Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-01
AN EXPEDITION
TO ABYSS|N|A.
Consul Skinner Says Americans
Have Been Too Indifferent
To That Country,
KING MENElIK BROAD MINDED.
He VIII Send Samples of Products Of
His DominiOns TO st. LOnis
Exposition.

Marsellles, Jan 3l--The following de-
tails OF the governmental mission to
King Menelik Of Abysslnia, which was
led by United States Consul Robert +.
Skinner. have been obtained;
Mr. SINNERS party arrived here yes
terday on board the steamer Victoria.
The American marines and bluejackets
who accompanied the expedition were
left at Alden ana went TO Join the
American gunboat Machias.
Consul Skinner and the other mem
bers OF the party are in good health
and they speak enthusiastically OF the
reception accorded them By King
Monellk. on the way to the coast the
party saw one elephant and heard a
number Of lions, but experienced no eX'
citing adventures In the course Of an
interview Mr Skinner said
President Roosevelt selected a most
opportune time for establishing rela-
tons with Ethiopia. as Americans here
tofore have been too Indifferent to the
remarkable development which is now
going on IN AbyssIna. Our cotton
goods pass through many hands before
being sold at high prices IN Abyssinia,
but now Americans have an opportu.
nifty 10 conduct their own trade King
Menelik will send some Of the products
Of his country TO the ST. Louis expo
sition. as well as a commission COM
posed Of able men to show the Amerl-
cans commercial opportunities In
| Abysslnla The king is broad minded
statesman who will welcome Ameri-
| cans"
| During the visit Of the Skinner party
at the capital King Menelik received
them surrounded by an imposing as.
semblage Of 1000 functionarles. The
| escort Of American marines established
camp called Camp Roosevelt, which
attracted a great deal Of interest.
The king made a personal inspection
Of the camp, which lasted for three
hours, and after having witnessed the
maneuvers Of the marines he asked
one Of the men for his gun and loaded
| and fired IT, This act on the part Ol
the king pleased the visitors greatly
The Americans We're impressed will
the assimilative ability Of the Abyssin
ians, Consul Skinner saying that tn
country Is being rapidly modernized
and that new roads. bridges, waite
supplies telephones and TELEGRAPH
lines are being constructed He con
siders the Abyssianians the Japanese
of Africa. lie points out however
that the postal and banking system
are defective and unsatisfactory. Tn
money Is on silver basis. Consu
Skinner believes that Americans Wi
! find q large field for activity I'm IN
gold, coal, petroleum and asphalt pos
sibilities of Abysslna.
| Ilg, the confidential adviser Of Kin
Menelk, will return to AbyssInIa to
morrow.
In an interview he said Abyssini
would continue TO do her utmost 4
favor French interests, but that sh
was having serious struggle agains
foreign influences. lie said also tina
Kink Menellk intended 10 prove hi
good feeling for France by visiting
that country during the present year
Rome, Jan. 3l.-Acording to news re
ceiyed by the foreign office here Kim
Menellk IL not likely to leave Abyssinli
because Of the political situation there
There Is already a candidate for sue
cesslon TO the throne and he fears tina
his departure would be a signal TO
! civil warfare among the differcn
chiefs. It Is therefore considered i'm
possible for the king to visit the 81