365D.1163/63: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State

153. My 152, April 9, 6 p.m. This afternoon I drew Count Ciano’s attention to the Gayda article with regard to the expulsion of three American missionaries from Ethiopia on the ground of espionage, et cetera. Ciano had not then read the article but did so in my presence. He admitted his entire ignorance of the affair which he said came within the jurisdiction of the Colonial Ministry. He promised, however, at once to investigate and to advise me. I told him that while I had no knowledge of the facts and had received no [Page 702] communications from the missionaries themselves or from any other source an article such as Gayda’s would make a most unfavorable impression in the United States and did not help good relations.

Ciano admitted somewhat reluctantly it seemed to me that the policy of the Colonial Ministry was to discourage the continuance of foreign missions in Ethiopia. He said, however, that when we had any cases of American missionaries awaiting permission to return to Ethiopia he would be glad to have me take up each case individually with him which I agreed to do.

Phillips