The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-10-07
AMERICA TO TRADE
WITH MENELIK
STATE DEPARTMENT PROPOSES
To- MAKE OFFICIAL INSPECTION
OF EASTERN AFRICA.

Arrangements have been made by
the State Department for an official in
spection of the interior of Eastern
Africa, with view to the introduction
of American trade in that little known
sectio nof the world, If conditions are
found to justify it. The matter has
been subject of discussion between
MIR. LOOMS. assistant secretary Of
state and Robert p. Skinner, the United
States consul general at Marseilles,
who has been in this country for sew
eral weeks past on leave OF absence.
As result it has been arranged that
Mr.. Skinner shall penetrate the wilds
of Abyssinia, with authority to nego-
tiate a commercial treaty with the king
of that country in the event that he
finds such a course expedient and de-
sirable.
Inasmuch as the proposed trip will
necessitate a passage through hither-
to UNEMPLOYED region supposed to be
inhabited by a semi barbarous people
and infested with wild animals, it has
been decided to provide Consul General
Skinner with a small guard of marines,
numbering sixteen men, commanded by
a.
warship, The Navy Department has
informed the State Department that
either the gunboat Machias at Port
Said or the cruiser San Francisco at
Beirut will probably soon be available
for the purpose of taking Mr.. Skinner
to Jibuti, the harbor of Somaliland,
French province on the east coast of
Africa. From that point the consul
general and his small guard will march
overland to Ads Abeba, the capital of
Abyssinia, where the negotiations with
the king of that country will be con-
Quoted.
The capital is about 300 miles in a
straight line from Jibuti, but the eX-
petition will have to traverse a much
greater distance than that in reaching
it's destination, by reason of the alb
sence of open roads, straight or other
wise. The trip will be made by way
of Harar, which is the Abyssinian set
Element of any size nearest to the coast
The country between there and the
capital is wild and mountainous and
very sparsely settled, Application
will be made to the French government
for the American marines to cross the
intervening French territory under
arms This application viii undoubt-
eddy be granted
A London telegram to the New York
Sun makes the following reference to
the supposed undertaking.
"The parceling out of the African
continent among the European powers
by establishing exclusive spheres of in
fiuence over areas touching the coast
| with claims to the vast hinterlands mol
yet occupied, is not a matter of indif-
ference to the United States govern
ment, if circumstantial reports which
Ihave reached here are well founded. OF
the desirable regions of AFRICA only
I Morocco and Abyssinia are now indie
pendent. France is actively aiming
at a protectorate over Morocco, While
England is trying to get paramount in
fluence in Abyssinia-
IF these states fall into European
hands the United States will see the
whole continent permanently closed t
its commerce and Influence. To OBJ
viate this it is said that the American
government has decided to open nego
tiations with King Menelik of AbyBsi
mia with the object of securing hi
country from the danger of being do
minated by any European nation
Washington Star.