Cause of the Italian-Abyssinian Quarrel.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 206, 11 June 1887, Page 3

Cause of the Italian-Abyssinian Quarrel.

A eoRRK'sroNDDXT at Cairo writes to the " St. James's Gazette "as follows : "It is no news that the Italian?, who ha\ c held peaceful possession of Massowah and its environs for two years, were suddenly attacked, on the second anniversary of their occupation by Ras Aloola at the head oi an overwhelming force, and bufleied a %cry great disaster. Re-inforcements have been despatched to Massowah, and we may shortly hear of a renewal of hostilities ; yet no one has inquired into the cau&c of this sudden rupture. The reason for it, though little known, is easily explained. ' ' A few years ago Admiral Sir William. Hewett, when commanding in the Red Sea> was dispatched by the Biiti&h Government on a diplomatic mission to King Johannes. Under his auspices and with the assistance of Captain Speedy, the well-known tiaveller, a treaty was drawn up between Egypt and Abyssinia, which was subsequently ratified. When the Italians took over Massowah from Egypt with the sanction of the British Government, they were supposed to subscribe to the terms of the treaty, which assured certain important priveliges to King Johannes. Among other things, the Egyptian, and consequently the Italian, ocenpation .should be confined to the island of Massowah and the McKuliu Foit on the mainland. The adjacent territory was declared to be neutral as far as Alier,, about twenty-six miles inland, which marked the boundary line. " Notwithstanding the existence of this agreement, the Italians occupied and strongly fortfied Saati, a central post mid way between McKuliu and Ailet, and sent a party of engineers across the border into the Bogos country, which had been ceded to Abyssinia. This party was promptly captured by order of the King, who sent Ras Aloola to reconnoiter. Ras Aloola made a military reconnaissance toward Saati and lost some men in killed and wounded. He then sent a messenger to Massowah to inqnire of Gen. Gene whether he wished for peace or Avar ; adding that in the former case the Italians must evacuate Saati, lespect the neutral ground, and confine themselves within the strict limits prescribed by the treaty. The General courteously supplied his enemy's wants, but declined peace on these terms ; and when Ras Aloola observed that the Italians were sending up supplies and munitions of war to Saati ho attacked and annihilated the convoy. "It is quite comprehensible that the Italians do not care for peace on the terms proposed. Their raison d'etre on the African coast is not to garrison a wi etched island in the worst locality in the Red Sea, but to develop the resources of the country by encouraging trade with the interior through Massowah. King Johannes had. long complained of Egyptian obstruction, and Admiral Hewett's mission wag undertaken with the object of protecting Abyssiniansfrom such obstruction, and affording them every legitimate facility for trade throngh Massowah. The treaty, like the capitulations under which Egypt is now suffering, was a necessity for the time ; but when ceding the place to Italy, England should at least have notified thetermination of the contract, for the breach of which she is morally responsible. Under the present condition no treaty can^ bo imagined more likely to produce dissensions and border warfare' than that drawn up by our gallant Admiral."

Among the new books of the season is one entitled " Dodd's Reformed Horse Book." Areformed horse is one that will not run to suit the book-makers. Alfred CelJier is engaged on the music of a new opera which 'deals with the reign of Queen Elizabeth.