PRINCE’S LOST LOVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1935, Page 10

PRINCE’S LOST LOVE

ABYSSINIAN PACT THAT FAILED.

Writing about Abyssinia Mr W. J. Makin gives an interesting account of a romantic story behind the breaking last year of the engagement between Ras Tafari’s nephew and the daughter of a Japanese nobleman. The crowning of Ras Tafari as Emperor of Abyssinia in the presence of the Duke of Gloucester, a French marshal and an Italian prince was the real starting-point of the romance. The Emperor then began a world campaign for the recognition of his country in furtherance of which he joined the League of Nations, sent the Crown Prince on a ceremonial visit to England. the Empress on a journey to Palestine, and his nephew, Prince Araya Araba, on a trip to Japan. This Ethiopian prince seems to have returned home with a profound admiration for Japan, and particularly for Japanese women. Within a month he was writing to a Japanese lawyer asking for a selection of names of Japanese ladies with a view to matrimony.

MANY MARRIAGE OFFERS

Boldly and baldly, writes Mr Makin, the desires of the Prince were announced in the Japanese papers, and the offers immediately made were so many that a selection committee had to be formed, which made its choice. It was at this point that the diplomats got to work: — “Naturally, such an important marriage could not be ignored by the Japanese Foreign Office. . . . The diplomats began to get busy. The Emperor of Japan and the Emperor of Abyssinia began a correspondence.

“A sequel to these negotiations was announced in Japan later. No fewer than 1,600,000 acres of fertile land in Abyssinia had been granted to Japan by Ras Tafari. In addition to this land, which is extremely suitable for cotton growing, it was stated that Japan had been given the sole rights for cultivating the opium poppy there. Further, an emigration organisation was to be formed in Japan to populate these lands. “This was a peaceful penetration of, Africa by Japan with a vengeance. At) a tihie when Japanese cotton goods arei being dumped throughout the world. I this possible further supply of raw, material close to the Sudan cotton crops was received with consternation in Manchester and Khartoum.” While the Ethiopian prince was making preparations for an early visit to Japan, the cables and wireless ofn

other nations outside Abyssinia were busy, with the result that in due course came the announcement that the marriage would not take place. No one. says Mr Makin, was more bitterly disappointed than the Prince. ’ A BRITISH WAR- RUSE.

In another chapter Mr Makin recalls a wireless message sent in the early days of the war to the Zeppelin L 59. The vessel had made the epic journey from Bulgaria to East Africa in order to relieve Gen. von Lettow-i Vorbeck, who was being hard pressed by General Smuts. When within 100 | miles or so of its destination a message was received from the powerful I German station at Naucn ordering an immediate return. According to the account since published in Germany; the instruction was sent because von Lettow-Vorbeck had changed his position, but Mr Makin’s story differs from this. He gives the message as follows: “High Headquarters to Comriander L 59. German troops in East

Africa surrendered unconditionally. Protectorate now under British control. Advise immediate return to Germany lest airship and supplies fall into enemy hands.” Only when they were back again in Bulgaria did the company of the L 59 hear that the news they had received was false and due entirely to British strategy. The British Intelligence had broadcast the false news in the German code which they possessed and Naucn fell into the trap and passed the message on.