884.6363/34
The Chargé in Great Britain (Wright) to the Secretary of
State
London, April 5,
1921.
[Received April 19.]
No. 4445
Sir: In confirmation of my telegram No. 277 of
to-day’s date,8 and with
reference to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 176 of March
28, 6 p.m.,8 I have the
honor to enclose herewith a copy of a report dated April 4, 1921, (Ref.
No. 863 RPS.ML) from the
[Page 650]
Consul-General concerning the operations of the Anglo-American Oil
Company in Abyssinia, received only just in time for to-day’s pouch, in
which Mr. Skinner discusses at length the points raised in the
Department’s aforementioned telegram.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Extract]
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Chargé in Great Britain (Wright)
London, April 4,
1921.
863. RPS.ML
Sir: I have the honor to refer to a cabled
instruction (No. 176) of March 28th 1921 from the Department of
State addressed to yourself,9 in regard to the activities of the
Anglo-American Oil Company in Abyssinia, brought to my attention on
Friday last by Mr. Rodgers.10 The instruction is to
the effect that a statement has been made by the British Ambassador
at Washington that a British subject in Abyssinia, acting on the
part of the Anglo-American Oil Company, has asked for the support of
the British Government, and suggests that this support would be
forthcoming, should the American Government co-operate in a similar
manner in relation to the British controlled concession in Costa
Rica. I have now completed my enquiries relative to this matter, and
am in a position to confirm the statement I made to Mr. Rodgers,
that in all probability there was no foundation whatever for
supposing that the Anglo-American Oil Company had sought the support
of the British authorities either in Abyssinia or elsewhere; indeed,
the very contrary is the case, the British authorities having thrown
every possible difficulty in the way of the Anglo-American Oil
Company. The implication that the effort of British agents in
Abyssinia on behalf of American interests entitled British interests
in Costa Rica to the same consideration from our American
representatives is wrong, in view of the facts as I have learned
them at first hands from members of the American exploring party,
who have just returned from North East Africa, and who have been
directed to acquaint me with the position by the Directors of the
Anglo-American Oil Company.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I am [etc.]
