ITALY: Clipperton Island
So obscure, so ignominiously in the shadow of Dictator Benito Mussolini, is bantamweight King Vittorio Emanuele III that news last week that he had actually done something important came to most Italians as a pleasant shock.
His Majesty, after deliberating off & on for 22 years, finally handed down his decision as arbiter between France and Mexico in the forgotten matter of minute Clipperton Island, 700 miles off the Mexican shore, annexed by France in 1857, seized by Mexican Dictator Porfirio Diaz in 1897. Last week the bantam King gave Clipperton Island finally to France.
During the 22 years in which His Majesty has been making up his mind, tragedy has stalked Clipperton Island. So bleak and blasted is the little isle that it will not support life. The Mexican garrison has had to be supplied with food from the mainland. In 1920 Mexico was so busy with revolution that she sent no food. The helpless garrison began to starve. When a boat from Mexico finally put in at Clipperton Island only one man was found alive.
France will (possibly) use her rock as a seaplane base.
Most Popular »
- Maclaren's Stroller Recall: A Stumbling Response Online
- Teen Obesity: Lack of Exercise May Not Be to Blame
- Are You Getting Scammed by Facebook Games?
- China's 'Most Dangerous Woman' Gets a New Forum
- I Love Local Commercials
- After Maine, the Battle Lines Over Gay Marriage Harden
- Does Obama Have a Plan B for the Middle East?
- Let's Bail Out the Pot Dealers!
- Internet Atrocity! GeoCities' Demise Erases Web History
- Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo
- Maclaren's Stroller Recall: A Stumbling Response Online
- Are You Getting Scammed by Facebook Games?
- Teen Obesity: Lack of Exercise May Not Be to Blame
- Does Obama Have a Plan B for the Middle East?
- I Can Has Swine Flu? A Cat Comes Down with H1N1
- Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo
- The Secrets Inside Your Dog's Mind
- I Love Local Commercials
- 'I Am Autism': An Advocacy Video Sparks Protest
- Let's Bail Out the Pot Dealers!







RSS