Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-31
ETHIOPIAN TRADE
GOAL OF NATIONS
Lavish Gifts to Emperor on
His Coronation Based on
Hopes for Commerce.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Oh EnEDENIC WILLIAM WILL
America is saying it with roses,
radios and rifles and the rest of the
world with costly trinkets of all sorts
ct Adds Ababa. capital of Abyssinia, as
Emperor Halle Selassie prepares to don
his ancestral crown on November 2, the
great and general purpose of these
courtesies being the hope of business in
the Ethiopian market. According to
DR.. julius Klein, Assistant Secretary of
Commerce, Ethiopia may be said to
represent an almost virgin field for
productive effort. With its increasing
economic development and augmented
purchasing power, it Is also described
as new and promising market for the
products Of the industrial world. EN-
peror Halle Selassie's country has q
population of about 100000 people.
The United States as long ago as
1908 negotiated commercial treaty
with the late Emperor Menelik of
Abyssinia. Robert Peet Skinner, now
American Minister to Greece. then con-
sui general at Marseille, was sent to
Adds Ababa for that special purpose
Soon afterward Hoffman Philip was ap-
pointed American Minister, resident
and consul general in Ethiopia, but he
remained only year or two. For nearly
o quarter of century following Uncle
Sam ignored Ethiopia. In 1927 the
State Department decided to re-estab-
lish the interrupted relationship, and
Addison E. Southland became American
Minister and consul general at Adds
Ababa. He Is on duty there now and
Q conspicuous figure In the colorful
ceremonies about to enliven the Ethio-
plan scene.
Britain Makes Bid.
Not much Is being said anywhere
about the scramble for AbySSinian trade,
but that's what the rival commercial
countries Of the world have at the backs
Of their calculating heads. The British
have made an undoubted ten-strike in
the selection not only of prince Of the
royal blood as their coronation repre-
sentative but in the nature of the gift
he has taken to Adds Ababa. It Is
nothing less than the ancient golden
crown of Ethiopia, which for decades
has been a priced memento in the Brit
tsh Museum at London. The British
once sent an expedition into Abyssinia
TO rescue some of their countrymen from
capture. Real fighting with the Eth
opian Army ensued, and one OF the
trophies of the little war was the crown
Of Emperor Theodore. then enthroned.
Two or three years ago the young
Ethiopian prince who is about to be
crowned Emperor at Adds Ababa was
visiting London. While touring the
British Museum he cast wistful eyes at
Theodore's crown. This year the Brit
1sh government decided to send it back
TO Ethiopia as a token Of good will.
The United States Government Is
presenting Emperor Halle Selassie with
the only gift Uncle Sam is accustomed
to make on such OCCASIONS hand
some portrait of the President, beau
tifully framed In gold. President Hin
denburg of Germany is sending 500
bottles Of the finest Rhine wine TO be
found in the fatherland. France depu-
hand over the most gorgeous private
airplane ever manufactured by the
French aircraft industry. The Japa-
neses ransacked the Imperial Museum
at Toxic for collection Of ancient
Oriental pottery. Japan has been
steadily crowding America out Of the
Ethiopian market in the field Of cotton
goods.
Big Trade In Coffee.
The Abyssinians sold us nearly ST.
000 900 worth of coffee last year and
varying amounts of goat and kid.
leopard skins. monkey skins. otter
skins and sheep and lamb skins; also
some beeswax and ivory tuskS. The
philippians buy only a trifing amount
Of American goods, consisting chiefly Of
automobiles, tires and gasoline.
Yankee trade authorities believe that
the United States is in position to do
Q steadily growing business With the
Abyssinians who are becoming increas-
ingly modern in their tastes One Of
the greatest American engineering
firms, the j. G. White Co., is about to
construct the little empires most i'm
portant dam and d-building enter
prise under special concession from the
crown.
The Philippians are among the
earliest Of Christian peoples, dating
from the fourth century AID. 1t Is
because Of their ancient adherence to
the faith Of Christ that the unique
tribute is to be paid them on Corona
ton day. next Sunday, of having a
special prayer given in Emperor Halle
Eelassie's honor. Rev. James z. Free
man, Bishop of Washington, will pro-
nounce the following supplication at
washington Cathedral later cabling its
contents to Adds Ababa:
Almighty Father, Lord Of the world