[Enclosure 1]
Excerpt From the London “Daily Telegraph,”
November 10, 1927
Reuter’s representative had an interview with Dr. Wargneh Martin, the
representative of Abyssinia in the United States, who reached London
last evening. Dr. Martin said:
The whole story about the proposed dam is a storm in a teacup
and a huge misunderstanding. I am here on private family
affairs, and am returning to Addis Ababa in about a week.
The excitement only [Page 605] started after I left New York. All suggestions that I or
the Abyssinian Government are trying to arrange something
against existing Treaties with Great Britain are absurd.
Although I saw the President and the Secretary of State in
Washington the question of an Abyssinian dam was never
mentioned. My journey to the United States was in order to
see New York financiers with regard to the scheme for
building a dam, and I have received proposals as regards the
conditions on which it can be constructed. If these
proposals, which I have in my pocket, and concerning which
my Government at present knows nothing, are acceptable, the
next step is to consult with the British Government.
For about a quarter of a century Great Britain has had in
view the construction of a dam on Lake Tsana, and, on and
off, this desire of the British Government has been under
the consideration of the Government. It has never been a
matter on which the Abyssinian Government has taken the
initiative. About six months ago the British Minister at
Addis Abeba brought up the question, and renewed the request
for a concession to build the dam. It was then that I was
sent to the United States to see if I could arrange for its
construction by an American firm, under the auspices of the
Abyssinian Government. I went to the United States because
the financial conditions were better there than
elsewhere.
There has never been any question of trying to get behind
Treaty obligations with Great Britain, but there has been no
necessity to inform the British Government because we have
only reached the stage of tentative inquiries, as to the
results of which, I repeat, the Abyssinian Government is not
even aware. The Abyssinian Government has never had the
least intention of interfering with the water supply.
[Enclosure 2]
Excerpt From the London “Times,” November 9,
1927
Sir N. Grattan-Doyle (Newcastle, N., U.)
asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he had seen the
report that an American company had been granted a concession by the
Abyssinian Government which would enable that firm to control the
water supplies of Egypt and the Sudan, and if Great Britain had any
treaty rights in this important matter.
Sir A. Chamberlain (Birmingham, W.).—Yes,
sir; but I have not as yet received any official information as to
the reported negotiations, nor as to the attitude of the Abyssinian
Government in the matter. If it had been the case that the
Abyssinian Government contemplated the grant of such a concession,
without consulting us, this action would constitute a violation of
the Treaty of 1902 between his Majesty’s Government and the Emperor
Menelik, whereby the Abyssinian Government undertook not to
construct, or allow to be constructed, such a dam except by
agreement with his Majesty’s Government and the Government of the
Sudan, but I am confident that the Abyssinian Government are not
unmindful of this obligation, and this is confirmed by [Page 606] the interview with Dr. Martin,
which appears in this morning’s papers. My meeting with the Egyptian
Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs gave me the
opportunity to put him in full possession of our views and to take
counsel with him on this matter in which the Egyptian Government
naturally takes a keen interest.
Sir N. Grattan-Doyle asked if there had
been any communication between the Foreign Office and Washington on
this matter.
Sir A. Chamberlain.—If the hon. member
means between the British and American Governments, no.
Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy (Hull, Central,
L.) asked if the Government would themselves take steps to barrage
the Nile.
Sir A. Chamberlain.—We have made proposals
to the Abyssinian Government with that in view, and the matter is
still the subject of negotiations.
Mr. Day asked what the outlay would be.
Sir A. Chamberlain.—An estimate was made,
but I will not undertake to say whether that estimate can be
absolutely relied on. In any case, my memory could not be relied on
to repeat the figure without notice.
Mr. Kirkwood (Dumbarton, Lab.).—In the
event of America not agreeing to our terms, I suppose this
Government would be prepared to call on the English boys and the
Scottish boys to go and have a war with the Americans.
Sir A. Chamberlain.—May I be permitted, in
the public interest, to say that no question arises between the
Government of the United States and His Majesty’s Government in this
matter, and I anticipate no difficulties between them.
