Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1927 THE BLUE NILE QUESTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1927 THE BLUE NILE QUESTION

THE consternation caused in F.gypl and the Sudan by the announcement of an American corporation, that, it proposes to dam the Blue Nile at Tzana, in Abyssinia, is easily appreciated when it is understood how seriously the control of the waters of the Blue Nile might affect Sudanese and Egyptian interests. Egypt and the Sudan are arid countries which depend upon the waters of the Nile (Blue and White) for domestic purposes and the irrigation of their soil. If the flow of the Blue Nile were to be stopped at critical Seasons of the year, the watersupply of the Sudan and Egypt would be so materially reduced as possibly to cause a famine.

It was this very question which, at its inception, caused so' much opposition in Egypt to the construction of the Senaar Dam, on the Blue Nile, some 150 miles above Khartum. The scheme was to build a dam 120 feet high and nearly two miles long, in such a way as to impound 140,000 million gallons of water, for the purpose of irrigating hundreds of Shousands of acres on which cotton is to be grown. (This plan is in partial operation at the present time.) But this scheme for irrigating the Gezira Plain is only a part of a larger scheme. A colossal barrage across .the Rift Valley, at the northern end of Lake Albert Nyaiiza, whence flow the waters of the White Nile, was projected. Thus it was proposed to form a reservoir of truly stupendous capacity. The only impediment to this scheme was the phenomenal cost. However, a commission was despatched lo study the hydrographical and engineering problems connected with the scheme 1 . It must he remembered that but a fraction of the huge volume of the Nile, which is fed by the immense lakes of Central Africa, draining the Abyssinian mountains and the high central tableland, reaches the Egyptian plains, more than two thousand miles from the Nile’s source. The river flows northward on a tortuous course, between low banks of porous soil; and while much of its water is lost by evaporation, still more percolates through the porous bed. The sensitiveness of the Egyptians, therefore, in connection with suggestions which might in any way interfere with the flow of the river, is easily understood. However, with the scheme for constructing the Rift Valley barrage in abeyance, the* British authorities proposed to proceed only with the >Senaar Dam, on the Blue Nile. They explained that by impounding the water, according to a carefully regulated plan, during certain seasons of the year, they could actually benefit the Egyptian agriculturalist when he most needed water, and actually improve the annual inundation, on which he depends for tho irrigation of his fields. To-day the people of Egypt seem to understand this, and not much has been beard of late in reference to their objections to the Senaar project; they appear to realise that the Sudanese authorities have their interests at heart. But what of this new plan to dam the Blue Nile at Lake Tzana, which is over 500 milos above Senaar?. The American corporation which has the project in hand, would be able, if it were carried to completion, to control tho waters of the Blue Nile at their very source. Would that corporation be meticulously careful to study the requirements of the Sudanese and Egyptians, as the British are in connection with the Senaar Dam? “It is understood that under the terms of the agreement the company will sell the impounded waters or develop them for water-power, as it seems fit.” Thpt indicates .that the Americans would completely control the waters of the Blue Nile. Is it extraordinary that the news of their intention;? has caused a considerable outcry? They do not seem to have given any assurance of their intention to control their waters in such a way as not to injure the interests of those millions of people who depend,on the annual inundation of the Nile for their very existence. British officials stato that the project is counter to the provisions of the Treaty of 1902 between Britain and Abyssinia, and would require to receive the approval of fhe British Government before it could be carried out. The Americans interested profess ignorance of this provision, which they discredit. The text of the Treaty is not available, but we remember reading references to it some years ago, and the impression was that the Treaty in question provided for preventing just such an emergency as has arisen in connection with the control of the waters issuing from Lake Tzana. We do not doubt the British officials are correct. In any case Abyssinia is a member of the League and on good terms with Britain, and doubtless the matter will be adjusted to the satisfaction of Egyfit and the Sudan.