The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-22
MISSION TO AbYSSINIA
IS HAPPILY DESCRIBED
BY ROBERT P. SKINNER
Head of the Expedition Reports a
Trade Treaty Which Will Be of
Great Advantage.
PICTURESQUE RECEPTION
Troops of the Negus in Silks and
Satin, with Gold and Silver
Buckles and Skin Nantes.

! WASHINGTON, Feb Elbow the
! United States has come into trade relations
with a new region containing 100000 of
people is briefly and modestly told in the re-
| port to Mr.. LOOMS, the assistant secretary
of state. of Robert p. Skinner, the American
| consul general at A1arseilles. France on his
successful special mission to Abyssinia last
! November for the purpose of negotiating
with King Menelik a trade treaty and to
| collect information about the commercial
resources of that country. AS result of
this mission Mr. Skinner negotiated treaty
which, if acceptable, will secure for the
! United States the most favored nation
privileges in Ethiopia and will guarantee to
! American citizens and merchandise immu-
/ nifty from discrimination in rates all pub
! lie roads and lines of communication. In
! addition, Mr. Skinner prevailed on King
Menelik to accept an invitation for his coun-
try to participate in the ST. Louis expOsi-
ton and preliminary arrangements for a
comprehensive exhibit at ST. Louis have
been made. The King will send during the
coming summer a commission of distin-
! guished and representative men, who will
have charge of the exhibit. Mr.. Skinner,
after narrating these facts, says:
Acting on behalf of the Agricultural De-
partment 1 have secured a collection of
seeds of the more important crops peculiar
to Ethiopia, number of which may be
found valuable in the exploitation of the
| uncutivated Western lands of the United
| States, now being made available by the
| extension of our irrigation system. have
also in hand material for report on the
agricultural resources of Abyssinia. The
| Agricultural Department particularly de-
sired to secure a collection of wild coffee
seeds for experimental purposes. These
could not be obtained during my visit, but
have been ordered and ultimately will be
forwarded. Such a collection could be found
only in Kaffa, a remote province, access to
which involves long an expensive journey.
The experts Of the Agricultural Depart
ment have a theory that the degeneration
of the modern coffee plant is due to the
fact that coffee culture has been based on
seed originally imported from Arabia, and
that by getting back to the wild coffee
plant the habitat of which is the Province
of Kaffa, a new variety may be created,
the value of which will be incalculable.
NO ZEBRAS SECURED.
MY endeavor to obtain a pair of large
zebras fer cross-breeding purposes also
was in vain. These animals are exceed
ingly and difficult to capture alive
have left instructions, however, in regard
to this matter, and trust to be able to sup
ply two of these animals some time in the
future.
The presence of the mission in Ethiopia
has had the effect of turning her attention
toward the United States as a probable
source of supply for many manufactured
articles for which an expanding market is
certain to result on completion of the rail-
way, and as a probable consuming market
for such products as may be available for
export"
Mr.. Skinner records in detail his expedi-
ton TO Abyssinia from the time he left
New York, on Oct. s, up to the day on
which he set sail. Jan. 10. He calls at
tention TO the promised facilities which the
French government offered for the progress
of the expedition across French territory
Mr.. Skinner gives this picturesque de-
| scription of his reception:
, Two hours after camping, accompanied
r by NJ ChefneuX counselor of State), the
mission set out for the Aderach, or seat of
government accompanied by an Ethiopian
guard OF 1900 men under the command of
a distinguished general Although our re-
military pomp, we were astonshed, and
. our appreciation of the picturesque was
, gratified by this first glimpse of Ethiopian
troops on a ceremonial OCCASION. Arrayed
I in gorgeous silks and satins, with lion and
leopard skin mantles gold and silver plated
bucklers, carrying lances from which float
) ed the national cOlors. mounted on spirited
horses, they gallOped into formation, the or
der of which was an apparent disorder. a
! A band of shaw players heralded our
. coming with weird music which had not
Q changed since the fall of Jericho.
t SALUTE BY ARTILLERY.
| "At the palace or 'Guehi' our escort fell
back and the mission, always accompanied
by the marines and blue jackets, proceeded
through series of court yards and after
receiving a salute from a company of 2OC
native artillerymen under the command of
a European officer, and further salute OF
$ twenty-one guns in honor of the United
a States, we entered the Aderach, an audi
D ence chamber of cathedral-like proportions
{, and form, The Emperor sat his throne
: surrounded by his more important advisers
representing the. administrative depart.
$ ments, the judiciary. the army and the
church. Back of the two rows of pillars
supporting the roof were massed several
thousands of the leading people of tht
G Adds Ajaba, all in holiday regalia Oul
: reception was cordial but formal"
) For nine days Mr.. Skinner was in con
J state At the farewell audience the En-.
: peror received the entire expedition anC
bestowed decorations on all the officers OF
the mission and presented medals to the
marines To Mr.. Skinner the Emperor
save two young lions and a pair of elephant
tusks, together with personal letter OF
friendship and good will addressed to the
President. which he gave as testimonials
i, OF his friendship and good will to the United
States.
OF the nations resources Mr. Skinner has
this TO say: The empire holds out no at
| fractions to the commercial adventure
} | with limited means. Too many Europeans
now in the field are of that class and tht
| Emperor, with just reason, is weary of tins
constant ClamOr for concessions from al
sorts and conditions of persons whose ONLY
| object is to find purchaser an exorb
tant figure. On the other hand, enterprises
t planned with skill and backed with sufH
y ! cient capital may be undertaken and car.
| ried out with every assurance that prOpert,
D interests will be respected by the govern
e ment. and that promoters of such enter
+ prises will be welcomed with a catholic
spirit.
:, Whatever may be the results of this mis-
}. | sion, he concludes, 1T is certain that Il
, ! the treaty be ratified il will have regular
" lied an uncertain condition where we haC
y no existing trade interest of value anC
. | eventualities. In view of the fact that w,
: ! have sustained diplomatic relations witt
: every power of Importance on the face o,
j., the earth for many years, and i'm man,
. ! cases where our material interests wer,
= ! very much inferior TO those which we hav,
~ | in Ethiopia, the surprising fact is not tina
y ! we have sent mission into Africa AT thi,
y time. but that did not do il many wear,
0 before"
! At present there is an annual importa
ton of cotton sheetings from the Unite,
! States TO Ethiopia to the value of $50 OO0
y Ii is pointed out that Ethiopia can sunni,
! millions of raw skins, for which there i
an increasing need in this country
Death of Mormon Elder
!, KANSAS CITY Mo. Feb H-Lorenz,
l | - III