The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
RAILROAD IN ABYSSINTA.

At the end OF December there took place,
in Paris. a genera meeting Of the Inter
national Ethiopian Railway Trust and Con-
struction Company, at which were present
the directors of the French Ibutil and
HaTar Railway Company. The object
Of the gathering was to consider the best
means of reconciling the commercial inter-
ests Of France and Great Britain in Abvs-
sinia and in that part of Africa generally
The full details Of the arrangements under
consideration have not been made public.
and probably will not be published for some
time vet. as they are complicated and in
some respecte conflicting
The French company was originally
formed to construct line from Jibutu
TO Harrar with prolongauon to Adds
Abeba the capital Of Abyssnia con
ditlonal on the consent Of Nenehk The
French Government voted subsidy Il
10000 francs annually; but the French
investor was still under the influence Of The
Panama catastrophe. and refused 20 coma
forward with the capital required Mucn
against its will, the French COMPANY had
recourse to London and with The assistance
obtained there the road TO Harrar was com
peted The quest on Of the continuation
to AddisAbeba then came up, but rhs
French asked too much. They not only
wanted to assure their position a. first n
the field. but also desired to exclude s'l
outsiders from Abyssinia When Menc,j1
after the publication Of the c,nvpnrion
came fully 10 realize it's import. he obs,i-
nately refused TO recognize French mo-
nopoly Of railway construction and explota-
ton in his country. and deferred 70 an IN
determined date the extension of the rail-
way from Harrar to his capital The ohIeS
OF the French being pacific penetration
other methods Of overcoming the difficulty
had 10 he found
The one that presented the best chance n
SUCCESS was the formation Of an intcrna-
tional enterprise under the auspices a.
certain capitalists in London. and the ahan-
donmeni by the French Government Of lie
hope OF turning Abyssnia into an exclusive
French preserve What the difference N
Menelik NAV be. IL at some time he ends
himself at odds with several foreign Coz
ernments. instead OF one only. over railway
OF other questions say Of gold fields must
be reserved for time 10 show For tho mo-
ment he seems TO be under the belief that
he can best exercise his sovereign highs
over his own country by keeping out in
dividual foreign interests a; all erufs
those 81 countries which have become he
neighbors by the occupation Of adjoining
territories. It was this consideration Tia;
caused him TO give ready and favorable
consideration to the treaty with our Gov
eminent. and which has inclined him 20
receive the German mission under Herr
Rosen lately decided on al Berlin
Among the articles Of the project ths, vas
to be presented 10 the meeting Of British ard
French delegates If tie two enterprises
for railway and general development
Ahyssinia. i said 70 have been one Tor tte
naturalization Of that country With inter
naturalization Of tire Imperial Ethiopian
Railway, and another under which Jioutr.
IN French possession and Berbera, in R1'-
ish control. shall become free ports Il Was
thought that these two proposals would Re
found acceptable Ia the entire body Of de.e-
gates and all those IN rested. II being under
stood that they already had the approval ~
the British and French Governments
In what light Menek may regard his
disposal of the resources OF his country ~
outsiders y a matter the deveopmen, ~
which will be extremely interesting 70
watch II is said that he has lately come into
possession ~ means that will enable nm
to hold his own.