STILL UNSETTLED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16492, 9 November 1927, Page 8

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TSANA DAM CONTROVERSY ANOTIIEK BRITISH DENIAL NO CONTRACT SIGNED. (British Official Wireless.) Roc. 2 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 8. The position regarding the reports that an envoy of the Abyssinian ('government had signed an agreement with nn American engineering corporation for the construction of a dam acioss the waters of the Blue Nile at Lake Tsana lias been largely cleared by a statement made to the press by Dr. Warngeh Martin, the envoy concerned, who reached Liverpool yesterday from the United States. .Dr. Martin said no contract or agreement had been signed, and it was clearly understood that by reason of the Anglo-Ahygsinian treaty of 1902 no such dam could be constructed without the approval of the British Government. R. is understood that during the visit of Sarvvat Pasha to London the British Government has placed him in possession of information regarding the measures taken by it to safeguard vital interests of Egypt and the Sudan in the waters of tire Nile.. QUESTION IN COMMONS. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) In the House or Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain informed a questioner that he had received reports stating that the Abyssinian Government had granted an American Company a concession tor the construction of a dam across 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 Abyssinia was not unmindful of this obligation. Asked if the British and Americans were to fight, over the matter, Sir Austen Chamberlain said he thought this was a hypothetical question. He might in the public interest state that no' question bad arisen between Britain and the United States. He did not anticipate any Anglo-American difficulties.—N’.Z. and A.P.A. and Sun.