Anglo-Bour War 1899-1902, Ethiopia and Russian Diplomatic Mission in Addis Ababa

Despite of remoteness of war in South Africa, the government of Ethiopia watch closely what was going on there. The success of Great Britain in this war as well as pacification of mahdists in Sudan will mean that Ethiopia will have very strong neighbour in that part of Africa. Besides Great Britain was planning to build a railway connecting Cairo and Capetown and in order to reduce expenditure will need the western part of the Ethiopian territory. That days the Russian diplomats in Addis Ababa were the only Europeans who gave Menelik a real support. Since Great Britain did everything to conceal information of their actions in South Africa, the Russians supplied the Ethiopian government the information they were receiving from Peterbourg. Besides on the emperor request attached to the Mission Russian officer A. Bulatovich made a reconnaissance of the region in question and presented his considerations concerning the defence of this part of Ethiopia.