It looks to me as though the next move would have to be taken through British channels. I can't see that there is anything further that we can do here for the time being. Very sincerely yours, G. HOWLAND SHAW 884.6461 Tsana Dam/57: Telegram The Minister in Ethiopia (Southard) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] ADDIS ABABA, December 3, 1928—4 p. m. [Received December 4-6: 10 a. m.] My cable of November 28, 4 p. m. Tafari has intimated to me that the British Government communication concerning Tsana Dam is delayed by the inability of the British to get consent or agreement from the Government of Egypt. Further details not available here. SOUTHARD 884.6461 Tsana Dam/62 The Minister in Ethiopia (Southard) to the Secretary of State No. 104 ADDIS ABABA, December 3, 1928. SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of this date stating that His Majesty, King Tafari Makonnen, had intimated to me that British action in the Tsana Dam negotiation was delayed by difficulties with the Egyptian Government. Neither the King nor any one else here appears to be well informed in the matter. However, the report current is that the British Government will delay making any further proposals to the Ethiopian Government concerning the Tsana Dam until it shall have obtained the consent of the Egyptian Government. The Egyptians appear to be holding out for guarantees from the British Government which the latter is reluctant to give. I regret that I can obtain no more detailed information here, but this intimation of a probable situation may enable the Department to elicit details from either Cairo or London. In further connection with the Tsana Dam subject I wish to refer to my Diplomatic Despatch No. 99 of November 16th, 1928,14 concerning German interest in the project. I have been informed by my German colleague here, Dr. Curt Pruffer, that he is starting off about the middle of December for a trek from Addis Ababa to "Not printed. Asmara in the Italian colony of Eritrea. Lake Tsana is on the route and I asked him if he would see it. He said that it would be one of the points of interest on his trip. Doctor W. C. Martin and others have told me, however, that the German Minister's trip has as its main objective the visit to Lake Tsana and that the stated objective of Asmara is merely incidental. It is not apparent that Dr. Pruffer can do anything important in the matter by merely going there but I report his proposed trip as of further significance in connection with the German interest reported in previous despatches. Captain Harold White, mentioned in the Department's telegraphic instruction of October 29th, 1928,15 has arrived and was taken by me a few days ago for presentation to His Majesty, the King. He gave the King a fine tiger skin and 6,000 feet of cinematograph film. He said nothing about the Tsana Dam on this occasion but I have heard from other sources that he will seek an audience with the King for purpose of discussing it. I suspect that matters will in no way be helped if he discusses the Tsana Dam with the King but I have not, of course, intimated anything of the sort to Captain White, whom I have found an agreeable and most creditable type of American. If and when he mentions to me his purpose in this connection I shall afford him all possible assistance. I do know, however, that the King prefers to keep the discussion in its present status between himself and the Legation, unless an actual and fully accredited officer of the White Corporation should I understand that Captain White does not so qualify. come. I have [etc.] ADDISON E. SOUTHARD 884.6161 Tsana Dam/63 The Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Shaw) to the President of the J. G. White Engineering Corporation (Gano Dunn) WASHINGTON, January 5, 1929. DEAR MR. DUNN: Confirming the telephone conversation which I have just had with you, the following is a paraphrase of a confidential cable from our Legation at Addis Ababa, dated January 4: A conference has been held on the Tsana Dam matter between King Tafari and the new British Minister. As a result of this conference I have been requested by His Majesty to communicate to the J. G. White Engineering Corporation his desire that the Corporation immediately send a qualified representative to Addis Ababa to take up and discuss with the King the details preliminary to the conclusion of a possible contract. The idea of a conference in London was once more suggested by me to the King. His Majesty however declined. Sincerely yours, G. HOWLAND SHAW PROPOSALS BY ETHIOPIA FOR OBTAINING MILITARY SUPPLIES AND INSTRUCTORS IN THE UNITED STATES 500A14/4621 The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State No. 7615 PARIS, June 21, 1927. SIR: With reference to the Department's instruction No. 2304 of May 23rd 16 (File No. 884.24/6), regarding a "Convention between the French, British and Italian Governments dated 1925" concerning the sale of arms to Abyssinia, I have the honor to report that I have been informed at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that no "Convention" exists, but that there has been a simple exchange of Notes amongst the Powers mentioned agreeing