The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-10
San FRANCISCO. CAL.
a visit to MeneIik.

MARSEILLES (France), Jan. 81
The following details of the Govern
mental mission to King Menelik of
Abyssinia which was led by United
States Consul General Robert 2. Skin
ner, have been obtained. SINNERS par
ty arrived here yesterday on board the
steamer Victoria. The American ma
rines and bluejackets who accompanied
the expedition were left at Alden and
went on 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 Meme
Xix On the way to the coast the par
ty saw one elephant and heard a num-
Der of lions, but experienced no exciting
adventure. In the course of an inter
view 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 Abyssinia. Our cotton goods
pass through many hands before being
sold at high prices in Abyssinia, but
now Americans have an opportunity to
conduct their own trade. King Menelik
viii send some of the products of his
country to the st. Louis Exposition,-as
well as a commission composed of able
men to show the American commercial
opportunities in Abyssinia. The King
is a broad-minded statesman who will
welcome Americans"
During the visit of the Skinner party
at the Capital. King Menelik received
them surrounded by an imposing as
semblage of 1000 functionaries. The
escort of American marines established
a camp called Camp Roosevelt which
attracted great deal of interest.
The King has made a personal in
spection 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 OF the
King pleased the visitors greatly. The
Americans We're impressed with the
asSimilative ability of the AbySsinians,
Consul Skinner says that the country
is being rapidly moderniZed, and that
new roads, bridges, water supplies.
telephones and telegraph lines are being
constructed. He considers the Abys-
sfnians the Japanese of Africa. He
points out, however, lHdI the postal
and banking systems are defective and
unsatisfactory. The money is on a sill
yer basis. Consul Skinner believes that
Americans will find a large field for
activity in the gold, coab petroleum and
asphalt possibilities of Abyssinia.
An official report of the result of the
mission has been forwarded to Wash
ington.
Zig. the confidential adviser of King
Menelik, will return to Abyssinia to-
morrow. In an interview he said Abys-
sinia would continue to do her utmost
to favor French interests, but that she
was having a serious struggle against
foreign influences. He said also that
King Menelik intended to prove his good
feeling for France by visiting that
during the present year.
ROME, Jan. 31.-According to news
received by the Foreign Office here
King Menelik is not likely to leave
because of the political sit
uation there. There is already candi-
date for succession to the throne, and
he fears that his departure would be a
signal for civil warfare among the diff
ferent chiefs. 1t is therefore considered
impossible for the King to visit The St.
Louis Exposition.