352. Telegram From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State1
Addis Ababa, July 29, 1968,
1624Z.
4904. Ref: Addis Ababa 4755.2
- 1.
- During my audience with HIM today, I recalled that when I had first arrived in Addis he urged that after I had formed some views on Ethiopian domestic affairs we meet to talk over my personal views. I said I now had some impressions and views, purely personal, and I would be delighted discuss at his convenience, perhaps after Nigerian meetings were behind him. HIM laughed and said if we waited until after Nigeria it would be very long time. He went on, however, to say he would be very glad to talk later and suggested I call him when we both had less pressure.
- 2.
- HIM then said he also wished to discuss Ethiopia’s relations with neighbors and with Soviet Union, and relations of neighbors with Soviet Union. He said recent improvement of relations between US and Soviet Union was a good thing for the world, but he was concerned that in considering its relations with Soviets, US should not overlook the harder line Soviets have been taking with Ethiopia and Soviet provision of arms to Sudan, Somalia and UAR.
- 3.
- I replied US sought improved relations with Soviet Union, but said we were proceeding with caution and full regard for Soviet relations with our friends and Soviet attitudes toward such countries as Czechoslovakia. I said US does not intend sacrifice its principles or relations with its friends in interest closer relations with Soviets. I said I would be prepared to talk about these problems when we next meet.
- 4.
- HIM said he also wished to discuss changed attitude of Congress on foreign assistance and other US activities abroad. In particular, he wished to talk about certain studies of Ethiopian-American relations prepared by FonOff. (Comment: Min State Tesfaye mentioned these studies some weeks ago. I will seek talk about them with Tesfaye or FonMin Ketema before I meet with HIM.)
- 5.
- One final note on audience with HIM is that I observed on his reading table copy of Ayub Khan’s Friends, Not Masters. Book mark would indicate HIM was two-thirds of the way through book.
Hall