The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-22
OPEN To
UNITED STATES
Skinner Describes Visit to
King MeneIik
RECEIVED WITH GREAT POMP
Abyssinia is Prevailed Upon to Send
Delegates and Make an Exhibit
at the st. Louis
Worlds Fair.
RECEIVED WITH GREAT POMP

Washington, February Elbow the
United States has come into trade rela-
tions with new region containing ten
millions of people, Is briefly and modest
ly told in the report to Mr. Loomis, the
assistant secretary of state, of Robert
p Skinner, the American consul general
at Marseilles, France on his highly sue
cessful mission to Abyssnia last NoYem-
ber for the purpose of negotiating with
King Menelik trade treaty, and to col
lect information about the commercial
resources Of that country.
AS result of this mission, Mr.. Skin
ner negotiated a treaty which, If ac-
ceptable, will secure for the United States
the most favorable national privileges In
Ethiopia and will guarantee to American
citizens and merchand immunity from
discrimination In rates ON all public ROADS
and lines of communication.
Mr.. Skinner prevailed upon King Meme
Iik to accept an invitation for his coun-
try to participate in the st. Louis ex-
position and preliminary arrangements
for a comprehensive exhibit at st. Louis
have been made. The king will send
during the coming summer commission
of distinguished and representative men
who will have charge of the exhibit.
viii Visit Worlds Fair.
Mr.. Skinner after narrating these facts,
says:
Acting on behalf of the agricultural
department. 1 have secured a collection
of the seeds of the more important crops
peculiar TO ETHIOPIA, a number of which
may be found valuable in the EXPEDITION
of the uncultivated western lands of the
United States. now being made available
by the extension of our irrigation sys-
tenn
Collection of Coffee Seeds.
.I have also in hand material for re-
port on the agricultural resources OF
Abyssinia. The Agricultural department
particularly desired to secure a collection
of wild coffee seeds for experimental pur-
poses. These could not be obtained dur
ing my visit, but have been ordered and
ultimately will be forwarded.
"The experts of the agricultural de-
partment have theory that the degen-
Grafton of the modern coffee platation 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 inhabltation
of which Is the province of Kaffa, a new
variety may be created, the value of
which will be incalcuable."
Mr.. Skinner gives this picturesque dis
cussion of his reception by the emperor:
Accompanied by Guards.
1.-TWO hours after camping, accompan-
led by M. Chefneux counsellor of state),
the mission set out for the seat of gov
ernment, accompanied by an Ethiopian
guard of 5000 men. under the command Of
distinguished general. Although our re-
ception at Harrar had not been devoid OF
militory pomp, we were astonished and
our appreciation of the picturesque graft
fed by this first glimpse of Ethiopian
troops upon a ceremonial occasion.
"Arrayed in gorgeous silks and satins,
with lion and leopard skin mantles. GOLD
and silver plated buckles, Carrying lances
from which foated the national colors
mounted on spirited horses, they gallop-
ed into formation, the order of which was
an apparent disorder, a scene as inde-
scribable as 1t was memorable. A band
of Shaw players heralded our coming
with weird music, which has not changed
since the fall of Jericho.
Enter Audience Chamber.
"At the palce, or Guehi our escort fell
back and the mission, always accompan-
led by the marines and b1ueJackets, pro-
ceeded through a series of courtyards.
and after receiving a salute from a COM
pany of 200 native artillerymen under the
command of an European officer, and
further salute of twenty-one guns in
honor of the United States, we entered
the Aderach, audience chamber of
cathedral-like proportions and form
'The emperor sat upon his throne, sur
rounded by his most important advisers,
representing the administrative depart
ments. the judiciary, the army and tho
church Back of the two rows of pillars
supporting the roof were massed sew
eral thousand of the leading people Of
the Adds Ababa, all In holiday regalia.
Our reception was cordial but formal"
For nine days Mr.. Skinner was In con-
ference with the emperor and his chiefs
of state. At the farewell audience the
emperor received the entire body of WIS.,
itors, and bestowed decorations upon all
the officers of the mission and presented
medals to the marines.