AF files, lot 58 D 562, “Correspondence–1955: BCA Federation”
The Consul General at Salisbury ( Hoover ) to the Deputy Director of the Office of African Affairs ( Cyr )
official–informal
Dear Leo : I have read with much interest your Memo of Conversation [Page 334] of August 271 regarding your and Second Secretary Peter Marshall’s conversation about our representation at Salisbury.
When Mr. Ball 2 was here and during his interview with Prime Minister Sir Godfrey Huggins, the latter raised the question of whether our representation in the new Federation might be upgraded. Huggins said there was no reason why the United States shouldn’t send a Minister to Rhodesia if it wished to do so. Huggins also mentioned that the Federation would have to give early thought to the question of sending a representative to Washington—although he didn’t know what form Rhodesia’s representation would take.
This morning I had a conversation with Guy Gisborne, Federal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who confirmed that consideration was being given to representation at Washington. Gisborne seemed to favor having the Rhodesian High Commissioner at London make trips to Washington whenever special representation should be necessary.
Mr. Ball, I am sure, would like to be American Minister to the Federation. However, I agree with you that we should leave the matter of diplomatic representation here in abeyance for the time being. Mr. Gisborne also thought that the best thing to do—although he made the following points quite clear: (1) Rhodesia does have diplomatic relations with other governments, (2) The United Kingdom does not conduct Rhodesia’s diplomatic relations, and (3) Rhodesia is a junior Dominion and not a senior Colony. (To support Gisborne’s view, I remind you of Article I of the Consular Convention with the United Kingdom, which specifically states that the Convention applies to Southern Rhodesia.3 As I reported to the Department some months ago, according to the Government of Southern Rhodesia, the Convention does not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless ratified by the Southern Rhodesia Parliament. That would suggest a rather broad measure of independence for Rhodesia.)
We have had a most hectic and exhausting year here and I fully believe we have raised American prestige and influence here to a very high point. It is unfortunate that just at this moment we should lose Frank La Macchia. With only 50 percent of our normal complement of 4 on hand, our operations will be severely curtailed. Miss Geoghegan4 and I will do our utmost to serve the Department as best we can; but please be patient if we can’t do everything. I am not complaining—I am aware that the Department is having a rough time and that things [Page 335] are tough all over. Under the circumstances both Miss Geoghegan and I will forfeit our annual leave (which both of us need) and do the best we can.
With best regards, I am
Sincerely,
- Supra .↩
- For further information on Ball, see President Eisenhower’s letter to Governor Kennedy, July 10, p. 326.↩
- The text of the Consular Convention, signed at Washington on June 6, 1951, is printed in Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) No. 2494 or United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST), vol. 3 (pt. 3), p. 3426.↩
- Kathryn M. Geoghegan was the vice consul at Salisbury.↩