765.84/1590: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

423. A communiqué has just been issued giving the text of the following telegram from Suvich to the Secretary General dated October 5.

“I have the honor to inform you that the reports from Ethiopian sources concerning bombardments by Italian aircraft of inhabited areas causing victims among the civil population and of a Red Cross hospital at Adowa are devoid of all foundation. All that happened was that a few Italian airplanes on a reconnaissance flight having encountered heavy fire from anti-aircraft batteries and rifles dropped a few bombs on parties of soldiers. It should also be pointed out that there is no Red Cross hospital or ambulance at Adowa. There was one Italian ambulance which discontinued its work on the departure of our Consul,”

Gilbert