765.84/3205: Telegram
The Chargé in Ethiopia (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 21—6:27 a.m.]
244. Legation’s 243, December 19, 5 p.m. In making public the proposals and Ethiopian reply, the Government issued following unofficial statement to correct erroneous impression certain passages in proposals might create.
“One passage of the Franco-British proposals is susceptible of giving an entirely false impression of the prior attitude of Ethiopia relative to the plan of assistance of the League of Nations. The fourth paragraph of part II of the proposals mentions the plan already prepared and accepted in principle by the Emperor, and continues by declaring that Italy would take a preponderant part in the services [Page 720] and that the principal adviser the plan might be an Italian. It should be emphasized that at the time of the offer submitted to the tripartite conference of Paris and also the subsequent acceptance in principle of the plan of the Committee of Five, Ethiopia categorically rejected all Italian personnel reserving its right of approval of every candidate to office of employment under the plan.”
Please see in this connection second paragraph of Legation’s 101, September 25, 9 p.m. [a.m.]27