The times., 1899-12-19
The Abyssinian Question.

If it be true, as reported from Rome yes
terday, that the Negus of Abyssinia is on
the point of invading the Soudan with the
intention of driving the British out of the
country east of the Nile, which he claims
as his own territory, it is probable that the
international trouble for which Europe has
been looking may be quickly brought to a
head. Circumstances connected with Brit
ish, Italian, and German interests in and
near the region which would be affected by
a movement such as Menelek is credited
with contemplating would compel show
ing OF hands which would be not only in
teresting, but would tend to disclose the
constitution of the two as yet indetermi-
nate rival forces into which the powers of
the Old World appear about TO divide them
selves.
On looking at the map Of Africa in any
standard atlas Of recent publication it will
be seen that Abyssinia, as the country is
photographed today, is but a small spot
surrounded by territory claimed by Italy
To the southeast and south is Italian So
mali; to the east, the province of Erythrea,
also Italian. The latter cuts off the do
minions Of the Negus from the Red Sea.
strip Of italian territory on the west,
including the town and district Of Kassala,
intervenes between Abyssinia and the area
Of British occupation east of the Nile. Al
though the Abyssinian claim to all the
territory described with British SomaIi. on
the Gulf OF Alden, added, may never have
been generally recognized, the contention
OF the Negus is that either under direct
sovereignty or suzerainty the whole of 1t
has appertained in some sort to his coun-
try ever since the days when the Queen of
Sheba visited Solomon and successfully
made overtures Of a friendly nature TO that
wise and prepotent potentate. from whom
Menelek considers himself descended.
We need not stop to review the history
Of the disastrous effort on the part Of Italy
10 reconcile the dusky ruler to the new
order OF things, The Italian troops who
started in to clean up the Negus met
with most disastrous defeat, and since that
time King Umberto has refrained from ag-
gressiYe movements with religious care
He has not, however, abated any Of his
pretensions to the regions he already
nominally occupies, and the British posi-
ton in the Nile Valley has evidently sug-
gested joint programme with Great Brit
ain, the details Of which, it is believed,
we're arranged al a diplomatic conference
in Rome at the beginning Of the present
month. BY convention then signed by
the representatives Of the powers, if our
Information is correct, Italy is secured in
the possession of Erythrea, England gets
Kassala and a strip Of territory desirable
for the rounding out OF her boundary. and
the high contracting parties mutually agree
20 render each other military assistance in
case either should be attacked by any
power whatsoever in or near the posses
siOns contemplated in the understanding
Increased importance is given 10 the mat
ter by the report that the convention was
submitted to Kaiser Wilhelm for his ap-
proval; that he cordially endorsed it, and
that, by an added, or perhaps unexpressed
agreement, he is to have pert on the
Red Sea for his complaisance. It would
seem probable then that, in this part of
the world, an assault upon the Queen
Empire viii be resisted not only by Brit
ish, but by Italian arms, and that if Ger
many does not take a hand she will keep
others from interfering And again we are
attracted to the strange political phenom-
eBa Of the day in Europe where we see
the head Of the Greek religion making
friendly approaches to the Pope, the papacy
at daggers drawn with the italian Gov
ernment, the Sultan on apparent terms of
smity with both Car and Pope, Austria
looking about her in pursuance Of policy
OF opportunism. France wild with the
lusts OF conquest and revenge, and Ger
many apparently sitting on top Of the
scales and able TO kick the beam either
way. Plainly, the pot is boiling and unless
something shall happen to quench the fires
under IL. there viii be a sensational boil
ing over before the New Year is very old.