765.84/4803: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8—5 a.m.]
290. Consulate’s 247, June 24, 5 p.m. Spencer,6 the political adviser to the Emperor, called on me this morning and in confidence related in substance the following.
It is very uncertain whether the Emperor will return to Ethiopia. He described the Emperor as having now reconciled himself to the belief that there is nothing further he can really accomplish.
Referring to an official communication of the Emperor to the Secretary General naming the authorities with a seat in Goré upon whom he had conferred powers to administer in his absence (official address via the Ethiopian Legation at London) he stated, that their best advices were that there were about 75,000 troops at Goré and a total of about 135,000 loyal troops under command throughout the Empire. The present authorities at Goré were not very aggressive but should Makonnen who is a good soldier and administrator reach Goré it would be a somewhat different story. The passage of Makonnen through the Sudan had been taken up with the British Government which stated that it would oppose no obstacles. The question of the Emperor’s proceeding to Abyssinia had purposely not been taken up with the British Government and should he go he would merely apply for a visa. From intimations given the delegation by Eden he felt, however, that the British would by some means prevent his return. He did not believe that the resistance to the Italians would amount to much inasmuch as, although mustard gas could not easily be used during the rains, phosgene which the Italians also employ would be a most effective weapon. He believed, nevertheless, that these forces would be troublesome and expensive to the Italians for some time, adding that at Goré they were plentifully supplied with funds. He confirmed that the Emperor took little gold out of Abyssinia, his present circumstances being indeed straitened.
He said he had reason to believe that without raising the question of nonrecognition the status of Ethiopia vis-à-vis the League would be [Page 185] settled at the September Assembly by the Credentials Committee deciding that the Ethiopian delegation’s credentials were not in order as not emanating from a duly constituted government. He understands that all Ethiopian diplomatic missions will shortly be closed which will, he surmises, facilitate the problem respecting the foreign missions at Addis Ababa.
- John H. Spencer, an American citizen.↩