TSANA DAM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 December 1927, Page 9

TSANA DAM

CONCESSION TO AMERICA. ARGUMENTS AGAINST BRITAIN. COMPLICATIONS FEARED IS y CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPY/ItGH'I. Received 11.30 a.m. t.o-day. CAIRO, Dec 13. The fear of grave political complioaitiom is one ol the arguments wherewith Dr. W'argeneh Martin, whose negotiations with the American firm of NVliites, on behalf oil the Abyssinanian Government to construct the Tsaua dam were recently discussed in the House <jf Commons is no.w supporting Ins Government’s apparent disinclination to grant Britain a concession. According to an interview, Dr- Alartin argued that Britain, after spending large sums oil the project, would undoubtedly seek control of the territory communicating with the Sudan in order to regulate the waters of the Blue Nile for irrigation purposes. This means virtually a concession of territory to Britain. Thus America, without territory designs on the country, is best fitted to undertake the work. Furthermore, a possible result of an Anglo-Italian treaty will be that Britain, if she secured concessions, would press Abyssinia, to grant Italy transAbyssinian railway concessions—A.P.A. and “Sun.”