765.84/4421: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Ethiopia ( Engert ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14—4:15 p.m.]
342. Called on Marshal Badoglio by appointment at 5 p.m. and had pleasant informal chat with him. He opened the conversation by asking how long I had been here and when I told him 10 months he laughed and said “that is a long time and I am sure you are tired of the place and ready to leave soon”. I assured him that I liked it here very much and was not at all tired of it.
He then referred in cordial terms to his visit to the United States when he had the pleasure of meeting the President who was then Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He also spoke of his “dear friend General Pershing.”
I told the Marshal that I felt somewhat uneasy regarding the safety of Americans in the interior and he promised that as soon as possible he would try and establish communications with the southern provinces. This is to be Graziani’s task when he arrives here. I left with the Marshal’s son a list of our missionaries and their stations.