Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎55v] (110/348)

Upon the other issues raised by me, Count Sforza was constrained to admit that’
though explanations might be forthcoming in individual cases, there was probably
some justification for the complaint that I had made. He explained the situation,
somewhat naively, as having arisen from a far-sighted desire on the part of Italian
agents and representatives in the East to anticipate the situation which they contem
plated would shortly arise in that part of the w T orld. In their judgment the Nationalist
forces in Turkey would be in the ascendent in the future, and it was politic therefore,
wuth a due regard to Italian interests, to be on good terms with that section ol the
Turkish community. Even now at Constantinople the Italians would welcome a
situation in which by some means we could persuade the Nationalist Party to join in
the acceptance of the Peace Treaty. Further, the Italians were animated by a
traditional suspicion of the Greeks, who were even now doing much to provoke them
in Asia Minor, and in these circumstances it was not surprising that Italian agents
should sometimes in distant parts carry their feelings to a point that was not in strict
accord with the policy being pursued by their superiors in Europe.
Count Sforza assured me that he did not himself in any degree countenance these
proceedings, and he promised to issue instructions that would produce a more loyal
atmosphere and attitude.
Upon the position in Egypt and the conduct of the Italian colony there I spoke
with even greater warmth. The Italians had over and over again during the past
two years promised to recognise the British protectorate over Egypt—a recognition
which I believed had not yet been forthcoming. Meanwhile we had made enormous
concessions to the Italian ambitions in Africa. We had ceded to them a great slice
of territory in Jubaland, and had even added to the original cession. We had further
accommodated them about Solium, in these circumstances it was really intolerable
that in almost every communication that came from Egypt I should find mention of
Italian intrigues with the Nationalist Party and Italian hostility.
One of the chief centres of this mischievous influence in the East was the
Banco di Roma, which appeared everywhere to be a focus of anti-British agitation,
and evidence of whose activities reached me from many quarters.
Count Sforza assured me that he was greatly concerned by whatT had told him.
He proposed to hold up the return to Egypt of the Italian representative, Count
Negretti, until he had seen him on his own return to Rome. He was convinced that
no such charges would be brought against the Count, to whose friendliness and
British sympathies many spontaneous tributes had been made; he proposed to give
Count Negretti strict instructions to place a much needed check upon the political
proclivities and proceedings of his compatriots in Egyyt.
Count Sforza appeared throughout our conversations to be animated personally
by most friendly intentions, but he made no great effort to disguise that his countrymen
were not always similarly imbued.
I am, &c.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.