765.84/4237: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Ethiopia ( Engert ) to the Secretary of State
259. My 254, April 30, 8 p.m.36 My private audience of the Emperor was a unique experience which confirmed the high opinion I had formed of him. Considering the tragic hour in his country’s history he showed remarkable sangfroid and conducted the interview with the same gracious unhurried suavity which had always impressed me on previous occasions. His frail body seemed perhaps a trifle frailer and his thoughtful deepset eyes showed a profoundly perturbed soul. But his handshake had its usual firmness and his inscrutable features were lit up by the same winsome smile.
After receiving my letter of credence he said that United States had always been conspicuous by their devotion to certain fundamental ideals and that the President’s recent vigorous denunciation of dictatorships37 as a menace to individual liberty and international peace [Page 64] proved that American public opinion shared the desire of the world to see a restraining influence exercised over those who disregard their solemn agreements.
The Emperor said he was perplexed by the strange maneuvers of European diplomacy and the half measures of the League. He realized of course that the stage was set for another European war and that in the present confusion arising from Germany’s defiance of Locarno Ethiopia’s fate is relegated to a secondary place. But he found it difficult to understand British inconsistencies and France’s inability to see that if Italy had been checked in time Germany would never have dared to follow in her footsteps.
Ethiopia could easily have been saved by the application of oil sanctions which would have forced Italy to abandon the war. He now saw clearly that his faith in the League was not justified and that though his advisers who had urged him to attack Italy before she could complete her preparations had probably been right in this country the powers had permitted everything to drift to such lengths that a catastrophe was inevitable.
Referring to the possibility of a cessation of hostilities he said that the thought of peace at any price was intolerable to him. He had no intention of capitulating in the face of a premeditated murderous assault and the rumors of his imminent departure from the country were entirely baseless. He would remain and go on fighting so long as one Abyssinian soldier was left to help him. But of course he had always been and was now ready to submit to any peace proposals within the framework of the League and the spirit of the Covenant.
As I took leave the Emperor held my hand in his while he said, “Convey my greetings to your President and tell him the fate of my country may serve as a warning that words are of no avail against a determined aggressor who will tear up any peace pacts whose terms no longer serve his purpose”.
I was deeply moved by the whole interview and in submitting this report I cannot help expressing the hope that when the proper time comes it may be possible for us to exert such moral influence as we possess in favor of an equitable settlement that upholds as far as may be feasible international morality rather than international crime. Having seen this nation and its ruler in their dire extremity I cannot believe that Italy will be permitted to dictate terms based solely on her recent victories. Surely the time has come for plain speaking for if unilateral denunciation of treaties are tolerated not only collective security but collective civilization will receive a blow from which they may never recover.