125.146 P 7/3b
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Asmara (Smith)
Sir: Reference is made to the Department’s instruction of January 9, 1942 to you10 with regard to the establishment of the American Consulate at Asmara.
It has now been decided that the Asmara consular district will consist of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland, all of which are at the present time occupied by British military forces.
There is enclosed a copy of an instruction which has been addressed to the American Embassy in London11 on this subject.
You are hereby instructed to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at some convenient time after your arrival at Asmara. During this trip you are requested to investigate and report on conditions in Ethiopia, and to supply the Department with pertinent information regarding the desirability of establishing a permanent diplomatic mission in that country.
The expenses of your transportation and per diem for this trip, under the provision of the Travel Regulations, should be charged to your regular contingent expense allotment. If additional funds are required you should request an increase in your allotment for travel.
You will be furnished with a separate commission covering Ethiopia which, upon your arrival at Addis Ababa, you will present to the appropriate official of the Ethiopian Government with a request that you be furnished an exequatur covering Ethiopia.
Very truly yours,