The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-16

'AsSO VASh ~AAO ASASI Out oLAthuh Iperor Menelik of Ethiopia in years of negotiation. Tn fact, the Egyptian government had already this year set aside 21,0O0,00O Egyp- tiaii pounds for irrigation projects, including the construction of the dam.
 Engineers have estimated inst c dam would provide a water re. serve of from 2,700, ,00o, GOO to 5,3OO,. 100000 cubic meters over and above the present discharge of 3.6o0,- 100000.
 It is interesting to follow the course of events since Britain ob- tained rights over the lake.
 In 1899, after the conquest of Sudan, Sir William 0arstin was sent on special mission by the Egyptian government to recOnnoites the whole river basin, including the Blue Nile right up to Lake Tana.
 Dam Called Need
 Tn 1904 darstin proposed tho construction of Q dam at Lake Tana as the most urgent of several schemes for holding tip the waters of the Nile.
 In 1921, following a further in- vestigation. 1t was estimated that the dam would cost 9ii,BO0OOO with another $6,o0o,oo0 for road con- struction.
 Tn the meantime, 1902, Menelik had agreed that there is to Dc no interference with the waters of the Blue Nile and Lake Tana except in consultation with the British gov- ernment and the Sudan govern ment. That in connection with any such Interference, all other condi- tions being equal, preference will be given to the proposals of the British and Sudan governments, and the Emperor Menelik has no intention of giving any concessions that relate to the Blue Nile and Lake Tana except to the British and Sudan governments or one of their subjects"
 It was further agreed by treaty in 1902 "thnt the emperor would not construct or allow to be con- structed any work across the Blue Nile, Lake Tana, or the Sobat that would arrest the supply of their waters into the Nile except in agreement with the governments of Britain and the Sudan"
 Three Nations Sign Pact
 In 1906 the tripartite agreement was signed between Britain, Italy and France, under which the three governments undertook to Cooper- ate in the eve-t of rivalries or in- ternal changes in Ethiopia, and agreed to observe c neutral atti- tude, abstaining from all interven- ton in its internal afYairs.
 One of the clauses of this agree- rnent stated that Britain, France and Italy agreed to "safeguard the interests of Britain and Egypt in the Nile basin, more especially as regards the regulation of the wa- ters of that river and it's trib- utaries."
 In 1915 joint Egyptian-su- da1ese and Ethiopian expedition was dispatched to survey the lake, but was prevented by political tur- moil.
 Nothing happened, however, un- til in 1850, United States firm, J. c. White Engineering Corporation, surveyed the lake on behalf of the Ethiopian and Sudan governments,
 The cost involved was 50 big, however. that the cooperation of the Egyptian government was sought, and another survey party was sent in 1883.
 The conference arranged for last May, and now postponed indef- initcly, was the direct outcome of this last survey.
 Apart from creating Q huge res. ervoir, q dam would materially help fin the regulation of the Mics waters. At present Lake Tana gives It's greatest contribution to the Blue Nile at the time when tho river fin Egypt and Sudan is amply supplied from other sources -prln- cipally the White Nile and the At. bara---and givea its smallest cuntri. button when the river Is low, that is in April, May. June and July.