The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-22
|. s. MISSION TO ABYSSINIA
CONSUL GENERAL SKINNER
 MAKES HIS OFFICIAL REPORT.

American Trade-Honors Bestowed on
 the Expsdstion-Two Young Lions
 for Roosevelt.
 Washington, Feb. 21.-Robert P. Skinner. United States consul general at Marseilles. France. who was sent by this government on a special mission to Abyssinia, in November of last year, for the purposes of negotiating trade treaty with King Menelik and gathering information respecting commercial re- sources of that country, has returned and made brief report of his highly successful mission to the department of state. As a result of MT. Skinner's eff forts direct trade may now be prof1ta- bly, opened up with a region which cons tains population of something like 1o,- 100000 souls.
 MT. Skinner says: A treaty has been negotiated with the emperor's govern ment, which. if acceptable. will secure to the United States for all time the privileges of the most favored nations in Ethiopia, and at the same time guar antee to our citizens and to our mer- chandise immunity from diserinina ton in rates upon all public roads and lines of communication whatsoever
 The invitation to participate in the Louisiana Purchase exposition has been accepted and the preliminary orders were given during my visit for the coll lection of material necessary for q proper exhibit. The emperor also ex- pressed his intention of sending to the United States during the coming sum mer a commission of representative men to take charge of the exhibit at St. Louis and to expand the commer- cial relations of the empire, if possible.
 Upon receipt of the departments in- struction, my party, consisting of thirty persons, arrived at Djiboutil. the capi- tai of the French Sonnaliland colony and the principal outlet of Ethiopia by sea, on November 1T.
 The journey from Djiboutil to Dire-s Douah was made over the barely corn- pleted railroad. a distance of 300 kilo- metres. After preliminary Journey Of forty miles to Harra1, in order to visit the chief commercial city of Ethfopla, we departed on November 28 for the capital where we arrived Decenbar 18, camping about three miles from ttla emperor $ palace. Our arrival N signal for prompt calls from N. s 5e6fi Chefneux, counselor of state, and one aof the two foreign advisers of the efzl~ peror, M. Alfred IIg being then absent in Europe Two hours later, accompa- nied by M Chefneux. the mission set out for the Aderach, or seat Of govern Inent, accompanied by an EthiopiarI eS core of 5000 men.
 The Ethiopian troops were arfaYed fin gorgeous silks and satins, with lion and leopard skin mantles, gold and sil- yer plated bucklers, carrying lanees from which f1oated the ntaional colors, mounted upon spirited horses. Thay galloped into formation, the very order of which was an apparent disorder, shifting like a Kaleidoscope and consti tuting a scene as indescribA ble as it was memorable.
 At the palace our escort fell back and the mission, always acconpanfed by the marines and bluejackets, pro- SNNdCd ttil v Nits II q 0Ci1SS Ot and, after receiving salute from q company of 200 native artillerynlen up- der the command of European officer. and further salute of twenty one guns in honor of the United States, we en- tered the Aderach an audience chanaber of cathedral like proportions, and form. The emperor sat up no his htrone, stlr- rounded by his more important advis- CTS, representing the administrative de1 partments, the Judiciary, the army and the church. and back of the two rows of pillars supporting the roof were massed several thousands of the leading people oe Addis- Ababa, all in holiday regalia. Our reception was cordial but formal. Within half an hour the meme bers of the mission, acconp panied by the escort of Ethiopian troops, which had waited outside, and augmented by the enperor's private band, playing E1lro- pean instruments, and by native troops uniformed and marching in European fashion, left the palace for a compound assigned to us.
 During nine days spent in Addis- Ahaba. there were daily conferenees over the treaty with the emperor or his foreign advisers. Such time as Tenain- ed was devoted to an exchange of cour- tesies with the heads of legations and officers of the emperor; visits to the principal business houses, and to the gathering of information of every de- scription.
 My work having been concluded, a farewell audience took place on the af- ternoon of December 27, immediately prior to which the emperor sent to me two young lions and 8, pair of elephant tusks, together with a personal letter,
 addressed to the president requesting
 me to deliver these testimonials of his friendship and good will upon my re- turn to the United States. In further
 manifestation of his satisfaction at the conclusion of this final audience he ter~ dered decorations to all the officers of the mission and presented medals to the marines and soldiers. Every menu Der of the mission was present at this final audience, and the cordiality man. ifested on both sides was, beyond any question, sincere. Having said farewell to the emperor and accompanied to the outskirts of Addis- -Ababa by represents atives of every branch of the Ethiopian government, our party set out for the coast. reaching Djiboutil on January 15. If the treaty which have been directed to negotiate be ratified by the senate our commerce will depend