884.24/112
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
Washington, June 18,
1943.
My Dear Mr. President: Attached hereto for
your signature, if you approve, is a proposed reply to three
communications which have been received from the Emperor of
Ethiopia.
The only point calling for particular attention in our suggested reply is
the statement that this Government would welcome a diplomatic
representative of Ethiopia, the Emperor having indicated in one of his
letters that he is anxious to make such an appointment. As our Minister
Resident, Mr. John K. Caldwell, is shortly to proceed to Addis Ababa to
open a legation there it is presumed that we would be willing to have an
Ethiopian diplomatic representative in Washington.
Faithfully yours,
[Enclosure]
President Roosevelt to the Emperor of Ethiopia
(Haile
Selassie)24
Your Majesty: I have received from Mr.
Yilma Deressa your kind letter of April 30, 1943,25 and also the photograph of
yourself in the beautiful frame, which were handed to me by Mr.
Deressa at the
[Page 100]
reception
which I gave on June 7 for the delegates to the United Nations
Conference on Food and Agriculture. I wish to thank Your Majesty
most warmly for the friendly expressions contained in your letter
and to convey to you my deep appreciation of the sentiments which
prompted you to send me the photograph.
I have also received Your Majesty’s two letters of February 12, 1943,
which were handed to General Maxwell at the time of his visit to
Addis Ababa. General Maxwell was delighted to have the honor of
meeting Your Majesty, and he was pleased to be entrusted with the
conveyance of your greetings to me.
As you have doubtless been informed, Mr. Deressa, in accordance with
your wishes, has signed the necessary representations with regard to
lend-lease aid to Ethiopia. Conscious of the great sacrifices which
your valiant country was called upon to make in resisting an
unscrupulous foe and of the pressing need for restoring the economy
of Ethiopia in order that Your Majesty’s people may enjoy once more
the fruits of their labor, my Government will be glad, through the
medium of lend-lease aid, to supply such articles, services, and
information as it may be in a position to furnish for the defense of
Ethiopia, and, through such other means as may be possible, to
render all practicable assistance in the rehabilitation of your
country. My Minister Resident and Consul General, Mr. John K.
Caldwell, will presently arrive in Addis Ababa to resume diplomatic
relations with your Government, and he will be glad to be informed
by you of the ways which you feel the United States may best render
effective help.
Your Majesty has indicated that you are anxious to appoint a
diplomatic representative to my country. I assure you that I would
be most happy to welcome such a representative.
I send Your Majesty my best wishes for your personal welfare and the
happiness of the people of Ethiopia.
Your good friend,
[
Franklin D. Roosevelt
]
