The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-25
MIR. SEINNER'S REPORT
Tells of Visit to Abyssinia to Nego-
tate a Trade Treaty.
SECURED COLLECTION OF SEEDS

He Also Has Material For Report On
Agricultural Resources Of Abyssinia.
King MeneIik Will Send Exhibit to
ST. Louis Fair
Washington. Feb. % - How the
United States has come into trade re-
Stations with a new region containing
10000. 900 of people is briefly and
modestly told in the report 10 Mr..
I,oomis. the assistant secretary OF
state. Of Robert r. skinner the Ameri-
can consul general at Marseilles,
France. on his highly successful spe-
cial mission to Abyssinia last Noyem-
Der for the purpose OF negotiating with
King Menelik a trade treaty and 10
collect information about the CONNER
cial resources Of that country. AS a
result OF this mission Mr.. Skinner ne
gOtated a treaty which. II acceptable,
will secure for the United States the
most favored nation privileges In
Ethiopia and will guarantee to Ameri-
can citizens and merchants immunity
from discrimination in rates on all
public roads and lines of communica-
ton.
I'm addition Mr. Skinner prevailed
upon King MeneliS to accept an inyi-
tation for his country to participate
in the ST. Louis Exposition, and pre-
limnary arrangements for a compre-
hensiye exhibit at St Louis have been
made The king will send during the
coming summer a commission or dis
tIngulshed and representative men,
who will have charge OF the exhibit.
Mr.. Skinner. after narrating these
facts. says:
Acting on behalf Of the agricultural
department. | have secured a colec-
ton of the seeds OF the more import
ant crops peculiar to Ethiopia a num-
Der OF which may be found valuable
in the exploitation OF the uncultiyated
western lands OF the United States
now being made available by the OK.
tension Of our irrigation system. !
have also In hand material for a report
on the agricultural resources OF Abys-
sinia The agricultural department
particularly desired to secure a col
lection OF wild coffee seeds for expert
mental purposes. These could not be
obtained during my visit. but have
been ordered. and ultimately will be
forwarded. Such collection could be
found only in Kaifa. a remote prov
ince. access TO which involves a long
and expensive journey. The experts
OF the agricultural department have
theory that the degeneration OF the
modern coffee plantation is due to the
fact that coffee culture has been based
on seed originally imported from Ara
bia. and that by getting back 10 the
wild coffee plant. the habitat of which
is the province OF Kama. new va
riety may be created. the value OF
which will be incalculable My en-
deavor TO obtain a pair Of large zebras
for cross breeding purposes was also
In vain. These animals are exceed
ingly rare and difficult 10 capture
alive. | have left instructions. how
ever. in regard to this matter. and
trust to be able to supply 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 re-
suit upon the completion of the rail.
way. and as a probable consuming
market for such products as may be
available for export.
At present there is an annual impor
tation of cotton sheetings from the
United States TO Ethiopia to the value
OF $4,000. II is pointed out that
Ethiopia can supply millions of raw
skins for which there is an increasing
need in this country.