124.846/56: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister Resident in Ethiopia (Engert)
326. Your 493, July 28, 8 a.m. and 498, July 28, 4 p.m. The Department is most appreciative of the arrangements made by Marshal Graziani. It seems unlikely, however, that the matter can be kept confidential since your 493 was sent en clair before you were advised that similar arrangements had not been made for the other legations. Furthermore, it is altogether probable that your code messages sent via radio will be picked up by parties for whom they are not intended and the fact will soon become known that you are sending in code.
Undoubtedly Marshal Graziani foresaw these possibilities and decided to accord us exclusive privileges on the ground that the United States is not concerned in the European aspects of the Italo-Ethiopian situation. Obviously the nature of American interests in Ethiopia sets this country apart from European Powers and furnishes a reasonable justification for according us a confidential means of communication not necessarily granted at this time to those Powers.
It is to be hoped that if the situation becomes known (as it surely must) to the other interested Powers they will refrain from using our case as a basis for demanding similar treatment. If the privilege of communicating in code were withdrawn from your Legation the action could not possibly benefit the other legations. On the contrary, they might in case of emergency suffer because of your lack of a confidential means of communication.
You may make discreet use of the foregoing in any discussions which you may find it necessary to have in this matter.