ABYSSINIA’S FATE

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19601, 13 June 1935, Page 12

ABYSSINIA’S FATE

BUSINESSMEN MAKE PEACE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. The fear of war in Abyssinia has not altogether been dissipated as yet, although commanders of the opposing camps have met to bury the battleaxe and smoke the pipe of peace, says ■an English paper. When 'they went into council recently it was to arrange "the delimitation of a neutral zone between the armed forces of the two countries along the frontiers of Italian Somaliland and Eritrea, the scenes of all the reckless bloodshed.

In the moment when they met to do ■that, these two men were among the world’s most important. Upon ffie success of their negotiations, and the permanency of the pact they formulate, depends the peace of Africa. For should there he war in Abyssinia, world 'Powers with African interests will be dragged in; there would be the possibility of an Egyptian disturbance. It would be like a pebble thrown into a pond, and 'its grim circles of blood and fire would widen over the whole continent.

Hard-heeded Business Men

The men responsible for the peace move are not politicians, diplomats, or soldiers. They aro two-'hard-headed American business men, who have formed a syndicate to work the mineral deposits of Hie restless little land. They have great land holding in the Ga.lata country in the southwest corner of Abyssinia.

When the trouble broke out. between the native tribes and the. Italian troops, there was a danger of the syndicate's intentions to mine antimony, gold and rnaganese being frustrated.

The .head of the syndicate in question approached the Emperor of Abyssinia, and pointed out that war would have a devastating effect on the venture; and pressure not to open hostilities was also brought 'to bear on Signor Mussolini.

The Italians were-told that a number of American millionaires would consider advancing forty million dollars to the Abyssinian Government if Italy declared war. thus placing the dark race In a position to put up a good struggle, not. only in the Interests of Abyssinia, but also In the interests of American vested capital. Members of the syndlcalc suggested that an agreement be reached regarding a neutral zone.

Further sugge.-tions made by members of 'the syndicate were lo Hie effect that the Ifj.hn Government would do well fo -change many of their officials in Abyssinia and Somaliland for others of a "more sympathetic' nature." , In one case this suggestion has already been adopted. Mean a Great Deal. Peace just now will mean a great deal both to Abyssinia and the countries interested' in Abyssinian investments, notably America. It is under the new syndicate scheme, providing an overseas outlet for employment, and a rich source of income. That this corner of Africa is very rich indeed, and would considerably benefit the business world if developed, lias been shown in many ways..

Recent gold discoveries in the Kenya colony have been additional proof of that. And although no practical results have yet been obtained from the Abyssinian experiment, a great amount of "capital has been sunk in it, in the faith that it, will yield a’ good return. The two business men succeeded, temporarily. They engineered the meeting between the two commanders, and allhough the skies arc not entirely blue over Abyssinia as yet, the political weather report is hopeful.