BLUE NILE DAM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 5

BLUE NILE DAM

NEGOTIATIONS FOR AGREEMENT

(By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable im-

NEW YORK, Bth November

The “New York Sun’s” Washington correspondent states that it was said at the State Department to-day, that the White Engineering Corporation has the full backing of the United States Government in its proposal to build adam. Reports from Cairo that the Egyptian Government is aroused over what is termed an unfriendly act, are discredited, and it was pointed out that when the facts are learned the affair will not appear •so important as the cable indicated.

The Abyssinian 'Government, representative received the approval of the State Department before concluding the agreement with tire White Corporation. The State Department understands that matters are being discussed in London with a view to‘reaching an agreement. STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (Received 9th November* 11.15 a.m.} LONDON, Bth November.

In the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain informed a questioner that be had received reports stating that the Abyssinian Government, had granted an American company a concession for constructing a dam on the Blue Nile. At present .there was no official information on the subject. Such a concession would be a. violation of the Anglo-Abyssinian Treaty of 1902, under which Abyssinia agreed not to allow* a dam to be built without Britain’s consent. He was confident that Abyssinia was not unmindful of this obligation. , Asked if the British and Americans were to fight over .the matter, Sir Austen said that , lie thought, this was a hypothetical question. He might, in the public interest, ,state that no question liad arisen between Britain and the United States. He did not anticipate any Anglo-American difficulties.