124.84/57: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister Resident in Ethiopia (Engert)
179. Your 275, May 3, 7 p.m.22 In view of the exposed position of our Legation and the difficulty experienced by the British military in rescuing the personnel and nationals at the Turkish Legation, I consider that you have acted wisely and in harmony with my telegraphic instruction No. 176 of May 2 in making preliminary arrangements with the British Legation for evacuating our entire Legation if necessary.
While we are relying fully on your judgment as to the action that may seem advisable to you in the present emergency, you should bear in mind that the Department would not wish you or those now at the Legation to jeopardize your lives merely for the sake of remaining there. Considerations of safety should at all times be controlling.
- Not printed.↩