884.014/5–1346
The Secretary of State to the Ethiopian Prime Minister (Endalkachen)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of April 4, 1946, regarding Ethiopia’s claims to Eritrea and Italian Somaliland.35a
I know that I need not assure Your Excellency of the high regard in which the American people hold the people of Ethiopia and of their recognition of the magnificent struggle which so happily resulted in the re-emergence of an independent Ethiopia. It has also been the constant wish of this Government to give every encouragement which it properly could to the unfettered development of your country.
In keeping with the friendship and close association which have so long existed between our two Peoples and Government, I assure you that Ethiopia’s position on the question of the disposition of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland will be given every possible consideration by this Government.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
- Not printed; in it the Ethiopian Prime Minister asked the United States to assert its leadership in order to assure the return of Eritrea and Somaliland to Ethiopia. The Prime Minister’s communication was delivered to the Department of State under cover of a note of May 13, 1946, also not printed (884.014/5–1346).↩