Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador H. T. Andrews of the Union of South Africa, and James Moose, Jr.

000318 s/s 100 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Restructed 203 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: March 29, 1949. SUBJECT: Visit of the Ambassador of the Union of South Africa to Discuss the Former Italian Colonies Question. PARTICIPANTS: Nr. Dean Acheson, Secretary of State Mr. H. T. Andrews, Ambassador of the Union of South Africa Mr. James S. Moose, Jr., AF COPIES TO: NEA SWE BC GERVICE" EUR UND. 1-1493 The South African Ambassador called on the Secretary at noon to talk about the disposition of the Italian Colonies. He expressed (1) the view of the South African Government that there is a danger of Communist penetration into Africa by way of Soviet representation in Ethiopia, and (2) South African solicitude for Italians in Eritrea who might come under Ethiopian rule. In his opinion, the colonial record of Italy, up to the establishment of the Fascist régime, was creditable. South Africans, said Mr. Andrews, are particularly sensitive to Communist moves in Africa, and they also look with sympathy on the plight of the Italiens resident in Eritrea. Mr. Andrews recalled that South African troops had fought in Ethiopia and in North Africa during the war, and their experience gave rise to doubt that Ithiopia could properly administer additional terri- tory. Therefore, his Government favored a British trusteeship over Cyrenaica, and Italian trusteeship over the other former Italian Colonies. Mr. Andrews then delivered an covering the points of his statement. The Secretary briefly described the position of the US with regard to the various areas: for Italian Somaliland, Italian Trusteeship; for Eritrea, cession to ithiopia except for the Western Province; for Cyrenaica, British trusteeship; for Tripolitania and the Fezzan, postponement for a year or two. Several proposals for Tripolitania had been consi dered, DECLASSIFIED such E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Ban NLT- HC NARS Date 4-21-76