124.84/63: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—5:55 p.m.]
245. For Murray from the Ambassador. Since your telephone call26 the Foreign Office received a telegram from the British Minister at Addis Ababa the substance which follows:
The British Minister is unable to spare any men or guns for the defence of the American Legation which is 5 miles away and outside any defence scheme and the British Legation has already had to send a detachment of their guard to protect the Belgian Legation whose occupation by the rioters would endanger the British Legation. The British Legation has barely enough to ensure the defence for 1200 refugees of whom very few can be used as volunteers. The American Legation was visited by an armed convoy from the British Legation last night and offered evacuation which was refused except for their women.