Department of State Committee files, lot 54 D 5, “Working Group on Colonial Problems”
Memorandum by Curtis C. Strong of the Office of Dependent Area Affairs to the Working Group on Colonial Problems1
The Dilemmas for the United States Presented by Somaliland Under Italian Administration2
the problem
The problem is to ascertain the dilemmas for the United States involved in the question of Somaliland under Italian administration.
discussion
The disposition of the former Italian colony of Somaliland after World War II is a question in the colonial field which has found certain United States foreign policy interests in conflict with certain other United States interests. The conflicts that have arisen in this case may be summarized briefly as follows.
On the one hand, it is in the interests of the United States that the former Italian colony of Somaliland be given a stable administration by a friendly power capable of insuring its security. In view of the lack of interest in administering Somaliland among other friendly powers which would meet these qualifications, the above-mentioned United States interests were factors leading the United States to support the return of Italy to Somaliland. Furthermore, with a critical struggle being waged over the allegiance of Italy, as between the free world and the Soviet world, it was in our interests to strengthen the prestige of an Italian government favorable to the free world. This was another consideration which inclined the United States to support the return of Italy to Somaliland.
On the other hand, it is in the interest of the United States to retain the sympathy and support of the many “anti-colonial” nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. These nations tended to support the Somali leaders and the neighboring African state of Ethiopia in their opposition to Italy’s return to Somaliland. There were strong reasons therefore for the United States to sympathize with their views.
It is also in the interest of the United States that there be a strong and effective United Nations. To the extent that the United Nations fails to deal with colonial questions, such as the disposition of Somaliland, in a way favored by the majority of its members, the latter will [Page 1145] tend to lose faith in the United Nations. It is therefore in the interests of the United States to see that the United Nations deals effectively with such problems in a way that will obtain majority support.
It was in part as a result of these conflicting interests that the United States supported the return of Italy to Somaliland for a period of ten years only and under the terms of the trusteeship agreement which provided also for a United Nations Advisory Council. The same conflict of interests affect United States positions in United Nations bodies on Italy’s administration of the Trust Territory of Somaliland.
Further dilemmas confront the United States in the case of Somaliland in view of the fact that the territory must be made independent in less than eight years. The United States, therefore, tends to support recommendations in the United Nations urging the Italian administration to take more active steps in the direction of setting up responsible local government ready to take over increasing responsibilities in the near future. However, such proposals tend to encourage the more extreme dissident elements in Somaliland, such as the Somali Youth League, which not only makes difficulties for the Italian administration but increase their complaints to the United Nations in regard to Italian administration. On the other hand, blanket support of the Italian administration arouses the suspicions of the “anti-colonial” powers in the United Nations and makes us liable to the charge of encouraging the Italians to take undue advantage of their position to maintain a large corps of Italian officials in the territory, to squeeze the economic life of the territory in the interest of Italians, and otherwise to favor and perpetuate Italian interests in Somaliland.
A further dilemma confronts the United States in that proposals for improving the economic, social and educational status of the territory would require resources which go far beyond that which the territory could maintain and may need to maintain when it stands on its own feet. Thus the United States is torn between its desire to support needed developments in Somaliland, generally favored by a majority of United Nations members, and its recognition of the need for realism, a course favored by Italy and other administering powers but much less popular in the United Nations.