RUSSIA AND ABYSSINIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7498, 18 October 1895, Page 2

RUSSIA AND ABYSSINIA.

Somk time ago cable messages published in our cqlumns convoyed the information of- a Russian mission to Abyssinia. The Holy and Orthodox Greek Church, which claims to be the only true Church, had its attention aroused by the fact that Abiejjiian Christianity was in similar to that taught in snine only true Church, Abyssinia dosired to that she might surely saved, ge*g^^^^^^^^^^H

to that country to bring about a union. Some of the sceptical among the politicians of Europe did not place much reliance upon the professed character of the mission, and urged that it was

much more likely to have a military basis than to bo dictated solely by a desire to save Abyssinia from the spiritual destruction which is the fate of all outside the pale of the Greek Catholic Church. And as later very disquieting cable news began to follow, setting out that France and Russia had agreed upon a course of action designed to thrust Italy out of Abyssinia and England out of the Nile Valley, the sceptics seemed to have a great deal to justify their suspicious attitude. Still later developments serve to show that the so-called " mission" really was a political move. The members of the party of theological big guns who went to Abyssinia have returned without having brought about the union of the Greek Chinch with the Coptic Christian organisations of Abyssinia, so that the latter are still in outer darkness. But coincident with the return is some exceedingly plain speaking by the Russian newspapers in favor of the occupation by Russia of an Abyssinian port, to be used as a means of assisting Abyssinia to expel the Italians, so it seems fair to assume that when the alleged " mission" departed for Abyssinia there was a good deal of the wisdom of the serpent about. The Novosti, an inspired Russian journal, maintains that Russia must occupy some portion of Abyssinia in order to keep safe her sea route for vessels going from Odessa to Vladivostok. Thi3 seems far-fetched, but it is the reason given. The necessity of securing this route is, it is said, rendered imperative by recent events in the Far East, and is not lessened, but rather increased, by the construction of the Siberian Railway. In order to secure this passage ag-ainst all eventualities, Russia, France, and Abyssinia must co - operate to organize a counterpoise to the power of England and Italy on the Red Sea. This is to be accomplished by—" The reinforcement of Russia's Mediterranean squadron and its maintenance in a state of perpetual readiness, so that on the first signal it may proceed to Port Said, pass the Canal, and appear in the waters of Aden in order to prevent English and Italian ships from taking possession of that passage. A basis for the operations of our Mediterranean squadron should be created by the acquisition of a coaling station on the Abyssinian coast. Obok and the Soubi group of islands should be fortified and furnished with stocks of coal and other necessaries by the French, who should furthermore keep a squadron there corresponding to the importance of their interests in the Indian Ocean. The necessity of an increase of French power in this direction has been demonstrated by the Madagascar expedition. Finally, the power of Abyssinia should be strengthened in all parts of the African continent adjacent to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the ocean ; the Italians being expelled, and Massowah turned into an abyssinian military port, with all necessary supplies and naval equipment for serving as the chief basis of the united squadrons of France and Bussia. By the adoption of this programme one at least of our probable enemies in the Red t-ea would be disposed of, and the great waterway created by French genius would render France the service which she has a right to expect of it for herself and her Russian friends."