New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-22
REPORTS ETHIOPIAN TRIP
Consul General Skinner Speaks En-
Enthusiastically of Mission.

Washington. Feb. 2l.-Robert Il. Skinner, United
States Consul General at Marseilles. who was sent
by this government 4 special mission 10 Abys-
sinia last November. TO negotiats trade treaty
with King Menelik and gather information re-
specting commercial resources OF that country has
returned and made 4 report OF his successful mis-
sion TO the Department Of State. As result Il
Nr. SINNERS efforts direct trade may now be
p-oitably opened up with region which contains
a population or something like 100000. a popula-
ton. too. which is daily increasing its purchasing
power and its wants. In his report 70 Mr.. LOOMS
the Assistant Secretary Of State. Consul General
skinner says in part:
The results Of the mission conhded 70 me OF safe
guarding a valuable existing market IN ETHIOPIA
and increasing II by all legitimate means may De-
treaty has been negotiated with the Emperor
government. which. II acceptable VIII secure 70 ne
United states for al time the pIlyiltseSt % ~
most favored nation in Ethiopia, and az the sam
disc Immunity from discrimiEa tion in rates upon
an public roads and lines Of communication what
The invitation 70 participate in the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. has been accepted. anu 'He
sary for a proper exhibit. The Emperor also eX-
States during tue coming summer coInui.SSl'n l q.
charge OF the exhibit at St Louis and to eN2and
TN commercial relations Of the eInplIt. % r--.-
ton which viii he yolatsd and duly Forwarded To
ArtlTa on behalf Of the Agricultural Department
] have secured eo.l"-uon - The seeds OF tt more
ybi,f uily be- frIird vaabIe In the exploitation Of
The ra-ilI-ivated Western lands Of the United
torial Tor q report upon the agricultural resources
The Agricultural Department was. particularly
DESTROYS of securing collection Of Wild coffee
seeds for experimental purposes. These could not
and viii be ultimately f3s warded. such co.lec-
ton could only De found in kaIa remote prov
long ano tAp fr,- IJyt nave "a theory fbSt The
Of The 17f1fl
seed originally imported from Arabia. and that by
OF which IS the province or kaH4 "a new variety
may DC created. the value or Whlch VII o1 IN
calsulahe. Nv eudeovor TO obtain pair Of large
zsbras FOR cross-breedns puTo7eS va lF3 IN F,'i
1.'uture alive ] have left instructions. however.
ir REGARD 10 this MATTER. and trust to be To- 20
supply two OF these animals some time IN the
I1 Addition 90 these definite results the presence
OF the mission i'm ETHIOPIA has had the effeSst OF
turning the attention OF tns BUSINESS nro5 ~ We
soiircc % supply for many manufactured articles.
for which IN expanding market is certain % result
may be- available for export
NJ sti-De- then describes his long Journey 70
Abvssiria; by steamship to Djibutf. the capital
NJ the French Somalilaud colony from that port
to Dire-Douah b. railroad. and on camels for the
-o-,-,f~dsr OF the trip. The reception in Ahyssina
VAS elaborate and IS described as cordial. but
formal" Continuing. the report says;
t-,,st that the visit o. the mission viii result
aenf11al- IN the expansion OF American interests
~ r-fbioni.. whe.c :hey are already greater than
those ~ any Of the powers now making strenuous
c0orts To obtain The leadership il the treaty
mitch have been directed TO negotiate be rutlhcI
nv tba senate our commerce VIII depend hence
fCrtL NOT upor the President or upon Congress. hut
11nor the Individual business man. Without the
presence Of an American citizen or the advant2se
ri official contact, our cotton ShectlnES. oN virtue
Of their excellence. have forced themselves into
~ oiori1 where years they have constituted the
.rircipaI article of import As trade IS now carried
an I'm that region it Is impossible - compile sta
tfetiCs which would show the extent Of this bust
80 and the sale is at the present time greatly
rarTlcte6 bv the fact that these sheCtnES are sod
r,rinrirar Iv nv the important firms which handle
ne cffoe crop OF the country. and Whcn natufailE
n1int7in prices At the highest possible figure as 4
--cs-s ~ getting the coffee the lowest possible
Terms The consequence 10 the consumer u l'ltt
- ,-ttrIo Of prfme necessity in Ethiopia. the cost
~ when a piece Of thirty yards is 40 francs ~
nteN delivered and duty paid. Is sold 10 the small
merchants at 10 12J francs 81 30 and rom that UP
- II francs tS2 1W. The vice margin. Tar rom
r~odting tho American manufacturer IS parCelIed
6i,t among numerous mildemen, ard TENDS 70 re-
80 NAV ne the results Of this mission II IS
certain that IL the treaty be ratined ~ VIII nave
-ee-,Iar{zpd an uncertain condition, WheFe We H'l
an evistng trade interest ~ value ana nave placer
re In a position tn profit by eventuahteS IN view
- 81. 81 tl-q- We have sustained diplomatic re-
- 80 ssrth for MANI years. and IN many cases
49, ,7fr ma teraI interests were very Huch IN
faric- To those which we have IN EluiopE. ~
s-,rDrsinr fact is not that we have sent MISSION
into AFRICA ~ this time but that We did not do u
yy=Q before.