Office of the Historian

226. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Rountree) to the Secretary of State1

Washington, April 23, 1957.

SUBJECT

  • Richards Mission—Ethiopia, April 15–182

Both the Emperor and the Foreign Minister presented Ambassador Richards with a long list of complaints similar to those passed to Vice President Nixon on March 12.3 In general they seemed to feel that they are not getting sufficient United States support despite Ethiopia’s traditional pro-American stand, as a result of which they are threatened with a loss of territory to Greater Somalia, are attacked in hostile radio broadcasts from Egypt, and their policies are opposed by Egypt and Syria in the Afro-Asian group. They also mentioned our failure to consult Ethiopia on the Aswan Dam.

Nevertheless the Foreign Minister assured Ambassador Richards of continued close political collaboration with the United States, despite the risks of granting us base rights without a commitment to defend Ethiopia. Ethiopia is willing to grant additional facilities but the need for aid should be recognized, as a basis of “equilibrium” with Saudi Arabia.

Commitments

The aide-mémoire delivered by Ambassador Richards provides for the following grant assistance:

1. Radio broadcasting station, 300 kilowatt, and training of personnel $1,000,000
2. Two small Bell helicopters, possibly modified to one 10-passenger helicopter and spares 212,000
3. Civil police equipment 200,000
4. Civil police training to be recommended by consultant, estimated cost under $200,000, to be obligated FY 1958
5. Additional military equipment, including light tanks, vehicles, weapons 3,000,000
$4,412,000

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The Ethiopians were moderately pleased by these proposals, but Ambassador Richards concluded that the United States must be more responsive to Ethiopian requests in order to count on their support on major East-West issues.

Communiqué

The communiqué stressed Ethiopian support of the American Doctrine, referred to “common interest in resisting the threat of international communism,” and expressed opposition to aggression from any source.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1580/5–1057. Secret. Drafted by Bliss. Also addressed to the Under Secretary of State.↩
  2. For documentation on the Richards Mission visit to Ethiopia, see vol. XVIII, pp. 350–357. For text of the joint communiqué issued on April 18 in Addis Ababa, see Department of State Bulletin, May 6, 1957, pp. 763–764.↩
  3. Vice President Nixon visited Ethiopia March 11–13, as part of his visit to Africa. See vol. XVIII, pp. 339–349.↩