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there are possibilities there for planting extensive areas with cotton.

The position of France and Italy is above all determined by strategical problems. As there are the most varied African antagonisms between these two powers, the penetration of Italy denotes one of the most important moments of danger. Unless there is a weak <> Abyssinia dominated by France (or at least a pliable Abyssinia), Djibuti is worthless as a French naval base.

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[[caption]] Italy also constructs waterworks in attempt to dominate the Sudan. [[/caption]]

Abyssinia occupies a position of tremendous importance in the competitive struggle of the powers for cotton. England strives to break America's cotton monopoly by attempting to conrol other sources of production. This means an intensified struggle between England and America. While England and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan are building dams and water-works which dominate the cotton production of Egypt and the Sudan, America is hastening to get concession rights from the Abyssinian Government to build the Tanasee dam. This concession in itself is absolutely worthless for America as cotton plantations in Abyssinia for Amreica are out of the question. (Cotton production in the U. S. A. is still being curtailed). But this

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means that America will be able to control the supply of water for the Sudan. Through these dams, America could cut off the water supply for Egypt and for Sudan at its own discretion.

England's protest was of no avail although the British Foreign Minister even tried to have recourse to an agreement with King Menelik in 1902.

A new change in the situation has set in inasmuch as within the past few years Japan has occupied a similar position with regard to England, as England formerly had towards the U.S.A. Japan has created a powerfull cotton of its own and must see that it gets its raw material from India.

Japan's negotiations with Abyssinia are of course not known but the fact that large tracts of land are reported as having been acquired as a Japanese concession and that negotiations were conducted with regard to bringing in Japanese settlers, can be taken to mean that Japan wants to make a Japanese sphere of influence out of Abyssinia.

A.C. Nebel reports the following in the Frankfurter Zeitung (April 29, 1934) with regard to Japan's activity in Abyssinia and although it sounds somewhat fantastic it nevertheless approaches reality.

<<<......they are shivering in London. -- They are becoming more and more concerned about the activity of Ethiopia. For months Japanese officers of all ranks have constantly been coming to Abyssinia partly disguised as merchants and business men. They are very zealously trying to form an Ethiopian General Staff and to give the finishing touches to the already well trained and modernly equipped army of King Selassie the First which can at a moment's notice be brought up to 300.000 men. They are establishing a formidable armament industry in graet secrecy. The artillerie is being mechanized. They are even building aerodromes. Still worse, the Japanese diplomats are intriguing in Paris and in Constantinople with the most dangerous wire pullers of Egyptian nationalism.>>

According to this description Abyssinia even wants to get back its <> and these are not only the coastal colonies but also the Gesirah regions where there is a lot of water right up to the White Nile.

<> of May 18-20, 1934, carries a very similar report:

<