'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [‎25r] (1/32)

Confidential.
Italian Proceedings on the African
Coast of the Red Sea.
A Memorandum, dated the 14th May 1880,
embodied the correspondence up to that time on
the subject of the Italian occupation of Assab Bay,
on the eastern coast of the Red Sea. The present
paper, under a more comprehensive title, continues
the story down to the present date. Although the
different branches of the subject are a good deal
intermixed, it will be most convenient to treat it
under separate heads, as follows :—(l) the actual
course of events at Assab and in the neighbour
hood since May 1880; (2) correspondence which
has passed, in the same period, between the British,
Italian, and Egyptian Governments, and between
this Office and the Foreign Office; and (3) a
question lately raised in connection with a pro
posed disembarkation of Egyptian troops at
Raheita.
* Page 15.
t From Foreign Office, 1st June 1880 ;
No. 398.
f From War
No. 473.
Office, 28th June 1880 ;
§ From Foreign Office, 11th October 1880 ;
No. 756.
(1.) A short distance inland.
(2.) The southern point of Assab Bay.
(3.) On the coast, where the Straits of
Bab-el-Mandeb are narrowest.
(4.) North of Has Lomar, the northern
point of Assab Bay.
(5.) A cape still further north.
Course of Events at Assab and in the
Neighbourhood. May 1880 to September
1881.—On this head not very much is to be said.
The situation in the month of March 1880 will be
found described in Captain Hunter’s report, quoted
in the former Memorandum.* Upon the occasion
of his visit, he was accompanied by Captain
Berners, of Her Majesty’s ship “ Philomel,” whose
separate reportf to the Admiralty led their Lord-
ships to point out to the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs “the importance which must be
“ attached, from a naval point of view, to the
“ establishment of a coaling station, which may
“ apparently be readily converted into a naval
“ station, in the Red Sea.”J
On the 28th June 1880, the “ Philomel ” again
visited Assab. Captain Berners found the settle
ment greatly improved, several houses and work
shops having been built, and the pier much
enlarged. There were, however, no settlers, with
the exception of Signor Sapeto, and the work was
all carried on by Arabs, assisted by the crews of
two Italian cruizers. Trade was almost nil, pearl
shells being the principal article, and there seemed
no likelihood of any immediate increase. §
According to a native report received at Aden,
in the middle of July 1880, large further purchases
of territory by the Italians were either completed
or in progress. Booby Hill (1), Ras Sintaur (2),
and Jebel Siyan (3), were bought but not yet paid for.
For Sanaboor Island (4), 3,000 dollars had been
paid. Ras Beilul (5) w r as purchased for 4,000
6005. I. 20 63. A