NOT BRITISH

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 5

NOT BRITISH

OIL CONCESSIONS AMERICAN COMPANY WITHHOLDING UNLIKELY RIGHTS OF ABYSSINIANS EXPLANATION TO FRANCE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 2. It is considered certain that the Emperor Haile Selassie will reject Britain’s advice to withhold the huge concession granted to Mr. F. Rickett. It is pointed out that the former Emperor Menelik never countenanced the 1906 treaty and it is felt that it is not binding on Abyssinia. The present concession shows the Emperor’s firm belief in the nation’s ability to defend itself. “Abyssinia intends defending her right to grant concessions at Geneva,” Mr. Tekla Hawariat, the Abyssinian Minister at Paris, declared before leaving for Geneva. He added: “Abyssinia does not intend to be the guinea pig for Italy’s military experiments. The claim that we have no right to negotiate concessions is merely part of the European policy to strangle us.” The Times’ Rome correspondent says that Italy is dissatisfied with the British disclaimers regarding the concession. Signor Gayda declares that the formula of “know nothing” has often covered daring designs. “Britain has not clea ly stated that the affair does not follow the line of British (policy and therefore will not enjoy the Government protection either to-day’ or to-morrow,” he adds. “Mr. Rickett’s manoeuvres are strikingly similar to previous British penetration in Abyssinia. Whatever is the truth of the affair it demonstrates the untrustworthiness of the Emperor, Who has again violated his engagements to Italy.” NO BRITISH PARTICIPATION. The British Minister at Addis Ababa, Sir Sidney Barton, has informed Whitehall that Mr. Rickett’s contract was purely between the Abyssinian Government and an American corporation. There was no mention of British participation. In spite of Sir Sidney Barton’s report the Government is making rigorous inquiry whether British capital is directly or indirectly associated with the venture. Investigations of Mr. Rickett’s movements help to explain the secrecy which enshrouded the concession. He went to Addis Ababa ostensibly to arrange for the presentation of a Red Cross aeroplane to Abyssinia from Egyptian Copts and carried a letter of introduction from the Coptic Patriarch. Sir Sidney Barton, on his own responsibility, refrained from conveying to the Emperor Britain’s advice to withhold the concession in view of the American character of the company. He was later instructed to suggest that the concession should be held in suspense. Mr. Colson, the American financial adviser to the Emperor, who witnessed the convention, states that British capital is definitely not invented in the concessionary company, which it is believed has guaranteed an advance payment of at least £200,009, which is being spent on armaments. FRENCH SATISFACTION. The British delegation looked glum when it called at the Kuai d’Orsay, says a Paris message. However, it is understood that Mr. Eden satisfied M. Laval that Britain was innocent of complicity in Mr. Rickett’s concession. Official circles do not expect that the affair will affect the main Italo-Abyssinian issues. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent at Paris says that M. Laval issued a communique after the conversations with Mr. Eden: "We examined all the matters affecting France and Britain in the most cordial spirit and found ourselves in perfect agreement for the necessity of continuing our policy of close- co-operation.” The concession has established an important point in that Abyssinia is prepared to adopt the “open door” to foreign interests, cutting the ground from the Italian contention that it has always blocked foreign attempts to develop the country. Le Matin expresses the opinion that the concession has so shaken British sang-froid that it will perhaps bring success to those striving to prevent any fatal intransigeance by partisan sanctions. The paper questions whether the British Foreign Office statement is the whole truth. IMMEDIATE ACTION STAFF FROM AMERICA UNITED STATES ALONE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9 p.m. London, Sept. 3. The Djibouti correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Mr. Rickett on his arrival there said the capital of the concession company was entirely American and amounted to £10,000,000. An American staff would arrive immediately and start work. Mr. Rickett added that the Abyssinian Government was readily granting all sorts of concessions to non-Italians, reserving the right to revise the conditions in the event of non-occupation at the end of possible hostilities. PRIOR CLAIM LODGED ANOTHER U.S.A. CONCERN OPTION NOT YET EXPIRED Rec. 10.40 p.m. New York, Sept. 2. Mr. Leo Y. Chertok, describing himself as a representative of American industrial organisations, has laid a prior claim to the exploitation of concessions in all Ethiopia. His concession, he said, was signed in the Ethiopian legation, London, on July 30 last, to expire in SO days if he did not exercise it by paying Ethiopia 1,000,000 dollars. Mr. Chertok said he had raised the money and could deliver it on Tuesday.