765.84/4550: Telegram

The Chargé in Italy ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State

184. My 178, May 26, 7 p.m.; despatch 1710, May 29.52 A law passed this morning by the Council of Ministers, and effective as of today, provides for the organization and administration of Italian East Africa along the following lines; there is a government general, [Page 203] capital Addis Ababa, the head of which is the Governor General Viceroy who has immediately under him a Vice Governor General and for military matters a Chief of Staff. The government general has: superior directors in charge of various civil and political bureaus for the coordination and direction of policy and administration of subordinate governments; a government council; and a board of advisers which in addition to officials includes six private Italian citizens and six native chieftains or notables.

There are five governments under the government general, namely: Eritrea, capital Asmara, including Tigrai, Danakil, Aussa; Amhara, capital Gondar, comprising uplands from Tana to Shoa; Galla and Sidamo, capital Jimma, from lake region to Sudan; Harrar, capital Harrar, including Arussi and Bale; Somaliland, capital Mogadiscio, including Ogaden. Each of these has a Governor, Secretary General and Commander of the Troops.

Each government is subdivided into commissariats, residencies and vice residencies.

Ample guarantees are provided for Islamic religion and law and the teaching of Arabic is compulsory in all Moslem territories. The law contains specific regulations referring to the Monophysite Church of Ethiopia and envisages agreements with the ecclesiastical authorities for the promotion of religious institutions throughout Christian territories and of strengthening ties between the Ethiopian populations and the Coptic Church of Egypt. The text of the law will be forwarded by mail as soon as it is published.

Among other colonial measures approved by the Council of Ministers on Saturday are draft decrees: authorizing the Public Works Financing Consortium to create a separate section for Ethiopia with an initial capital of 100 millions against which the section may issue bonds in foreign currency as well as lire; increasing Colonial Office personnel and reserving three-fourths of career candidacies for volunteers in the Ethiopian campaign; appropriating 50 million lire for construction of quarters for Government employees in Ethiopia. Two national insurance institutes have allotted 500 million lire for public works in Ethiopia.

The Government of Ethiopia has by decree prohibited the exportation of silver thalers and precious metals.

The Government at Addis Ababa has also issued a decree providing for the administration of civil justice, has instituted a public welfare and hygiene committee to assist needy Europeans and natives and has issued a decree designating a civil “board to supervise and organize all hospitals and other sanitary services.”

As to the military situation the press reports complete tranquility in all regions including the vicinity of Gore which on May 26 was [Page 204] very carefully observed by an air squadron. It also publishes reports from foreign sources that the Ethiopian Governor in that district had fled across the border. Announcements of submissions, surrender of arms and methodical occupation of the territory particularly along the frontiers continue.

Kirk
  1. Latter not printed.