7 AUGUST 1926, Page 3

Lately the Foreign Office came to an agreement with the

Italian Government that they would' act together without any rivalry in two schemes—the one, the British dam of Lake Tsana and, the other, an Italian railway between Eritrea and Somaliland. On the publication of the agreement Abyssinia protested to the League of Nations, saying that she feared it portended infringement of her, independence. Nothing of the kind was intended by us. Abyssinia was conscious ever since 1902 of our hope for the much needed dam. We have never suggested that it could be done without her leave and co-operation, and nothing in the corre- spondence with Italy suggests anything more than that we wanted to be secure from competition or obstacles from Italy when we should approach the Abyssinian Government. • s *