ETHIOPIA'S MONARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 7

ETHIOPIA'S MONARCH.

Duke of Gloucester to Attend

Coronation.

VISIT TO ABYSSINIA.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 18,

The Duke of Gloucester is to attend the coronation of the Emperor of Ethiopia (Abyssinia). He will leave London for Addis Ababa toward the middle of October and is due in Ethiopia at the end of the month. \

Tafari Makonnen, Negus Negusti,' or King of~ the Kings of Ethiopia, who traces his descent from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, was born in 1891, the second cousin of the Emperor' Menelik, who was succeeded by Lidy Jeaesu, later deposed by public proclamation. The Empress Zauditu (Judith), Menelik's daughter, was chosen to reign, the Eas Tafari, as he was Btyled then, being Kegent. Serious disturbances . between the Empress and himself caused several revolts, which he speedily crushed. Her recent death was reported to be due to shock on hearing of the news of her former husband's death, the lias Olie, in a revolt. The Has Tafari, who in 1923

gained Abyssinia, a

seat in the. League of Nations, was in consequence; crowned Negus or King, and hae now become monarch of the empire. With his wife, the Princess Menen, half-sister, of the ex-Emperor Lidy, he leads a cultured life, talking French and making full use of the motor car, wireless, and telephone. It is Tafari's aim to make the country slowly assimilate modern ideas in. the development of her natural resources, although the people, 500 years behind Europe, evince a great lack of sympathy for reforms in their age-old systems. Abyssinia has treaties of friendship and commerce with Britain, France and Italy, all of which powers have-possessions surrounding the country. Tafari hae vieited Britain frequently. and' is G.C.8., G.C.M.G., and LL.D.