The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
NEXT WAR In ABYSSlNlA?
ANGLO-ITALTAN CONVENTION LIKELY
10 CAUSE Az OUTBREAK.
Emperor Meneiek Preparing to Oppose
Italian Control of Erythrea and, by tho
Terms OF the New Agree ment. England
Must Aid in Defending tho Territory.

Terms OF the New Agree ment. England
Must Aid in Defending tho Territory.
Special Gable Despatch 10 THE sun
LONDON Dec 2-while British soldiers have
been lighting In two regions OF Africa two able
civilians havo been comfortably engaged In
Rome In making arrangements which. In all
probability. will never be put into practical
effect without more desperate bloodctting
Royal Commissioner Martini In behalf of Italy
and Mr.. James Kennel Rodd. representing
England In Egypt. have put into diplomatic
form an Anglo Italian understanding in regard
to their frontiers In mart OF Africa. most OF
which is claimed by Emperor Menelek. 20
far as can be ascertained tho negotia-
tons have been carried on with total
disregard OF the existence OF Meme
lex. the assumption being that he no
longer has aspirations for territorial expans on
aud has even reconciled himself to the italian
occunation Of territory once belonging to
AbyssinIa. Time will show how big Is the mis-
take that has been made.
The Anglo-Italian Convent ion, II In said has
been actually signed this week. II adds TO the
Italian possessions the colony known as
Erythrea. vast tract Of territory. while Eng
land finally takes absolute possession OF Kas-
sala. rounds of her frontiers, &c. Each con-
tracing party binds itself to give military
assistance to the other In case OF attack from
any quarter and there are clauses galore relat-
ing to commercial facilities and construction
OF railways and tclegraphs.
Meantime the monarch who has been con-
tcmptuously ignored Is importing arms and
ammunition. drilling troops and paying large
sums TO expert instructors. There are now
10000 Abyssinians under arms and 5O.OO0
NOR" prepared to Join the standard At tho
shortest notice. Emperor Menelek suspects
every European power. but he has an abiding
hatred for Italy and such contempt for her
m lltary resources that he will attack Erythrca
sooner or later beyond question. and by the
terms OF the new convention the Anglo. Egyp-
tian forces will be bound to help the Italians.
II looks ~ though Italy has made remark
ably fre bargain unless the convention Ia
accom- panied by vitallv important secret stipu-
atrons Of which nothing has TRANSFERRED. II
the barEain IA not strongly In Italys favor II Ia
more than probable that the Chamber of
Deputies will refuse to ra''y II. A majority OF
IN. I'rlians are heartily sick ~ Italian coloniz-
ing projects Frythroa l. a sad drain on the
f9an financial resources. and the country
s'll broods over the blood shed In the attempt
to found an empire In Africa There has
always been a minority o. stalwnrts who insist
that Italy IA bound to vindcate the honor OF
Italian arms by conGuering Ahyssinia, hut
these derronse yearly o. course. u England
IL 10 pluck tho chestnuts out OF the Are there
viii '"a delightful unanimty IN Italy
Tn" Kaiser is said 10 have bestowed his
blessing upon the Anglo-I'alian Convention.
II that be n fact II perhaps means that Ger
many will have a port ~ the Red Sea. which
she has 'onc desired. The railway schemes
include the cons' ruc'ion ~ line from Asmara
To- KRssaa and the industrial schemes include
n svstpmat Q eNplora'' ~ the whole OF T.. -
thrca FOR gold II t. declared that the country
Il very rich IN gold. Reefs have bcen dis
covered in eleven places within the italian
border. and e~r"r's are confident that tho
r"iEhbornV Atyssinla Ia highly suri.rous.
lut the reefs will never b" worked by Euro
rcans a. long A. Menal.k Ia alive. and prob
hhly not until Abyssinia has ceased TO be an
independent kingdom.