Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, George McGhee, Elmer Bourgerie, and Mr. Wellons

DEPARTMENT OF STATE The 30-291 3079 Memorandum of Conversation 368 304 M.A. DATE: November 1, 1950 SUBJECT: Eritrea PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary NEA - Mr. McGhee conf AF - Mr. Bourgerie AF - Mr. Wellons COPIES TO: s/s AF NEA BNA EUR WE UNA UNP USUN DRN U. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16--61120-1 Since the Secretary had asked for an explanation of develop- ments concerning the disposition of Eritrea in the General Assembly, Mr. McGhee summarized the events of the last few days. The Secretary mentioned that a recent telegram from Rome (1841, October 24) confirmed the position which Count Sforza had taken with him in a conversation in New York in September. The Secretary asked what progress was being made to resolve the points at issue in the formula for the federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia. TRUMAN Mr. McGhee said that the latest information from our delega- 5° ARCHIVES "NATIONAL SERVICE" RECORDS AND tion in New York (he had discussed the matter with Mr. Noyes by telephone this afternoon) generally confirmed the new instructions which had been sent to Mr. Brusasca by the Italian Government authorizing public Italian support of the Muniz draft proposal provided certain changes were incorporated in it. He reported Mr. Noyes' feeling that compromises could probably be worked out with regard to taxation, police, and the nationality of inhabit- ants of mixed Italian and Eritrean parentage. The most diffi- cult point, however, would involve the right of the Federal Government to station troops in Eritrea. Mr. Noyes had reported that the first reaction of the Ethiopians was that they would not DECLASSIFIED make STATE DEPT. MEMO finity Project NLT f2-4 SECREI By NLT- Hu NARS, Date filly