Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
UNITED STATES in THE RED SEA

| The Anglo Franco-Italia convention con-
GUIDED with Abyssinia on the 18th ultimo
must interest the United
0ApAomat1c States. because Of the con-
| 0uixote. vention with Menelik II
| signed at Adds Ababa De-
| cember q. 1908. and ratified by the Senate
and President Roosevelt March IL and II.
1904. The United States heretofore has
! been veritable Don Quixote in diplomacy.
fighting for chivalry and sentiment the bat
| ties Of others. 1t was thus in the Mediter-
| ranean, in Egypt, in Japan and in China. 1t
| should not be thus in Abyssinia.
The United States has recently sent a
consular representative to the capital of
| Abyssinia, and the king of kings of Eth
opia'' should shortly return the compliment
| in the commercial interests Of both gov
ernments.
There is urgent reason for closer rela-
| tions with Abyssinia, not only because Of
| the great possibilities of trade with that
country, destined perhaps, because OF the
Anglo-Franco-1talian convention. to become
| controlling power in the Red sea.
In The Star of July and %. 1906. the
writer. discussing trade conditions in the
Red sea, said: 1.-THE United States pos
sesses vast trade relations in the countries
| ment depends upon the energy manifested.
Great Britain, Italy and France possess i'm
portant commercial and coaling stations in
the Red sea. Now that the United States
must pass the SueZ canal to its possessions
in the far east it should acquire n coaling
! station in the Red sea for its military and
merchant marine"
Besides the United States requires a
permanent health station for it's troops In
the Philippines enfeebled and enervated by
the climate Of that country. Japan here
tofore offered such refuge for our tnvalidS,
but recent events dictate that our govern
mo- WOULD oofo lioh ind
and removed from any immediate contact
with any foreign government.
Cheik Said Is an Ideal port and health
station. It Is a no-man's land, that is
to say. the title is in dispute. and it may be
acquired by purchase from the Turks, who
are the actual tenants. from the French.
who own 1t In fee. or from the Yemenites
who are endeavoring to free themselves
from the Turkish yoke
"a
A French industrial company Of Mar
settles purchased the peninsula from an
Independent sheik prior to the
On the Franco-Prussian war in 1870,
Market and the French government
occupied it as a military post,
but withdrew after the commencement Of
the war. Turkey, in the absence Of the
owner, has since maintained there cor
poraps guard. The Turks, the French and
to sell Cheik Said severally or collectively,
and the writer earnestly urges its acqui-
sition by the United States government
and for the purpose indicated. Cheik Said
consists of an arc Of a circle Of forty-two
kilometers; the climate is pure and dry,
the potable water Is excellent and album
dant. The port is protected from the mon
soon winds. and the bay deep and the an
chorage the very best.
Aside from these conditions the country
behind this reservation Is new little known,
and the Inhabitants peaceful and agricul-
tural. Some miles inland there are health
full mountains, with lower temperature
and delightful breezes. which could be
utilized in connection with the station on
the coast. The cities of Moka. Hodeideh
and Loheiyeh are close by. and caravans
try thereabout is renowned pass the ter
ritory Of Cheik Said en- route to Alden.
Abyssinia, which has recently taken
modest place among nations. is likely to
play an important part in the destiny OF
Yemen In q revolt against Turkish rule
History 10 q circle Of events which repeat
themselves. In 5S3 A. d. an Abyssinian
army penetrated the Yemen and reached
Mecca. This event. according to the legend
provoked the birth of the prophet Moham-
med that the invasion of the predestined
sacred Kaaba might be avenged. 1t will
be borne in mind that neither England nor
France Is now as formerly, the protector Of
Turkey. Germany has assumed that role,
and thus the Anglo Franco-It Italian conven-
ton may signify that in a certain contin-
gency an army under Menelk II would not
only invade Yemen, but drive Turkey from
Arabia and Asia Minor and thus bar IN
England's favor her menaced route to the
Indus. In this light King Menelik II looms
largely upon our vision, which otherwise
might regard him as an Insignificant figure.
X
The Abyssinian is a peculiar mixture of
Nubian, ancient Egyptian. Berberian. Arab
and Jew. In oO6, in the pc
Peculiar riod of the Emperor Con-
Mixture. stantine, Frumentius was
sent by the Empress Helen
to Christianize the Axiumites. Two centu-
ries later in the time of Justinian, mis-
sionaries from Egypt converted the nation
to the doctrine of Eutyches, heresiarch
the fifth century, who believed that christ
was divine after incarnation, &c.
Always Jealous of ascribing his origin to
biblical traditions, the Abyssinian has
adopted the legend that he is descended
from Solomon and the Queen Of Sheba, or
"Sheba- March, as she is known in Abys-
snia Sheba was native of the Yemen,
where a city (Sabbea) famous for its aro-
mats still bears her name. In the visit
which the enamored and beautiful Sabbean
made to King Solomon at Meroe on the Nile
was found the origin of the Abyssinian race.
The native annals furnish the proof in a
long list of kings whose descent has been
carefully and laboriOusly traced.
The abuna or head of the church, Is
always a copt appointed and consecrated
by the patriarch Of Alexandria, but whose
influence is controlled by the Echegheb.
a native ecclesiastic dynasty presiding over
the religious orders, numbering about 1OO.-
900. The Falachas appear to have been
converted to judaism at very early date
by missionaries who came from Palestine
in the time of Solomon and after the fall
of Jerusalem.
The invasion Of Yemen led to counter
invasions Of Abyssinia and the constant
wars which followed. The renown Of this
Christian people was one OF the many
stories told of the wonders and mysteries
of Africa. Portugal, when attempting to
find a route to India, endeavored to form
relations with their chief. the great Prester
John. Portugal finally sent Pierre de Covil-
han, who arrived in Abyssinia in 1890 In
1910 an alliance was concluded with the
regent Helen and Emanuel Of Portugal. by
the terms of which Catholic missionaries
were permitted to enter the kingdom upon
condition that aid should be given them
against Musulmans. The latter, COM
manded by the Emir Of Zeilah: devastated
Amhara and the Tigre and destroyed
Axium in 1888. The Portuguese finally drove
the invaders out of the country. At the
he u, fhoro