GRAB FOR AFRICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 8

GRAB FOR AFRICA.

ABYSSINIA'S PART. WHAT LED TO ADOWA DEFEAT CONNECTION OF FASHODA. In attacking Abyssinia, Italy is merely continuing something that the unforseen disaster at Adowa in 1890 forced her to abandon for the meantime. At this stage, perhaps it is interesting to trace the development of European "interest" in the ancient kingdom of Ethopia, for this highland kingdom has played its part, or rather had a part played for it, in the unending diplomatic intricacies which accompanied the years in which the "grab for Africa" was proceeding. Curiously enough, in Italy's ill-fated attempt, France and Britain were indirectly concerned, for that invasion was one of the moves which led to the famous Faslioda incident of 1898, when an unwise action by any soldier either of Marehaiid, the French explorer, or of Kitchener, the Englishman, would probably have led to war between the two nations.

In the year 1889, Menelik, one of (he feudal barons of Abyssinia, schemed to usurp the throne of the negus ncgusti, or king of kings of Ethiopia. Italy showed a practical interest by furnishing 5000 Regington rifles; while in return Menelik was persuaded to sign the well-known Treaty of Ucciali, of May 2of that year. This granted to Italy an extension of Eritrea back into the Abyssinian highlands, and stated in article 17, "that his Majesty the King of Kings of Ethiopia shall be at liberty to avail himself of the Government of his Majesty the King of Italy for the treatment of all questions concerning other powers and Governments." On the face of it the clause seemed innocent enough; but the Italian version of the clause read differently. Instead of using the words "shall he at liberty to" it employed the word "consents." The difference is significant, because for one Power to permit another Power to conduct its foreign relations is to recognise the assumption of a protectorate. The Italian Premier, Signor Crispi, therefore informed the other Powers that henceforth their dealings with Abyssinia would bo conducted through Rome. France and Britain Enter. Menelik protested, and there for the minute things remained. But France and Britain had entered the picture. Britain had recognised Italian interests in Abyssinia in 1891, reserving to herself a territorial "corridor" leading from Egypt to Uganda and South Africa. Three years later an arrangement was come to between Britain and Belgium, by which Belgium received a lease of a region in the south-east part of the Sudan in return for granting to Britain the perpetual lease of a "corridor" running from Lake Albert Edward to Lake Tanganyika. Thus, Britain thought, it would be possible to secure an allBritish route from the Cape to Cairo.

France in this time had also dreamed dreams, but her dreams ran not from south to north, but from west to east. jFler African territory had started in Algiers, had worked south to the hinterland of Senegal and Guinea. The French plan was to acquire territory running right from Senegal across the Sudan and through to French Somaliland. But the British plan threw an obstacle right across their way. There was tremendous excitement in France. Troops were concentrated in the French Congo; protests were made through diplomatic channels. As an npsliot it was agreed that only part of the Sudan which Belgium was to have occupied by lease would actually bo occupied, and the remainder left to France. French jubilation was unbounded. They had checkmated Britain.

Abyssinia Re-enters. Tliey then took their next step; and this is where Abyssinia again enters the story. France cultivated the friendship of Menelik, who in 1593 had denounced the treaty with Italy. French officers trained iiis army; French diplomats fanned his anger and encouraged him to resist Italian aggression; French arms and ammunition were supplied to his soldiers. In 1895 Italy took the step which was to lead to Adowa of 189G and Adowa of 1935. Italian troops invaded the province of Tigre, and on March 1, IS9O, Menelik did what he did at Adowa. More than 6000 Italians were killed or wounded. Two Italian generals with 2000 of their men were captured. In Italy it caused such dismay that the Crispi Cabinet was forced out of office and the Ethiopian scheme abandoned. The new Premier stated that Italy was "too weak and poor" to undertake colonial expansion. Italy paid Menelik a large indemnity and recognised his "absolute independence." The elimination of Italy left France and Britain face to face. Kitchener was sent up to Dongola in the Egyptian Sudan, and in February the gallant Frenchman, Marchand, made his epic journey from French Congo through to Fashoda. Everyone knows how that incident ended; but what is not so well known perhaps is that a French and Abyssinian supporting column was to advance from French Somaliland to meet liim. That column never came. Abyssinia became independent,' and like the prince in tho fairy tale, Menelik lived happily ever after. Trouble arose over an attempt to build a railway. The French had secured the concession in 1894; but finance was the trouble, and eventually it led to the tripartite agreement between Britain, France and Italy of 1900. Present Emperor's Part. It is not until 1914 that the present Emperor comes prominently into the story. Menelik had left his throne in 1913 to a grandson, Lij Yasu, who showed an unfortunate penchant for horses and women. The Abyssinian princes met in conference, and it was there that a young man, Bas Taffari, proposed that the Emperor should be deposed and his sceptre should be given to the Princess Zaodito, a daughter of Menelik, with himself as heir. His plan was adopted in 1916, and the Emperor was defeated. The story of one of the ancient kingdoms of the earth from there is well enough known: