ABSTRACT
The story of European relations with Ethiopian Africa strictly begins for in the decade between 1880 and 1890; but Abyssinia was for a moment brought into intimate contact with a European State. The history of Abyssinia has been a continual fluctuation between a strong central government under an energetic and warlike emperor, and anarchy and rebellion, in which the districts under turbulent chiefs asserted and maintained what was practically independence. The attempt of the Italians to substantiate their claim to Abyssinia by force of arms took place in 1895 and 1896. In 1896 Britain was firmly established in Egypt, while the Nile Valley was still in the hands of the Dervish power. French writers lay the whole blame for the failure of French policy in Abyssinia after 1901 upon the underhand machinations of Sir John Harrington.
