LAKE TSANA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22388, 7 April 1936, Page 10

LAKE TSANA

When it was reported a few days ago that an Italian column was operating within the British "sphere of influence" in the vicinity of Lake Tsana the question of Britain's rights in that region received some prominence. To allay any doubts that might have arisen the Italian Ambassador has reassured the British Government that existing treaties will be scrupulously observed, this presupposing Italian occupation. The use of the term "sphere of influence" in this case is not justified by any treaty. That between Britain and Abyssinia, signed in 1902, does nothing more than secure for the Sudan and Egypt the right to carry out water conservation works at the outflow of Lake Tsana, the source of the Blue Nile. The treaty with Italy was made in 1926. Under it Italy recognised the exclusive right of Britain to deal with the waters of Lake Tsana, Britain in return agreeing not to oppose any scheme by Italy for railway development in the hinterlands of Eritrea or Italian Somaliland that might affect Abyssinia. Whatever the result of the war, Britain will be bound by her responsibilities in the Sudan and by her obligations to the Government of Egypt to develop the conservation of the waters of Lake Tsana when required. A vast quantity of Blue Nile water runs to waste every year: actually it is the Abyssinian run-off that causes the annual Nile flood, the flow of the White Nile being much more uniform. Upon the Blue Nile alone depends the irrigation -of the cotton lands of the Sudan, but Egypt's future interest is vast. The Tsana question appeared to become a little complicated five years ago when an American engineering firm obtained from Abyssinia the right to build a dam at Tsana, but there are no local irrigation plans and no concession seeker will be permitted to dictate to Britain about control when more water is required.