765.84/5185: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Phillips ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24—9:25 a.m.]
70. My 65, February 20, 1 p.m.2 According to statements from Addis Ababa published here yesterday and the previous day, 2000 natives were arrested following the bomb incident. A few hundred who had been able to prove their innocence were released while all persons found in possession of arms on their persons or in their huts were shot; investigations of those still under arrest are continuing. Squads of Fascists have “cleaned up certain suspect quarters” of the city. While the population was reported calm it was added that 30,000 national troops were guarding the city. The statement issued day before yesterday stated that all culprits would be executed “under orders from Rome”.
- Not printed.↩