PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN LONDON: PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. or 120, George Street, Edinburgh; or through any Bookseller 1925 Price 6d. Net Cmd. 2553 to British territory with their herds, as Transmits report on Abyssinian raid into Transmits proclamation by Abyssinian Go- vernment against slave-raiding. It will probably be as ineffective as previous pro- Draws attention to recent expulsion from Kenya territory of Abyssinians who had migrated to seek refuge from tyranny and exactions of Abyssinian authorities 6. Nov. 15, To Colonial Office.. Transmits copy of No. 5. Enquires as to orders of Kenya Government in regard to Transmits copy of No. 6. Enquires as to any alternative to enforced repatriation of Abyssinian migrants into Kenya Reports Abyssinian raid into Turkana Transmits report from District Commis- sioner, Moyale, on Abyssinian raids. Slavery is prevalent on the Abyssinian border, but the slaves are not ill-treated Attention of Abyssinian Government having been called to a case of attempted slave- trading, they have replied that matter was an internal concern and that they did not feel called upon to furnish information Reports on incidents referred to in No. 5. Scarcity of water necessitates expulsion of Abyssinians from Kenya territory Records conversation between Mr. Mac- Donald and Ras Taffari, at Foreign Office on July 11, respecting Abyssinian raids 13. Aug. 8, To Sir R. Coryndon Acknowledges receipt of No. 11. Proposes 28 Correspondence respecting Abyssinian Raids and Incursions into British Territory. No. 1. Sir R. Coryndon to Mr. Winston Churchill, Secretary of State Jor the Colonies. Sir, Nairobi, Kenya, September 28, 1922. WITH reference to alleged slave raids on the part of Abyssinians into the northern territories of this colony, I have the honour to inform you that the delay in reporting has been due to the necessity for making enquiries from the remote stations in the Northern Frontier District. 2. Although Abyssinian raids into British territory are undertaken with a primary view to capture of stock or for hunting game, where opportunity offers the capture of women and children does take place, though happily very few instances occur. 3. The Gabbra, who used to live in our territory near the frontier, having no protection from us went into Abyssinia to live, but again fled back to our territory and sought refuge at Marsabit. The reason they gave was that it was not the loss of stock to the bandits and Gallaba so much as the taking of the women and children that they could bear no longer. This raiding should now cease, in some measure, as there is to be a garrison at Northern Horr, and later there will be one on the lake shore when the proposal to put boats at Liongalani is carried into practice. I have, &c. R. T. CORYNDON, Governor. My Lord, No. 2. Mr. Russell to the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. Addis Ababa, May 23, 1923. THE Fitaurari Hapta Giorgis came to see me on his return to the capital after an absence of some months. He had been to the Boran, of which province, as your Lordship knows, he is titular Governor, and draws the revenues. The Fitaurari told me of the conference at Mega with Captain D. E. Cochrane, officer-in-charge of the British frontier post at Moyale, of which a report had already reached me through the Governor of Kenya. He had been very favourably impressed by this officer, and spoke in warm terms of him. He said he had much appreciated the just and friendly attitude shown by Captain Cochrane in discussing frontier questions. The Fitaurari told me that he had found the province much impoverished by reason of the emigration of the natives with their herds to British 2909 Wt. 1250 12/25 F.O.P. [13187] B 2 territory, but he well understood the causes of their preferring British rule, and he admitted that we could not be expected to compel their return. I referred to the present satisfactory state of the frontier as regards the maintenance of order, and the great improvement that had taken place in this respect in the past year and a half. I reminded him that I had often in the past urged that he should go and see the situation for himself. I was glad that he had been able to do so. I hoped he now realised how important it was to the good relations of our two countries that there should be no more trouble in that direction. The Fitaurari agreed, and said that he had taken measures to ensure it.. I have, &c. CLAUDE RUSSELL. Sir, No. 3. Colonial Office to Foreign Office. Downing Street, October 13, 1923. I AM directed by the Duke of Devonshire to transmit to you, for the information of the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, a copy of a despatch, with enclosures from the Governor of Kenya, regarding an incursion of Abyssinians into Kenya territory in March last, which formed the subject of a question in the House of Commons on the 17th April. I am, &c. H. J. READ. Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Sir R. Coryndon to the Duke of Devonshire. My Lord, Nairobi, September 4, 1923. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a communication received from His Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Addis Ababa on the subject of an incursion of Abyssinians into Kenya territory which took place in March last. I BROUGHT to the knowledge of the Fitaurari Hapta Giorgis the facts respecting the Abyssinian raid of March last and the consequent operations under Captain Hallowes. My informant, who saw the Fitaurari, tells me that he was already informed of what had occurred. He stated that Dejazmatch Balcha of Sidamo had early this year given authority to Lij Ababa to go on a hunting expedition with 150 men. It appears that the latter is a well-known hunter, and the Dejazmatch must have known, said the Fitaurari, that if he went to hunt elephants he must cross the British frontier to find them. Fitaurari Ayale, who had news of Lij Ababa's intentions, caused the roads to be watched and tried to intercept him, but unsuccessfully, though a few of his men were captured. Fitaurari Hapta Giorgis produced a man who had recently arrived from the Boran with news. This man said that of the eighty men who accompanied Lij Ababa twenty only had returned. Besides those killed, twenty odd were wounded, and the rest had died of thirst. The twenty survivors had returned in a state of starvation with nothing but their rifles. Lij Ababa was one of these. The Fitaurari said that Dejazmatch Balcha had reported that he had arrested and chained Lij Ababa on his arrival at Sidamo, but the Fitaurari was disinclined to believe this. The Fitaurari announced his intention to ask the Central Government to order Dejazmatch Balcha to send Lij Ababa to the capital for punishment. The Fitaurari was evidently not displeased to hear of the misfortunes which had befallen Dejazmatch Balcha's people. I think we may conclude that, thanks to Captain Hallowes' energetic and successful action, the raiders in question received a salutary lesson, and that there will be small inclination for such enterprises for some time to come. I have, &c. CLAUD RUSSELL. My Lord, No. 4. Mr. Russell to the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. Addis Ababa, September 29, 1923. I HAVE the honour to enclose herein a translation of a proclamation recently issued and communicated to me by the Abyssinian Government against slave-raiding, and providing for the repatriation of slaves so captured. Proclamations in regard to the slave trade. have appeared periodically for some years past, and have remained without appreciable effect. This proclamation will no doubt share the fate of similar pronouncements on the same subject. I have, &c. CLAUD RUSSELL. |