224. Telegram From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State1
4583. Subject: RRC Commissioner Dawit Criticizes USG Humanitarian Assistance.
1. RRC Commissioner Dawit called a meeting of Donor Government Chiefs of Mission, International Organization and PVO Resident Representatives on October 8 to launch a renewed appeal for humanitarian assistance in view of the growing severity of Ethiopia’s drought and famine. On October 6, in a meeting with the AID TDY Team just returned from its survey trip and Charge, Dawit remarked jocularly that he was going to have to “attack the United States” in his remarks to the October 8 conference, because the United States has not done enough to help. Charge reminded Dawit that USG humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia for calendar year 1984, comprising commodities and money already handed over and those on the way, will total $27.2 million, including fifty-two thousand tons of commodities, thus making the USG probably the largest individual donor. Though we have kept Dawit regularly advised of USG Humanitarian Assistance allocations for Ethiopia,2 he professed surprise. Charge expressed hope that Dawit would take account of this substantial assistance in formulating his remarks. Later that day we sent Dawit a fact sheet done by AID/FFP [Page 609] TDY officer Gold giving a breakdown of and totals for CY 1984 USG humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia.3
2. All to no avail. Dawit delivered a very defensive address, castigating the donors for failing to respond to his March 1984 appeal4 and ignoring how severe Ethiopia’s situation had become, despite the RRC’s repeated warnings (in fact, of course, what happened was just the reverse: all summer long there was growing awareness in the donor community of the severity of the drought and famine, but the RRC kept quiet while the PMGSE prepared for the formating of the Workers Party of Ethiopia and spent lavishly on celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Revolution). Only the USG was mentioned by name. On the United States, Dawit quoted from an article by Jay Ross in the Washington Post and one from the Manchester Guardian alleging that the USG was withholding humanitarian assistance for political reasons;5 he also quoted a statement by CRS/E Director Fitzpatrick protesting AID plans to eliminate commodity support for CRS’ Program for Ethiopia.6 Dawit made no mention of the fact that these press stories, and Dr. Fitzpatrick’s remarks, dated from early and mid 1983; he said nothing about USG humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia since that time and made no use of the date we provided him on USG assistance for CY 1984.
3. Before the coffee break and discussion period, Charge had to leave for a previously scheduled appointment. On departing, Charge instructed ADCM to deliver a clarification at the beginning of the discussion period, to point out that the press reports and statements dated from early and mid 1983, to give facts and figures on our 1984 assistance, and to express our regret over the Commissioner’s use of dated material to give the impression that the USG is withholding humanitarian assistance for political reasons, and his failure to mention the substantial assistance extended by the USG during 1984. When Dawit became aware that ADCM intended to make a statement along these lines he became quite agitated and volunteered to deliver a clarification himself, which he then proceeded to do. In the ensuing discussion, the Papal Pro-Nuncio, Archbishop White, expressed gratitude to the USG for the substantial amounts of commodities provided CRS for its Ethiopia program. At a meeting of Donor Government Chiefs of [Page 610] Mission, International Organization and PVO Resident Representatives that same afternoon at the residence of the Italian Ambassador (EC Chairman), Charge provided full data on US CY 1984 Humanitarian Assistance for Ethiopia.
4. Charge received letter from Commissioner Dawit morning October 9 referring to the October 8 meeting and stating that “We are very much appreciative of your (read USG) assistance . . . because of the fact that we believe the United States has the capacity to do more we thought it would be proper not to give the feeling that we had enough and the United States has done all it could. The statement referring to the United States was our own way of creating pressure to get more and was never intended to provoke you, upset you or in any way be ungrateful of the assistance which we have received so far. My statement was a statement of concern and had no political tone. It was only a strong humanitarian investigation of why more could not be done by a country which has a capacity to do so.”
- Source: National Archives, RG 286, USAID/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Box 7, Project Drought Ethiopia Declared 10/14/85. Limited Official Use; Priority. Sent for information to Nairobi, Rome, and USUN Geneva.↩
- In telegram 147309 to Addis Ababa, May 19, the Department reported on a conversation between Lyman and Dawit in which U.S.-Ethiopian relations and food aid to Ethiopia were discussed. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D840326–0350)↩
- Not further identified.↩
- In telegram 1494 from Addis Ababa, March 31, the Embassy reported on Dawit’s appeal for assistance. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D840211–0399)↩
- See Jay Ross, “Famine, War Threaten Thousands in Ethiopia,” Washington Post, June 26, 1983, p. A1.↩
- Not further identified. In telegram 1300 from Addis Ababa, April 14, 1983, the Embassy reported on a meeting in which Fitzpatrick was informed about the termination of the program. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D830207–0990)↩