Office of the Historian

139. Telegram 51900 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia1 2

Washington, March 7, 1975, 2355Z

Subject:

  • Talking Points for Ethiopia

For Ambassador Hummel

Following are talking points as approved by Secretary for you to use in your discussions with Ethiopian officials:

1.
We value the long and friendly ties which have linked Ethiopia and the United States, and we want to maintain them.
2.
We believe strongly in Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and are willing to continue to help the Ethiopian Government preserve it.
3.
Despite the Eritrean insurgency, we believe that many Eritreans, because of religious, cultural and historical affinities, do not desire to sever their links with Ethiopia entirely.
4.
We are well aware of the special efforts you have made [Page 2] both in sending a high-level mission to the Arab states to discuss the Eritrean problem with them as well as in responding affirmatively to the Sudanese initiative. We are also mindful that the Eritrean isurgents have refused to sit down with representatives of the EPMG unless the discussions were solely to negotiate the independence of Eritrea. We fully agree that this is an unacceptable precondition of any talks. We understand Ethiopia is actively considering the possiblities of negotiations. We welcome this interest. We believe it desirable that Ethiopia make every feasible effort to get a negotiating process started looking towards a federal solution which would maintain the integrity of Ethiopia.
5.
We believe that if Ethiopia takes a forthcoming position, we would be able to defend our continuing military assistance to Ethiopia on the grounds that it is being used to maintain the Ethiopian Government’s position in Eritrea while negotiations get underway.
6.
Continuation of the U.S. military and economic aid relationships will also strengthen your negotiating hand, and will demonstrate to the Eritrean insurgents that they should negotiate rather than press for a military victory.
7.
On military supplies, we are prepared to agree to your purchasing now up to 7 million dollars for arms resupply based on mutually agreed priority requirements. (FYI: In this connection you should direct Chief MAAG at appropriate time to get in touch with MOND to negotiate a package which will “miraculously” turn out to be dollars 7 million. This package would be in addition rpt in addition to ammunition included in regular MAP program regarding which Chief MAAG has details. Separate instructions will be issued to MAAG by DOD after you have discussions with mond along lines suggestions contained CHMAAG message 2505502Z Feb. End FYI.)
8.
We also have in mind, for further discussion between the MAAG and your officials, the following:
A.
The continuation of MAP program.
B.
THS supply as early as possible of as much as possible of the items discussed in Washington in December and January, i.e., aircraft, radar, Vulcans.
C.
Since we will need to have better information from you on the size of your present stocks of ammunition, and what your recent expenditures have been, we hope to discuss this information with MOND speedily so that the most urgent items can be purchased from cash and shipped to you quickly
9.
To summarize:
  • —We intend to maintain our friendly ties.
  • —We will continue to be as responsive as we can to your real needs and your recent requests.
  • —For this reason we have made suggestions about your continuing to work toward negotiations, and to be seen publicly as doing so, and about certain steps in the humanitarian field, so that our support for you can be seen as strengthening your hand for negotiations, rather than merely trying for a military solution.

Ingersoll
  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Ethiopia, State Telegrams from SECSTATE-NODIS. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Coote and approved by Mulcahy.↩
  2. The Department provided Ambassador Hummel with talking points for his discussions with Ethiopian officials, including U.S. approval to sell up to $7 million for arms re-supply.↩