124.84/126a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips)
154. Department’s 146, November 5, 7 p.m. The Department has in mind withdrawing Cramp from Addis Ababa and replacing him by Hughes, recently at Tokyo and now in the United States. In view of the recommendations in your 441, November 4, 1 p.m. it would be planned to withdraw Engert soon after Hughes’ arrival and to have the latter take charge of our interests in a purely consular capacity. Please give us your views as to whether Italian authorities [Page 336] would be likely to insist upon our requesting an exequatur for Hughes or raise any objection to his assignment as a consular officer.
In the event such questions are likely to arise what would you think of assigning Reber to Addis Ababa for a few months during the transition period and withdrawing Engert? Such an assignment would be in line with Bastianini’s95 suggestion to the Japanese Ambassador, as reported in your 465, November 16, 4 p.m.96