365D.1163/33
The Minister Resident in Ethiopia
(Engert)
to the Secretary of
State
No. 209
Addis
Ababa, November 21, 1936.
[Received
January 15, 1937.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
a copy of an interesting questionnaire, in Italian and in
translation, which Mr. James L. Rohrbaugh recently submitted to the
Italian authorities regarding their attitude towards Protestant, and
more particularly American, missionary activities in Ethiopia.
Mr. Rohrbaugh, who was formerly connected with the Sudan Interior
Mission and now represents the Independent Presbyterian Board of
Foreign Missions, also writes occasionally for the United Press in
the United States. However, he assures me that he neither
telegraphed nor mailed the contents of the questionnaire to the
United Press, but that he did send a copy of it to a religious
periodical in the United States which had suggested the idea to
him.
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As the answers to the questions were only given after several weeks
of careful consideration by the highest Italian authorities in this
city they may be considered as official. The Department will
therefore note with interest the assurances that missionaries who
had been obliged to abandon their stations would be permitted to
return to them; that they would be free to preach, so long as they
confined themselves to religion; and that they could proselytize
among the pagans if they wished.
The Department’s attention is more especially invited to Question (5)
and the answer to it which contains a veiled reference to
“nonsanctionist” nations during the recent Italo-Ethiopian war, and
which goes so far as to promise that if in future the Italian
authorities should find it necessary to discriminate between
missionaries of different nationalities, American missionaries would
receive more favorable treatment.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
Questionnaire Concerning Italian Attitude
Toward Missionary Activities
(1) Q. Is it true that the official policy of the Government will
be that missions may continue their work so long as they do not
interfere with the Government or the State?
A. Yes, the missions will be permitted to explain their objects,
provided they remain within the limits of their religious
activities and do not act contrary to the laws of the State.
(2) Q. Will the missionaries who have abandoned their stations
during the war and disorders be permitted to return to them?
A. Yes, provided that in the past they were not engaged in
anti-Italian propaganda, and that their previous places of
residence have not proved unsuited for the carrying out of their
work.
(3) Q. Will it be necessary for Protestant missionaries to obtain
permits from the Government in order to preach in Addis Ababa or
in the interior, or will they have complete liberty as was the
case under the old régime?
A. Protestant missionaries will be free to preach, provided they
limit themselves strictly to the religious field.
(4) Q. Do the official declarations regarding freedom of worship
include the right to effect conversions among the pagan
tribes?
A. There is no objection to the missions’ proselytizing among the
pagans.
(5) Q. Many people in this city are under the impression that the
Government is more friendly disposed towards American
missionaries than towards those of other nationalities. Is this
true and intentional,
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and if so may it be said that it is an indication of friendship
towards America because of the long friendly relations between
the Italian and the American Governments?
A. It is a fact that the Italian Government cannot forget those
nations which during the Italo-Ethiopian conflict have been most
benevolent to it.
If, in the future, it should be necessary to make any
distinctions between the missionaries of the various countries
it is certain that, as far as possible, those from North America
will be favored.
