365D.1163/161
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of
State
No. 1716
Rome, January 23, 1940.
[Received
February 9.]
Sir: Confirming my telegram No. 52 of
January 22, 7 p.m.,15 I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and
translation of a Note dated January 13, 1940 (received by the
Embassy January 20) from the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs in
reply to my communication to him of November 21, 1939, which I
delivered pursuant to your instruction No. 547 of November 10, 1939,
File No. 365D.1163.
As reported in my telegram No. 52, Count Ciano takes the position
that the procedure of the Italian East African authorities in
expropriating the hospital owned by the United Presbyterian Mission
at Addis Ababa and in expelling the Mission’s representatives from
Ethiopia was entirely in accordance with the legislation applicable
in such matters.
The letter mentioned in the penultimate paragraph of Count Ciano’s
Note was dated June 18, not January 18, 1937.16 In
that letter the Minister, speaking of the future activities of
foreign missions in the conquered territory, said “If the said
missions, outside the educational field, intend to carry on work of
a humanitarian and [Page 523]
philanthropic character, any requests will in due course be
examined, when the juridical question of
recognition of the Empire has become an accomplished fact.”
(Underlining supplied).
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Italian Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Ciano) to the
American Ambassador (Phillips)
13/01477/3
Rome, January 13, 1940.
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to
refer to my letter No. 242139/120 of December 3, 193917 and to submit to
Your Excellency the information given me by the Royal Ministry
of Italian Africa regarding the expropriation of the hospital of
the American United Presbyterian Church Mission in Addis Ababa
and the expulsion of Dr. John A. Cremer and the Rev. Duncan C.
Henry from Italian East Africa.
As regards the hospital at Addis Ababa, the competent Royal
Authorities have advised that, for reasons of public utility,
expropriation was ordered under Viceregal Decree No. 124 of July
8, 1939, and indemnification therefor established as 980,000
lire.
Following the protest presented by the aforesaid mission and in
partial satisfaction thereof, the indemnification was raised to
1,370,000 lire—an amount set by a special and regularly
constituted commission, which appraised the various real
property of which the hospital is composed on an absolutely fair
basis.
In the event that the aforesaid mission deems it cannot accept
the above-mentioned indemnification for expropriation, it can
resort to the usual legal procedure provided for in
expropriation cases by the legislation of Italian East Africa,
which is the same as Italian legislation.
With regard to the payment of the sum of 1,370,000 lire, the
Governor General of Italian East Africa has advised that such
payment could be made without further formality during the
current month, but that it does not appear possible to make
payment in American currency, in view of the regulations
governing foreign exchange.
As regards the expulsion of the two above-mentioned American
citizens from the territory of Italian East Africa, the
competent Royal Authorities have pointed out that, independently
of other motives, such expulsion is the result of a provision of
general character, strictly [Page 524] applied to Italian nationals as well,
prohibiting sojourn in Italian East Africa by anyone not engaged
in some specific activity.
In this connection the competent Royal Authorities have stated
that the liquidation of the Gore and Saio missions has also been
completed.
The presence in Italian East Africa of the two individuals in
question could not, moreover, be justified by humanitarian and
philanthropic activities on their part: in this connection I
refer to the letter I had the honor to send Your Excellency on
January (sic) 18, 1937.
In any case I remain at your disposal for any further
explanations and information you may desire.
I am, Mr. Ambassador,
Very respectfully yours,
