Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-24
A PRIVATE MERCHANT.
FRIEND OF MENELIK, WHO rs
NOW IN WASHINGTON.
State Department Cannot Decipher His
Letter, Which is in Abyssin-
ian Script.

AL Hadji Abdallah Pas3la, etc, and 50 on
minister of commerce of Ahyssinia. heralded
as the special envoy and representative
extraordinary of King Menelik. Is. 1t devel-
oped today, none of these. Instead. he is
only merchant who has come to this coun-
try in hope Of interesting capital In some
Abyssinian mines which he thinks should be
operated to the private and personal adj
vantage of himself and those who furnish
his scheme with the necessary financial
backing. Al Hadji, etc, was presented to
President Roosevelt yesterday by Major
John M. Carson, chief of the bureau OF
manufactures, Department Of Commerce
and Labor.
"Al Hadji lays no claim to be anything
but a merchant and friend of King Meme
lik," said Major Carson today to a repre-
sentative of The Star. He came here on
private business, but he did bring gifts from
King Menelik, and he did present the Presf-
dent with letter written in the Abyssinian
language and purporting TO have been
signed by King Meneik. OF this am con-
fdent-that is, am confident that the gifts
and letter are genuine. The visitor UNI
fortunately, cannot speak either English or
French, and he has a very difficult time
making himself understood He has never
laid claim to being an official envoy, ana
that impression has been created by an
His Letter Undecipherable.
"Abyssinian script is not within the ken of
the State Department Hnguists; therefore,
not even the President knows what Menelik
desired to say to him. The French transla-
ton of this precious document has not yet
been forthcoming from Al Hadji. The In
terpreter. who is now showing him the
sights, has less to say about his important
commercial mission than was published
broadcast by his friends when he arrived
in New. York. In fact, to officials OF the
government. Al Hadji has not ventured to
talk about any official functions OF his own. .
1t was today pointed out to Maj. Carson
that the Almanach de Gotha does not credit
Al Hadji comes to Washington with the
title of minister OF commerce Of Abyssinfa
tackled to his name.
rs this visitor a private merchant or Is
he an official Of the Abyssinian govern
ment?' Mai Carson was asked.
He is merchant and very prominent
one. Officially it is rather hard to tell just
what he is. I understand he is the Mo
hammedan governor Of Harrar."
HE stated last night that he came to
negotiate a treaty"
THAT Is incorrect" replied Maj. Carson.
There is already treaty. He will do
nothing of that kind"
Thinks He is All Right.
To the suggestion that there seemed to be
some doubt as to the authenticity of the
claims of this parsonage, Maj. Carson said
Il think he is all right in every respect, for
he brought with him letter from Consul
Skinner, at Marseille to the Philadelphia
Commercial Museum. 1 read it the other
day in Philadelphia. and it Endorsed him
highly"
Constantly at AL Hadjis elbow Is small
swarthy man, s. TerZiean, who relates that
he Is a firearms merchant established In
Harrar and Adis-Ababa, and that he fur
nshes military equipment to King Menelik
He declares positively that AL Hadii is a
man of Importance and minister of COM
merce.