The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-17
ETHIOPIA HAS
new GATEWAY
Djibouti Dimmed as Italy
Uses Own Port, Avoids
French Railway
BY JOSEPH D. RAVoTTO
United Press Staff Correspondent

ROME NAL g W. > ~
BOUT, French-owned port in East
Africa which for centuries was
Ethiopia's only maritime contact
with outside world, is rapidly los
ing its Importance, according to
Fascist colonial experts.
From the time Italy conquered
the last independent empire OF
Africa, it was indicated that Dill
BOUT would cede its place to ports
in the neighboring Italian colon
les of Eritrea and Somaliland.
This is what has occurred, ac-
cording to opinion here, and to-
day Djibouti is no longer the
proud and prosperous port of
three years ago. Massawa on the
Red sea and Mogadisco on the In
dian ocean now rank as the No. |
and 2 ports of Ethiopia.
Following Djibouti into decline
has been the French controlled
railroad from that port to Adds
Ababa. Italians say they no
longer use the railway, not for
reasons of pride, but for the more
practical reasons of economy OF
time and money. They charge
that the railway is the most ex-
pensive in the world"
BRITISH FIGURES DISPUTED
These are the factors, say TIA
ian authorities, which foreign
correspondents stationed at Dill
boutifailed to take into considera-
ton when they reported that eX-
ports from Ethiopia had declined.
1t is recalled that British CORE
Spondents in January reported
that exports from the new Italian
colony had fallen off to frac-
ton of those listed in the days
preceding Italian rule.
Officials explain that only a
fraction of Ethiopia's exports
now pass through Djibouti, the
great bulk going through Mass
ava and Mogadiscio.
Formerly 70 percent of Eth
opia'S exports, representing 49,
100000 French francs passed
through Djibouti. The bulk Of this
now passes through Eritrea and
SOmaliland.
In one Of the last months of
1887, supplies totalling $lS5, 900
were exported to Italy and an
other Sl65,O00 to other countries,
of which roughly more than half
was directed to Great Britain and
Alden.
These figures represent a slight
lv higher total than those of pre-
war origin. The colony is now
obliged to house and feed more
than 100000 civilian and military
whites, most of whom subSist on
locally produced supplies. In addl-
ton much raw material is being
stored away to be later absorbed
by local industries once they get
started.
A working example of this point
is brought out by the fact that
huge quantities of skins and hides
are being stored away to be even
tually worked in the colony.
Gold, platinum, coffee and
hides are the chief items of ex-
port at present.
Gold is produced, it is reported,
at the rate of 100 Kilograms per
month. Platinum is extracted at
the rate of 1900 pounds a year
and like gold is shipped to Italy.
Coffee is Ethiopia's No. l eX-
port. Between 66,000,000 and
100000 pounds are exported
annually. Skins and hides come
out in considerable quantities.
The only estimate to be had IS
that an Italian company which
holds monopoly Melted a clear
profit of 100000 lire in the last
six months of 1887.
Wax, tobacco, precious woods,
cement, fibers, fruits, cereals,
vegetables and other items are
being exported in smaller guam
titles.
Although Djibouti has not been
eliminated as a port, Italians only
send an absolute minimum due to
cost ana delay. lney explain ti"'
it costs almost 8 cents pound to
ship goods by rail to Djiboutl.
Added to this there is 2 percent
ad valorum transit charge, plus
unloading fees from RATS to
ships.
All charges including ship load
ing and delivery at Adds VIA
Massawa comes to about 4 cents
a pound. This represents ga gain
in costs, speed, safety, liberty OF
transit and freedom from foreign
obligations" say Italian colonial
writers.
A local newspaper recently pub
lished that Italians still remember
with some rancor that last year
while Adds Ababa was short on
provisions more than 10000 tons