884.014/4–946: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn), in London
3072. For Embassy and Dunn. Following two paragraphs excerpted from telegram 74 Mar 30 from Addis Ababa71 covering Minister’s audience with Emperor Ethiopia:71a
“6. Eritrea. His Imperial Majesty referred to various statements that proposed trusteeships Italian colonies intended prevent partitioning them. No such proposal re Dodecanese Islands. Ten-year trusteeship followed by independence not applicable Eritrea which was over three thousand years seat of Ethiopian empire. Plebiscite in Eritrea tomorrow would result overwhelmingly favor reunion Ethiopia even among Moslems. Ethiopia by tradition opposed Communism. If trusteeship planned protect Red Sea area against it best way would be return Eritrea to Ethiopia. British occupation authorities repressing pro-Ethiopian movement and encouraging delegations to Khartoum. Remarkable progress made by Ethiopia internally since end Italian occupation guarantee that Ethiopia could govern Eritrea and will submit plan therefore to peace conference.72 His Imperial Majesty referred gratefully to interview between Assistant Secretary Dunn and Vice Minister Aklilou at London.
7. In December 1944 Ethiopia had no choice but agree with British and therefore accepted continued occupation one-third its territory, Ogaden. British then stated required Ogaden (a) to prosecute war and (b) not to prejudice creation greater Somaliland for Britain at peace conference. British prevent all relations between Ethiopian inhabitants Ogaden and Ethiopia except Jighiga local court. Agreement re display Ethiopian flag ignored. Inhabitants propagandized against Ethiopia. Recently motorized division moved into Ogaden which regrettable since very nation criticizing Russian re Persia is itself taking similar measures.”
Please telegraph summary Aklilou’s interview with Dunn mentioned paragraph 6.73
- Not printed.↩
- Haile Selassie I.↩
Telegram 1941, April 27, 1946, to Paris, for the Secretary, not printed, reported that a despatch had just been received from Minister Felix Cole in Addis Ababa amplifying his telegraphic report of his audience with the Emperor on March 26. The telegram added the following regarding the Emperor’s comment on the proposed trusteeship for Eritrea:
↩“Emperor said such proposal to be followed by independence would not only do violence to racial, economic and historical facts but would profoundly shock Eritreans and Ethiopians alike. He assumed proposal had been made to avoid introduction of certain influences and tendencies likely to result from partition among powers of Italian colonies, but asserted that return of Eritrea to Ethiopia would be much better safeguard than regime in which such influences would actually be represented on Advisory Commission.” (884.014/4–2746)
- In telegram 4030, April 11, 1946, from London, not printed, Assistant Secretary of State Dunn reported on his conversation with Ethiopian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ato Aklilou Abte Wold in London on January 25, 1946. Vice Minister Aklilou wished to ascertain when it might be possible for the Ethiopians to present their case to the Council of Foreign Ministers. He brought up particularly the Ethiopian Government’s interest in the future disposition of Eritrea and its request for the incorporation of that territory into Ethiopia. Dunn assured Aklilou that full consideration would be given to any requests that the Ethiopian Government might wish to make. (884.014/4–1146)↩