124.84/137: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Ethiopia ( Engert ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27—3:15 a.m.]
62. Tour 24, February 23, 7 p.m., received yesterday. I am in hearty agreement with the conclusions reached by the Department.
I am leaving March 5 as I was unable to obtain any passage from Djibouti before March 9. I suggest, and Hughes agrees, that the consular office be closed about March 30. He requests inform Macy’s, New York, cancel recent order drapes and groceries, also instruct despatch agent ship nothing.
Shall I give notice to the landlord? Rent only paid to April 30 under terms of lease. I am much concerned about the fate of our non-American personnel and respectfully recommend they be kept as caretakers until April 30 too.
[Page 689]Should the Department desire to sell any or all of the Government-owned furniture including furnishings bought for radio personnel good prices can be obtained at the present moment. Please instruct also re disposal of codes, archives and stationery, seals, et cetera. I suggest library be shipped to Washington and that certain articles be stored at the British Consulate General pending final disposal.
To insure prompt and more accurate transmission before my departure the Department may wish to communicate with me via British Legation radio which is still functioning for receiving purposes.