Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01

south OF khartum ana OetWeen CIlS
White and Blue Niles, would be bar
rem waste. A dam built at the south.
/ ern extremity of Tsana, where the river
flows out of it, would hold its waters
in reserve for use during the proper
seasons and would supplement the Ell
fective work now being done by the
Seminar and Assuan Dams.
The British have planned for the last
90 or more years to construct this dam
as these waters mean life or death &c
the Sudan and to lesser extent 70
Egypt. A treaty signed with the Ital-
ians two decades ago stated that the
latter would have no objections to the
British building this dam and con-
structing q highway from the Sudan
border to 1t, distance of about 100
miles On the other hand, the British
were to give their support and consent
| to the Italians in building a railroad
across Abyssinia to connect their colo
MES of Eritrea and Somaliland, a
stretch of well over 1000 miles.
Both countries began building rail-
ways, the immediate detectives of which
were the frontiers of Abyssinia. The
British opened new line last year
from Port Sudan, the nearest point of
which, at Gedaref, passes within 100
miles of Gallabat, on the border. The
italian railway is now pushing down
into the southwest corner of Eritrea.
Taffari Claims a Better Plan.
But Taffari had better plan, one
calculated to be more to the interests
and welfare of his own country. The
British are very good builders of dams,
but so are the Americans. Why not
have the latter erect the Tsana Dam
on cost-plus basis? Why, as this
water, this revenue to be paid by Abys-
sinia, should not the Sudan pay his
| country. upon the completion of the
| project, fixed sum for the use Of this
water, the revenue to be paid by Abys-
sinia to the American engineers until
the dam is paid for?
And why, at the same time, would
1t not be better plan If the Americans
built a motor transport highway from
Adds Ababa to the dam, distance of
some $50 miles, so that materials for
the dam could 60 through Abyssinia in
stead of the Sudan? This part Of the
country could be opened up to trafic,
and the AbySsinian government could
rush its troops from the capital to the
| dam in case of trouble from the turbu-
lent mountaineers about the lake.
And So, after three years of parleys
between the officials of Britain, Abys-
sinia and the United States and nego-
tiations among their engineers, it has
vail and that the Americans will do the
job Preliminary details have been
worked out and this Fall the American
company will send out engineers who
will survey the highway and the site Of
the dam.
And so this clever negotiaoor, this
shreWd master of the wileS Of diplo-
macy, again has gained his objective.
However, there is still one fly In
Taffari's imperial ointment. The EN-
press zauditu has left will in which,
rumor has it, she ordained that she
was to be succeeded by the deposed
and imprisoned LII Yaser, who, she
claimed, Is rightful heir to the throne.
Outside Of Lii YaSer, who still has
a following, the two most powerful
pretenders to the throne are Ras Hailu
and Ras KasSa. The former is the
wealthy chieftain of the Province of
Goojam, bordering Lake Tsana.
RaS KaSsa, q second cousin of Taffari
and having equal rights to the throne,
is governor of the Province of Selasse
on the northern confines of the capital.
He now seems to be q trusted advisor
OF his majesty, but there is no telling
when he may be induced to assert his
rights.
And now court gossip has it that
4dA1aAL WILL OhklulS ILLS SlIuAIlOu IN
a characteristic manner. AS Emperor
he will make kings Of these two pow
erful RaSes. He is going to give his
daughter in marriage to the son of
Ras Hailu, who, it is said, will soon
visit his sovereign, surrounded by an
imposing array of 10000 warriors.
Imposing Coronation Program Proposed.
After an appropriate period of
mourning for the death of the EN-
press Zauditu plans will be laid for
an imperial coronation, to which will
be invited the representatives of the
worlds powers and which will rival
In barbaric pomp and splendor those
of the golden age of Imperial Rome.
Then. with his power absolute and
unquestioned, this king of Kings"
will open UP the tabled riches of his
empire TO the capital Of the world.
II the Emperors plans are permitted
TO have full scope the highways and
motor trucks of which he dreams will
soon be an actuality. Not only will this
rapid transportation bring moderniza-
ton and greater measure Of prosper
ity TO his country, it will also keep in
line the turbulent chiefs of his distant
provinces.
Adds Ababa Is strategically located.
both from military and economic
viewpoint, In the exact center of the
country. Its present modern means
OF communication with the outside
world Is by a railway 500 miles long,
from Adds Ababa to Jibuti, the port
OF French Somaliland. It takes three
days to make this trip each way. as
the trains do not run at night. Taffari's
planes fly it in four hours
When commercial travellers and
tourists can fly from the sea tn the
capital in four or five hours on =
regular service they will come in hum
dreds to exploit the wealth and to see
the wonders Of this interesting and
little known country. And the swash-
buckling, pre- Renaissance era Of Abys-
sinia will come to an end.