865.014/11–1247: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
6011. Itcol 90. Fourteenth meeting of DepItCol1 held today 3 p. m. with Zaroubin presiding. Ethiopian Vice Minister Foreign Affairs Aklilou made long speech and presented memorandum on “claims of the Imperial Ethiopian Govt to the return of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland”.2 Speech and memorandum similar to those previously presented to CFM and Paris Peace Conference. Emphasized claim to all of Eritrea and all of Italian Somali. Copies speech and memorandum being forwarded to Dept.
During questioning Zaroubin asked if proposal made at CFM in May 1946 re trading Ogaden for Eritrea was still supported by Ethiopian Govt. Aklilou stalled in replying and asked for text of proposal. Zaroubin said he would raise question again in later meeting after Ethiopia had time to consider. Aklilou then announced that two months ago he had presented British Govt new draft treaty between Ethiopia-UK which contains paragraph which would return Ogaden to Ethiopia.3
Since emphasis Ethiopian statement was on Eritrea, questions were asked about Ethiopian claims to Italian Somali. Aklilou said written [Page 616] statement on Somali would be submitted soonest possible4 and hoped to present oral statement on Somali at another hearing.
Deputies agreed send Ethiopian speech and memorandum to ItCol Commission with covering letter mentioning important points to be investigated. Letter to be drafted by Secretary-General and approved by Deputies.
Deputies agreed hear views Italy Nov 19 and Egypt Nov 21. Deputies also agreed to reply South Africa in same manner as reply sent New Zealand which says New Zealand will be afforded opportunity express views both before and after ItCol Commission presents reports.5 Replies to other interested govts are to be drafted in similar vein subject to Deputies’ approval.
- Deputies for the Former Italian Colonies.↩
- The text of oral and written views of the Ethiopian Government were circulated to the Deputies as document CFM/D/L/47/IC/72, November 12, 1947, not printed.↩
- For an additional report on the subject raised in this paragraph, see telegram 6104, Itcol 91, November 18, from London, infra.↩
- The Ethiopian Government’s communication, dated November 17, 1947, regarding Ethiopian claims for the return of Italian Somaliland was circulated to the Deputies as document CFM/D/L/47/IC/75, November 17, 1947, not printed.↩
- In communications to the Secretary General of the Deputies dated October 27 and October 31, 1947, respectively, circulated to the Deputies as documents CFM/D/L/47/IC/38 and 47, neither printed, the New Zealand and South African Governments protested against the restrictions imposed by the Deputies on the expression of views of Allied Governments which had participated in the war in Africa on all procedural and substantive matters at all stages of the proceedings of the Deputies. The identical replies sent to the New Zealand and South African Governments on November 1 and 13, 1947, respectively, and summarized here, were circulated to the Deputies as documents CFM/D/L/47/IC 57 and 57 bis, neither printed.↩