865.014/12–1649: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
4584. UK plans for early transfer admin Ital Somaliland to Italians (urtels 4998,1 4999, 50592) surprise Dept re:
- a)
- Plan to turn over admin before Trusteeship Council draws up terms trusteeship agreement. It is difficult reconcile this with either spirit or letter GA Res which states “Italy shall be invited to undertake provisional administration … after the Trusteeship Council and Italy have negotiated the trusteeship agreement”.
- b)
- Proposal that Itals occupy terr in Ogaden Province Ethiopia which Brit now occupy under Anglo-Ethio agreement. Such maneuver cld be regarded by Ethio as aggression on which they cld probably make good case in UN, not to mention local border clashes which might result. Furthermore, it appears to Dept this wld have serious effect on Anglo-Ethio relations.
Indication reported urtel 5059 that Itals may be losing enthusiasm for early transfer and have misgivings re occupying up to provisional boundary Ogaden encourages Dept to think UK plans may be revised. Clutton’s thought that turnover might not begin until after monsoons and be completed by late 1950 appears most desirable procedure under circumstances. Therefore you shld take opportune moment to mention to FonOff Dept’s concern on points (a) and (b) above.
During recent informal talks bet Ital (Catalano) and Ethio (Spencer) reps with Dept officers present as neutral observers we have suggested advisability Itals and Ethios reaching at least provisional agreement on Ethio boundary with Ital Somaliland. We suggested that, if agreement cld not be reached on a particular line, question be frozen pending final agreement by establishing neutral or “no-man’s land” as many miles wide and long as necessary in order riot to encroach on claims of both parties. Ethios are unwilling to consider settlement Somaliland boundary until their claims to Eritrea are satisfied. They might modify this view if Itals shld make some concession or reasonable proposal. This suggestion to freeze Boundary problem by mutual agreement as well as fact of talks bet Itals and Ethios has been mentioned to Brit Emb here and you may, at your discretion, pass it on to FonOff.
Final boundary bet Ethio and Ital Somaliland cld be demarcated later, perhaps by UN boundary comm. Contrary Clutton’s views para 2 [Page 613] urtel 5059, we believe Interim Comite cld set up boundary comm on this problem provided, of course, Ethiopians agree politically. Also mention this to FonOff, if you consider advisable.