of Italians who have been settled there and have made neglected land productive. The colotu- sation scheme depended on the payment of a State subsidy for another year, and if it is to be continued there is no one to Pa' it but the British Government. International law requires that the legal status quo should be maintained till altered by treat. Justice clearly demands that the Arabs' claims should remain itt abeyance till the war is over, and that the British administrator- should do what they can to enable the farmers to carry on &II farms and continue the work of improving the land. IL Ma/ cost us £750,000 a year.
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