884.51/59: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 10—1 p.m.]
391. Subsequent to the conversation reported in my 389, August 5, 7 p.m., Dr. Martin sent me the following letter.
“August 6, 1936.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It was very kind of you to favor me with an interview yesterday and to give me your valuable advice but, I am sorry to trouble you again, as on further consideration it has occurred to me that under our present critical position it will not only be unwise but dangerous for me to postpone my visit to America till November as very likely we will have been executed before then unless the necessary financial help is secured before long. I therefore think that I must go as soon as possible and take my chance of securing at least a certain amount of financial assistance.
I hope Your Excellency will kindly look at the matter from my point of view and give me your approval and necessary permission to go as soon as possible.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Signed) W. Martin.”
I requested Dr. Martin to call at the Embassy and he came on August 8th when every effort was made to dissuade him from his purpose. He politely insisted, however, that it was imperatively necessary from the Abyssinian point of view for him to make the endeavor to solicit financial aid in the United States which he believed “certain sympathetic persons” would be willing to extend. He frankly admitted that any funds so collected would be used to continue armed struggle against Italy. Dr. Martin was finally told that the question was one which would have to be submitted to my Government. Later in the day he telephoned to say that he hoped when his request was put before the Department that I would say that in the event he should be unable to go himself the Emperor’s daughter would apply for permission to go in his place.