765.84/1403: Telegram
The Chargé in Ethiopia (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
102. Legation’s 101, September 25, 9 a.m. From my conversation with the Emperor as well as remarks made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other officials, I gather that the concentration of British forces in the Mediterranean has made a most profound impression here. It is looked upon as the first serious attempt to endow the League with adequate power and to demand strict application of the Covenant. Courage of Great Britain in making preparations to apply sanctions, even at the risk of giving offense to Italy, is greatly admired and her prestige has never stood higher. Friendly helpfulness of British Legation here and of Foreign Office from the very beginning of the crisis a year ago and their strenuous efforts not only to gain the support of France but also to mobilize world opinion in favor of conciliation are felt to have borne fruit. It is of course perfectly well understood that England is realistically conscious of her own vital interests as a world power in connection with this dispute but the fact remains she has also shown keen appreciation that the real issues back of the present emergency far transcend the Abyssinian question.
Reports from Rome are considered to indicate that British firmness has already had a deterrent effect on Mussolini which in turn has changed atmosphere of intense pessimism in this capital to one of cautious optimism. Ethiopia is conscious of her strong diplomatic position but is naturally reluctant to show her hand prematurely in the impending negotiations. There is a curious undercurrent of apprehension lest Great Britain, in her eagerness to prevent hostilities and yet keep Italy in the League, go too far in devising semi-political and territorial compromises which Ethiopia might be unable to accept. However, the Emperor probably feels that in this the gravest emergency in his country’s long history he has placed its fate into the hands of the collective conscience of the world and is ready to make any sacrifices that can reasonably be expected of him.