Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

884.01A/59

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Clare H. Timberlake of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs

[Washington,] December 7, 1943.

Participants:	Mr. Ailing
	Mr. Winant—EH48
	Mr. E. O. Marsh, Chief of Mission
	Mr. Stone—FEA49
	Mr. Fellows—FEA
	Mr. Lewis
	Mr. Timberlake

This conference was held to discuss the present organization of the combined missions, progress made in securing personnel, plans for departure and the manner of effecting liaison between the mission and the MESC,⁵⁰ Cairo.

Mr. Marsh stated that the majority of the eleven experts which he considered necessary had been secured for the mission. They would be consolidated into one unit with himself as chief of mission and would include agricultural, engineering and mining specialists as well as an economist and a doctor. The latter two had not yet been definitely selected but Mr. Marsh believed Dr. Avery would be the most suitable medical man if he would accept.

A memorandum of organization and functions of personnel drawn up by Mr. Marsh was given to each person present. Since there were several corrections to be made, the memoranda were returned to Mr. Marsh.

Mr. Winant pointed out that in his opinion it would be highly desirable to tie in this mission with the MESC, since civilian supplies to that area came under MESC jurisdiction and since the MESC already had agricultural and other experts working on the Ethiopian problem. Mr. Ailing stated that in his opinion such liaison was desirable but called attention to the fact that the request by the Emperor for such missions was made to President Roosevelt and the presumption was that Ethiopia wanted a purely American approach. Mr. Stone agreed. Mr. Winant then suggested that the economist needed by the unit might be supplied from Mr. Landis’⁵¹ staff in Cairo and might act as the immediate point of contact between MESC and the unit. There was agreement on this point and Mr. Winant stated that he would ask Mr. Landis to select an American member of his staff to serve as economist.

All present agreed that the mission should depart as soon as possible. Mr. Marsh expected the mission to be ready to go by January 15. Mr. Ailing then suggested that the Department inform Mr. Caldwell, for transmission to the Ethiopian Government, that it was believed that the mission would leave the United States the latter part of January.

Mr. Ailing suggested that it might be desirable to combine the position of doctor and public health officer of the mission with that of personal physician to the Emperor. He pointed out that qualified doctors approached in the latter connection by the Department had usually felt that such a position provided too little scope for them and desired additional opportunities to be of service in Ethiopian public health. Mr. Marsh believed that a suitable combination of functions might be worked out and said that he would broach the subject to Dr. Avery.

48. Frederick Winant, adviser, office of the Special Adviser on the Eastern Hemisphere.
49. William T. Stone, Foreign Economic Administration.
50. Middle East Supply Center.
51. James M. Landis, American Director of Economic Operations in the Middle East and principal American civilian representative on the Middle East Supply Center with personal rank of Minister.