501.BB/11–948: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris
us urgent
Gadel 439. For the Secretary. Views of Joint Chiefs on Eritrea just obtained briefly as follows:
- 1.
- Inadvisable remove radio facilities from Asmara as tests indicate no other suitable location Middle East-Eastern Mediterranean area.
- 2.
- No assurance facilities will be as secure and free as at present from technical or political interference, either deliberate or inadvertent, if territory ceded Ethiopia.
- 3.
- Consequently consider essential, if Asmara and Massawa ceded Ethiopia, obtain in writing, but not in form which would have to be registered UN, for indefinite period detailed guaranties (including participating rights airfields and free passage between two cities) for facilities Asmara and Massawa which in effect amount to a sort of military extra-territoriality to which add right of expansion military facilities “in an emergency or threat of war”.
(Delgas 445, 556, 612, Gadel 410)1 DefenseSec in transmitting above expressed opinion such agreement with Ethiopia would be difficult secure and suggested question again be placed on agenda National Security Council if time permits. We are informing Mr. Forrestal that unfortunately there is insufficient time and we are outlining for him Depts recommendations to you re this problem as follows:
- 1.
- Proceed soonest urging favorable vote other Delegations US–UK position Italian colonies with cession Eritrea, including Asmara and Massawa, to Ethiopia except northern Moslem section for which we should favor postponement for at least one year.
- 2.
- Secretary to speak to Ethiopian Vice Minister Foreign Affairs along line conversation Oct 14 (Delga 445)2 making following new points: (a) US has taken firm position to support cession to Ethiopia of all Eritrea, including Asmara and Massawa, except Western Province, (b) We will favor postponement decision on northern Moslem section Eritrea because we consider problem disposition this area more complicated and needs further studying, (c) We are indeed grateful for and accept unsolicited Ethiopian offer to make satisfactory arrangements which will permit continuation of US radio facilities at Asmara. We are particularly appreciative of Emperor’s friendly gesture of offering written assurances but relying confidently on their expressed intention we are content to enter detailed discussions for such arrangements as may be necessary for our facilities at Asmara and Massawa after this territory has been ceded to Ethiopia. We do not envisage that two countries bound by such friendly relations and parallel policies in world affairs will encounter difficulties in coming to satisfactory arrangements.
Even though Ethiopian offer written assurances was unsolicited we believe it would be too dangerous to accept them bearing a date prior to the cession of Eritrea to Ethiopia because of uglv repercussions if this became known. Furthermore kind of rights which Joint Chiefs state are necessary for security facilities Asmara and Massawa will be obtained and retained in last analysis only on basis good will and we believe good will more likely result from above approach than from quid pro quo “written guaranties” which Ethiopians could later claim were obtained under duress. In any case we are convinced that we must vote for cession of Asmara and Massawa to Ethiopia whether or [Page 960] not we are able indefinitely to maintain our military facilities there. We must therefore appear to Ethiopians as friendly and as generous as possible while we are still apparently in a position of being able to offer something.
Having in mind Italian political situation and our inability satisfy Italian desires re former Colonies we would still prefer our original position. If this not acceptable, next choice postponement decision one year all colonies. If neither of these courses feasible, we agree procedure outlined above.