Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25
ABYSSINIA, THE NEWBORN NATION

TINE oy an arrangement with Great Brit
am. occupied Massonah. Subsequently Italy
claimed to exercise protectorate over
Abyssfnia by virtue of the treaty of Uc-
chali. but Menelik promptly denounced the
treaty and war was begun. which ended in
the disastrous defeat of the Italians at
Adowa in 1896.
The story of the drama at Adowa is con-
tanned In volume published in Paris In
1879 entitled Memories d'Afrique." by Gen.
Oreste Baratieri. The writer first met Gen.
Baratierf during the winter and spring of
1871 In Cairo. when en- route to assume COM
mand as the governor of Massonah. 1t was
at the hospitable board of a mutual friend.
DR.. Abbate Pasha. the distinguished presi-
dent of the Geographical Society Of Cairo.
Among those invited to do honor to the
governor OF Massonah were: Gen. Minotti
Garlbaldi. Admiral Turf. commanding the
Mediterranean squadron Of the Italian
navy: the Count de Mirafosci. the Italian
consul In Cairo.
Gen. Baratieri had fought with Gen.
Garibaldi. ST.. in Sicily in 1890 and the
meeting therefore with his
barat1er1s old commanders son was a
Defeat. peculiar pleasure aside from
the latters individuality.
Gen. Baratieri was a member of the Itai-
Ian chamber of deputies. colonel OF the
famous Bersieglieri-that Is to say legis-
lator and soldier. Crispi the ambitious
minister. was in need Of a striking victory
in Abyssinia to sustain his waning power
he chose Baratieri. The Italian commander
captured Kassala In 1895. and advancing
into the Tigre he twice defeated the chiefs
of that province. Menelik then took the
field with 100000 men, and Baratieri. with
his 10000. unable to cope with them
abandoned Adowa for Adigrat. Crispi in
sisted upon making stand and In the
hopeless conflict the Italians lost 30 off,
GERS and 1000 men and all their artillery.
and munitions The wretchpj ('riSDi
ordered his victim before a courtmarttal.
which. though it absolved the general did
not dare censure the minister. Baratteri
died in 1901 In Arco in the Tyrol and
CriSpi followed a few days afterward.
France. England and Italy have estab-
lished commercial treaties with Abyssinia
within the last ten years. The United States
executed a treaty at Adds Ababa Decem-
Der q. 1908. which was proclaimed Sep
TENDER 30. 1904. The treaty commences:
His Majesty Menelik I. King Of Kings
of Ethiopia. and the United States Of
America having agreed to regulate the COM
mercial relations between the two coun-
tries, etc, etc"
France was the first nation to send a MIN
lister to the Abyssnian capital. The Lon
don Morning Post of March Is of this year
says: Ten years ago France was the only
European power which possessed any real
influence In Abyssinia. But year by year
it has suffered decline, until today French
diplomacy is obliged to confess that il is
unable to secure the fufllment by the
Abyssnian sovereign of the obligations he
has undertaken toward a French com
pany.
NM Ilg and Chefneux. Swiss and French
citizens. have occupied positions of conf
dence and trust at the capital for several
years. In March. 1894. they Were granted
by Menelik concession to construct a
railway from Iibuti to Harar, Entotto
Kaffa and the White Nile The Ethiopian
Railway Company was formed in accord
ance with the terms of the concession, and
the French government promptly granted
a concession for the part from 1iOuti to the
Abyssinian frontier.
Menelik meanwhile has become distrust-
full. having been told insidously that
France aims at nothing less
Menelik than protectorate over
Distrustful. Abyssinia- What wonder.
then. that Menelik refuses to
sign the convention which wise and care
full diplomat would have had the king sign
long ago? The present proposition is to
induce France to abdicate it's former pre-
dominance at court and divide its influence
with England, and, thus disarming the
kings suspicious. obtain his coveted sigma
ture to the convention. without which the
Ethiopian Railway Company cannot con-
tinue construction. The proposition which
has been discussed in the French chamber
is called the Observation-Disclosures of the rail-
way company. What it may be asked OPP
pcrtunely has the French minister at Ads
Ababa been doing that his country's in
terests have thus been superseded? What
indeed. has NJ. Delcasse been doing that this
situation should have been created? Fa-
choda. Fee and now Ads Ababa, 1t was
surely time for change of ministry.
Meanwhile the Abyssinian capital Is at
tracing the attention of the commercial
as well as the political world. in March
of the present year Menelik granted con-
lob
OF the National Bank of Egypt. Germany
cal mission has just executed a CONNER
cial treaty. Austro-H Hungary has sent
vessel of war with presents for the king
and will likewise make treaty. The United
States has received queries irom Messrs.
Goolamally. Mechanically 4 Co. of Harar
and Assadourian of Adds Ababa, whose
names are significant. requesting samples
of long list of articles and-''particularly
guns and rifles of the United States regu-
lar army type wlich might become an ar
ticle of conmLrce In a large Way"-which
is suggestive
In view of the natural talent of the Abys-
sinian for fighting, may 1t not be oppor-
tune to suggest that the powers interested
commercially in Abyssina combine to in
terdict the sale Of fl: earns there? More
than that. no military Europe. n instruction
organization should DC pt rmitted, nor
any Abyssinian student accorded the privi-
lege of study in a military academy, and
for manifest reasons: That we but teach
bloody instructions, which being taught,
return to plague the inventor"
CHI. CHhILLE-LONG.