865D.01/156: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5—10:10 a.m.]
243. Department’s telegram No. 99, August 1, noon; Embassy’s despatch 2961, July 29.11 Foreign Office states that change from Legation to Consulate General at Addis Ababa constitutes de facto recognition of the situation in Ethiopia. Foreign Office indicated as one of the bases for this action Eden’s statement in the House of Commons a short time ago that Abyssinian Government no longer existed. This agreed with the actual facts which the German Government consider it simpler to recognize as facilitating the better protection of German commercial interests in Abyssinia. Action involved no quid pro quo from Italy.
See paragraph 6 my 219, July 15, 1 p.m.12
Foreign Office further told me in confidence that it was quite prepared to recognize the situation in Ethiopia de jure and had so intimated to the Italian Government some weeks ago. Mussolini however had not felt there was any pressing necessity for de jure recognition and the Germans had naturally let the matter drop. They were however prepared to accord de jure recognition if and when desirable. Foreign Office added that as a matter of fact when the necessary law was passed in Germany for the creation of a Consulate General at Addis Ababa, which would be shortly, the exequatur would to all [Page 249] intents and purposes constitute de jure recognition. Commenting briefly on question of nonrecognition of Manchukuo Foreign Office felt that the two situations were not comparable. For one thing China still existed as a government whereas Abyssinia did not. Therefore no implications of recognition of Manchukuo arise from the Abyssinian matter.
Cipher copies by airmail to London, Paris, Rome.
- Latter not printed.↩
- Vol. i, p. 322.↩