711.00111 Armament Control/924
The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: On May 9, 1936, we instructed Mr. Engert, the Minister Resident at Addis Ababa, to give us, after careful investigation, the benefit of his best judgment as to whether it could be said that there was no longer any recognized military opposition to the Italian forces in Ethiopia. It was explained to Mr. Engert that this information was desired for use in considering the possible revocation of the proclamation of October 5, 1935, placing an embargo on the shipment of arms, ammunition and implements of war to Italy and Ethiopia.
On May 17 Mr. Engert reported that it could hardly be said that the war had definitely ended although the Italian Government was most anxious to create such an impression. In this connection Mr. Engert pointed out that some of the Italian footholds in the North were by no means secure and that penetration of Italian troops into the Southern area was bound to be hazardous and slow. On the other hand, he expressed the opinion that organized military operation in the modern sense was unlikely to develop on a large scale. At the same time he pointed out that there were still a number of Ethiopian leaders in the field with guerrilla bands but it was impossible to estimate their strength. Under these circumstances Mr. Engert suggested that action in the matter be deferred until the situation had become more clarified.
On June 4, 1936, instructions were sent to Mr. Engert requesting such further reports from time to time with respect to the military situation as might help throw light upon the subject discussed above. On the following day Mr. Engert replied that Italian forces could not be said to be in complete control anywhere South of the Ninth Parallel and West of the Fortieth Meridian except along the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway. He added that there appeared to be no Italian troops South of the Blue Nile and that the Westernmost point so far occupied in central Ethiopia was the town of Ambo, some fifty-five miles West of Addis Ababa. Mr. Engert stated, moreover, that the Italians had made no effort to penetrate into vast areas in the Southwest of the country and that the Italian authorities had been unable to accede to the request of the Belgian Minister for the evacuation of eight Europeans located on coffee plantations only fourteen miles [hours] by road from one of the railway stations not far from Addis Ababa. The Minister Resident also stated that his repeated inquiries concerning the welfare of American missionaries in the Southern and Southwestern part of the country had always been met with the reply [Page 209] that the Italian authorities had no information concerning the situation in that area and that they were not prepared to send any troops there.
From the foregoing description it would appear that the Italians are not in control of the area marked in purple on the enclosed map.61 It will be observed that this area amounts to approximately one-third of the territory of Ethiopia.
Mr. Engert reports the receipt of information from some of the Western provinces indicating that local chieftains have set up governments in those areas and keeping reasonably good order. Disarming of the natives has apparently been slow and unsatisfactory. For example, Mr. Engert was informed by Marshal Badoglio that only 400 rifles had been collected in Addis Ababa. Inasmuch as nearly every Ethiopian was accustomed to carrying a rifle of some sort the number collected at the capital is obviously extremely small. The proportion of rifles collected in the provinces is doubtless even smaller and reports are received that Italian convoys between Addis Ababa and Dessye continue to be attacked.
Mr. Engert points out that he does not wish to convey the impression that properly constituted political entities exist and govern portions of the country in the name of the Emperor or that any large organized forces are in the field even in those areas where no Italian soldiers have so far penetrated. He observes, however, that certain obvious difficulties are just beginning for the Italians and that even if they are left by other Powers in undisturbed possession it may be six months or more before they will be able properly to garrison the whole country.
I learn informally that the War Department has no reports which throw any additional light upon the military situation in Ethiopia.
In view of the uncertainties of the situation and pending further clarification thereof we are of the opinion that it would be desirable to refrain from taking any action with respect to the revocation of the proclamation of October 5, 1935, establishing an embargo upon the shipments of arms to Italy and Ethiopia, until I report to you further.
Faithfully yours,
- Not attached to file copy.↩