ABYSSINIA

Evening Star, Issue 22136, 17 September 1935, Page 10

ABYSSINIA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ADDRESS TO COUNTRY GIRLS Abyssinia—a country of vital importance in the world at the present time —was the subject of an address given by Mr J.i T. Paul this , morning to the country girls who are participating in the educational course arranged by the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Mr Paul s remarks were all the more interesting because ho dealt largely with . the historical ■ background of Abyssinia rather than with matter which commonly appears in the cable reports of recent developments. Abyssinia, said Mr Paul, could be described' as the last vestige of the Middle’Ages, and its people had many interesting traits. The country had a line of rulers longer perhaps than any other nation, and was full of tradition. However, the more modern developments were of greater importance than ancient history. Abyssinia was now cut off from the sea. That was one of the things that the greater powers had done to her. It was in order to try and adjust the present dispute that Britain had offered her access to the i sea through ‘British territory, thus showing that- she was willing to do all she cotild to help to solve the problem. As they all knew, however, this solution had been rejected by Italy. Going back a good way ip history, the spealajr said it was ’ once necessary tor Great Britain to take steps to subdue the Egyptians, who were a difficult people to, manage. Our nation’s aim was to develop the country and eventually help the Egyptians to govern themselves. In the course of the struggle which ensued it became necessary for British warships to bombard Alexandria, hn action in which both the Italians and the French refused to hclip. the latter’s refusal being based on the fact that she wanted the friendship of Italy. When the Emperor _ Theodore was on the throne of Abyssinia he did much to consolidate the warring tribes,-but he caused trouble with Britain because. of his action in imprisoning the British Consul and other British subjects. Accordingly, in 1868, it became necessary for Britain to send into Abyssinia a punitive expedition, which disembarked from a port a little ,south of Massawa, where the Italians were at presejit leaving their transports. The British force pushed down through Adowa to Magdala, the headquarters of Theodore, and Magda la was stormed, and Theodqre intended to capitulate. However, the --‘message indicating -this intention was misunderstood and the attack . continued, Theodore eventually committing suicide. ' This, continued Mr Paul, marked the beginning of Italy’s attempt to get a liold in Abyssinia; Her prestige having been established and the rights'of British subjects having - been protected, Britain withdrew. It should be noted that she had no desire for control.? If ■he had been as voracious as had been alleged in some quarters she could have (taken control of Abyssinia and she could have controlled it ever since, for ■he then had the co-operation of various tribes. At this stage Italy came to the conclusion that she wanted control, and in‘the ensuing years there were clashes between Italy and the tribes. A treaty was established which decreed that all -negotiations,..between Italy and the other Powers were to be made through Italy. This gave Italy no great advantages, but she read more than was really in it and declared that it gave ,her protective rights over Abyssinia. The Emperor Menelik said it- did nothing of the kind. He denounced the .treaty—a regular and legitimate procedure—and then came the battle of Adowa. in which the Italian forces were decimated. This disaster caused ’ a tremendous public reaction in Italy, where what was practically a massed rising against the campaign took place, resulting in its abandonment. ~ After denouncing the spirit of Mus■olini’s declaration to avenge Adowa, Mr Paul turned his attention ; to •vents of more recent date, tracing the dispute which arose when an AngloAbyssinian expedition was attempting to define the boundary in the south and leading up to the Walwal incir dent, which resulted in the ItaloAbyssihian Commission—comprising two representatives from each country — being unable to arrive at a conclusion as to who was the aggressor. When a special arbitrator gave a verdict that neither should be held responsible, the incident should have been, wiped out, said* Mr Paul. - In this dispute Britain had been the most helpful country, and in the course of it she refused any claim or right for herself. After stressing the importance of the Blue Nile to Egypt and'the Sudan, he added that Britain must retain control over Lake Tsana, this riyer’s source. With the aid of quotations from L. M. Nesbitt’s ‘ Desert and Forest,’ the speaker went on to deal in interesting fashion , with Abyssinian characteristics and customs, and concluded with an emphatic statement regarding the importance of settling international disputes through the League of Nations. On the motion of Miss Macaulay, Mr Paul was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.

' VISITORS’ PROGRAMME. For the rest of the morning, from 11 a.m., the visiting country girls •were allowed free time for shopping. This afternoon they were entertained 1 at the Home Science Department of the University, and in the evening they will he the guests at a musical evening given in Begg’s Salon hy the Society of Women Musicians,