London, Nov. 13. definite proposal by the British! Government for the construction of adam across the Blue Nile by British engineers, says the Diplomatic Correspondent of the "Observer," is} at present before the Abyssinian Government, and it is assumed by everyone concerned that the contract will be signed with a British Negotiations Still Proceeding, London, Nov. 14.
'The Foreign 'Secretary, Sir' Austen Chamberlain, was asked in the House of Commons to-day! whether he had any forther information on the reported concession by the Abyssinian Government to an American firm to construct 'a barrage on the Blue Nile, near Lake Tsana, and what was the pre-tent position of the negotiations with the Abyssinian Governme the barrraging of the Blue Nile by 1g] British or Anglo-Egyptian efforts, The Foreign Secretary replied that he could only add to his pre~ vious statement in the House that by an exchange of Notes between Sir John Harrington and Mons. Alfred Tig in 1902 tie Emperor Menelik undertook that, other things. being equal, preference would be given to the proposals of the British Government and the Government of the Sudan and afcmed that he had no intention of granting a concestion in respect of the Blue Nile and Lake Tsana to anyone other than. the British Government, the Govern-_ ment of the Sudan, or one of their subjects.
"As regards the second part the question," said Sir 'Austen Chamberlain, "the present position Is that on September 22 the Regent of Abyssinia addressed to Mr. Bentinck, the British representative! 'At Addis' Ababa, a reply to the proposal which the British Government had made to him last May. T have recently instructed Mr. Bentinek by telegram to address Note to Ras} Taffari, which will negotiations a step further."—British Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.