to apply in principle to Abyssinia the Geneva Convention signed June 17, 1925, regarding the Control of International Commerce of Arms and Munitions.17 It appears that a conference with Abyssinian authorities was planned for this spring but has been postponed to the autumn. No desire exists to prevent the purchase of arms in reasonable quantities, and it is intended that every country should be on an equality with reference to any such purchases. It is desired, however, in order to insure the tranquillity of the States bordering upon Abyssinia, that only a limited quantity of rifles, perhaps fifty thousand, be purchased by that country. According to my informant, arms purchased by the Abyssinian Government usually find their way into the hands of irresponsible individuals rather than remaining in the possession of the Government forces. I have [etc.] For the Ambassador: SHELDON WHITEHOUSE 16 Not printed. 17 Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. I, p. 61. 237577-43---58 884.24/10 The Minister in Ethiopia (Southard) to the Secretary of State No. 4 ADDIS ABABA, May 4, 1928. [Received June 1.] SIR: I have the honor to state that His Imperial Highness, Ras Tafari, Prince Regent and Heir to the Throne of Ethiopia, has asked this Legation and Consulate General to procure promptly for him from the United States prices and offers on the following military supplies: 1. Army rifles, per thousand. 2. Machine rifles and machine guns, per one hundred. 3. Smaller caliber artillery pieces. 4. Ammunition for above. 5. Uniforms for both privates and officers, of both cotton khaki and woolen khaki made in the fasten at the neck style, with trousers either laced or close fitting below the knees. Per thousand suits. If American laws and regulations permit the export of these war materials, and the prices are suitable, His Imperial Highness might make purchases approaching perhaps & million dollars in all. At any rate I respectfully suggest the advisability of having sent to this Legation and Consulate General, for delivery to His Imperial Highness, catalogs and other sales literature covering the above commodities. Although I am not in possession of recent information on the subject I obtain the understanding here that there is no longer a general restriction sponsored by Britain, France and Italy to control the importation of war materials into Ethiopia since the admission of the latter to membership in the League of Nations. I have [etc.] 884.24/11 ADDISON E. SOUTHARD The Minister in Ethiopia (Southard) to the Secretary of State No. 63 ADDIS ABABA, September 14, 1928. SIR: I have the honor hereby to transmit a request of the Ethiopian Government that the War Department of the United States purchase for it, as a special favor, one aeroplane and two tanks suitable for military purposes. His Imperial Highness, the Prince Regent of Ethiopia, is taking steps to modernize his small army by instruction in the use of this sort of equipment. There are no aeroplanes in the country as their importation has heretofore been prohibited. The proposed purchase would, therefore, bring in an American aeroplane as the first ever to be used in Ethiopia. It is likely that other purchases through commercial channels would follow. The Ethiopian army has one tank recently presented to it by the Italian Government and which, for purposes of local instruction, is operated by a non-commissioned officer of the Italian Army who is on duty at the local Italian Legation. The Prince Regent has been persuaded from some source that American aeroplanes and tanks are superior to European ones. He wishes samples and informs me that for such reason he wishes to inquire whether our War Department could make the purchases above indicated. His Imperial Highness is willing to remit cash in advance if informed that the purchase can be made. He has asked me to request a telegraphic reply. Should the purchase be made it is desired by the Prince Regent that shipment be made direct from New York to Djibouti, French Somaliland, which is occasionally practicable by steamers of one or two of the lines running to India and the Far East via the Suez Canal. Djibouti is a French port but His Imperial Highness says he will make arrangements for landing of the shipment there and for its clearance through to Ethiopia. I am also asked by the Ethiopian Government to inquire whether it would be possible to procure two American army officers to serve as military instructors here. I have not encouraged any belief that such arrangement can be made but transmit the inquiry by special request. I have [etc.] ADDISON E. SOUTHARD. 500.A14/4621 : Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick) WASHINGTON, October 3, 1928-5 p. m. 341. Your despatch No. 7615 of June 21, 1927. Please ascertain discreetly and telegraph results of proposed conference of three Powers with Abyssinia and present status of arms traffic control. KELLOGG 500.A14/4921: Telegram The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State PARIS, November 3, 1928-1 p. m. 345. Department's telegraphic instructions 341, October 3, 5 p. m. and my despatch 9054, October 19, 1928.18 Foreign Office informs me |