38. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter 1
[Omitted here are items unrelated to the Horn of Africa.]
5. Ethiopia: I believe we must take all possible steps to maintain access to the Ethiopian regime, and thereby remind the Ethiopians that [Page 86] they have an alternative to complete reliance on the Soviets. Accordingly, we should name and send an Ambassador as soon as possible to Addis Ababa and I will submit shortly to you a candidate. We should also maintain our limited humanitarian aid relationship with Ethiopia but will have to proceed carefully, since there will be opposition in the Congress to providing assistance to the Ethiopians. As soon as the Congress reconvenes, we will begin consultations.2
[Omitted here are items unrelated to the Horn of Africa.]
- Source: Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 13, State Department Evening Reports, 12/77. Secret. Carter initialed in the upper right corner and wrote, “Merry Christmas—Cy.”↩
- Carter wrote “Good—expedite—also do you think a message to Mengistu might be advisable, perhaps delivered personally by an emissary?” in the left margin. On December 28, Vance advised Carter that the prospect of an imminent break in relations with Ethiopia had receded and an emissary was no longer necessary. (Memorandum from Vance to Carter, December 28; Carter Library, Plains File, Subject File, Box 13, State Department Evening Reports, 12/77) Nonetheless, Carter sent a message to Mengistu in January. See Document 42.↩