865D.01/155a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Mayer)
99. In connection with the announcement made last week that the German Government had reduced its representation at Addis Ababa from a legation to a consulate general, several American newspapers reported that this action was equivalent to official recognition of the de facto situation in Ethiopia. The New York Evening Post, however, published a report emanating from Berlin and categorically denying that the German action was open to such interpretation.
Any information you can discreetly obtain regarding the significance of the German action, particularly as to whether it was intended to constitute recognition of the de facto situation in Ethiopia will be appreciated.