884.512 Consumption/7: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Ethiopia ( Southard )

8. Your despatches Nos. 677, 678 and 679 of April 1 and April 2, 1931.8 On the basis of the information communicated in your despatches, [Page 221] the Department is not disposed to regard the Decree of March 30, 1931, as a violation of the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty of 1908, and it concurs in your view that you should not support any further protests against the Decree which may be made by the diplomatic body.

The Department also approves your recommendation that you act in accord with your colleagues in any steps which may be taken to liberalize Article III of the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty. In this latter connection please see the Department’s telegram No. 156 of April 22 to the Embassy at Paris and the replies thereto from Paris, London and Rome. All of these telegrams have been repeated to you by telegraph or by mail.

Stimson
  1. None printed; they reported a new excise tax decree.