319. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia1
66484. For Ambassador. Ref: Addis 1162.2 Please deliver the following Presidential message to the Emperor:3
“Your Imperial Majesty:
Ambassador Korry has kept me fully informed of your recent conversations, and has conveyed to me your desire that we meet as soon as possible. I certainly understand the importance of the matters which prompt your request. Although these issues are, of course, of primary interest to the countries directly involved, they also affect the general peace and welfare of Africa and the world. Thus, under ordinary circumstances I would be most happy to receive you here to discuss them personally and at length.
However, as you know, I am leaving on Monday for 17 days in Asia, and I understand that you will also be away from your capital until late this month. My schedule for the period immediately following my return is already crowded well beyond capacity. I am afraid that I must, therefore, suggest that we postpone a personal discussion at least until I have worked my way through the urgent matters which will accumulate during my absence.
In the meantime, if you would find it useful, I should be pleased to send a personal representative to Addis Ababa to discuss these matters with you and your associates.4 I would choose a man in whom I have great personal confidence and who could accurately reflect my views. Perhaps it would be most to our mutual benefit if he were to come after you have an opportunity to talk these problems over with your colleagues at the upcoming meeting of the Organization of African Unity. [Page 550] However, I will be happy to bow to your judgment on the matter of timing, as well as on the question of the usefulness of such a representative.
In any event, I hope Your Majesty understands that this reply does not reflect any lack of American interest in the problems which concern you. Ambassador Korry has well conveyed my own thoughts, which are the products of lengthy deliberation and a strong interest in the reduction of tensions in Africa and around the world. I fully recognize your high sense of responsibility for the security of Ethiopia and its trading outlets. But it seems to me of immense importance to Ethiopia and her neighbors that every effort be made to avoid any further escalation of the arms race. Indeed, it appears that all interests could well be served by movement in the direction of a regional armament agreement, perhaps administered through the OAU. All of us need to dig deeply into our reserves of goodwill and imagination in dealing with this kind of problem.
Nobody is more aware than I of the complexities involved in dealing with this kind of issue, particularly when there is an absence of mutual trust between the parties to the negotiation. However, with time and patience and self-restraint, progress on the most difficult issues is often possible. I have every confidence that Your Majesty’s leadership and statesmanship will be equal to the challenge of this most critical of the issues facing Ethiopia and her neighbors. If you and your colleagues can work out your differences in a manner which assures peace and stability, your example will be an inspiration not only to Africa, but to all mankind. We stand ready to serve that cause in whatever way we can be useful.
My deepest apologies that I must postpone our meeting. Please let me know your views on a personal representative. I want you to know that my thoughts are with you in these difficult days.
With warmest personal regards.
Sincerely, Lyndon B. Johnson.”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 ETH. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Drafted at the White House and approved by John P. Walsh of S/S. Repeated to Mogadiscio, and by pouch to Nairobi, London, and Paris.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 316.↩
- In telegram 1409 from Addis Ababa, October 15, Korry reported that he had delivered the President’s message to the Prime Minister’s office that morning. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 ETH)↩
- Telegram 68168 to Addis Ababa, October 18, requested Korry’s views on a proposal that Governor Harriman, as special Presidential emissary, visit Ethiopia around November 1 on his return from the Manila Conference. In telegram 1455 from Addis Ababa, October 19, the Ambassador concurred; telegram 69173 to Addis Ababa, October 19, instructed him to proceed. In telegram 1470 from Addis Ababa, October 20, however, Korry reported that the Prime Minister had refused to discuss the possibility of such a visit before the Emperor returned to Addis Ababa on October 29 and also believed that the Emperor would prefer to wait for an opportunity to see the President himself. (Ibid.)↩