357.AM/4–650
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Alfred E. Wellons of the Office of African and Near Eastern Affairs
Subject: Italian views on Italian Emigration to Africa and Italo-Ethiopian Relations
| Participants: | Mr. Alberto Tarchiani, the Italian Ambassador |
| Mr. George C. McGhee, Assistant Secretary of State | |
| Mr. Samuel K. C. Kopper, ANE | |
| Mr. A. E. Wellons, ANE |
The Italian Ambassador at his request called on Mr. McGhee this afternoon to pay his respects and to discuss certain aspects of Mr. McGhee’s recent trip to Africa.1 He also raised the question of what action could be taken with respect to the resumption of consultations between Ethiopian and Italian representatives, particularly on the subject of Eritrea.
The Ambassador asked if Mr. McGhee had had an opportunity to consider the possibilities of increased white settlement in Africa during his recent trip. Mr. McGhee said this had been considered very thoroughly at the Consular Conference held in Lourenco Marques, Mozambique,2 and the consensus was that relatively few areas in Africa were suitable for large-scale white settlement. The only areas open now are Southern Rhodesia and the Union of South Africa with perhaps some possibilities in the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola. The other parts of Africa simply do not have the resources or the climate to support Europeans adequately. The Ambassador thought it might be possible under the Point Four program to assist white settlement in Africa, but Mr. McGhee said the officers at the conference were quite pessimistic about much being accomplished. He added that in large parts of Africa the problem is to find and develop adequate resources for the Africans and that Point Four assistance in those areas would be directed to the benefit of the inhabitants. Mr. McGhee also pointed out that the Point Four program could not be expected to solve the basic political problems with which those African territories are confronted.
The Ambassador said that in regard to emigration to the Portuguese colonies the Italian Government would again approach the Portuguese [Page 1514] Government in Lisbon on the matter. Mr. McGhee said that would be the best approach to the problem, and that in each case it would seem wise for the Italian Government to take it up directly with the metropolitan countries concerned.
[Here follows the remainder of this memorandum of conversation dealing with the discussion of Italo-Ethiopian relations and the question of the future of Eritrea. For documentation on the attitude of the United States regarding the disposition of the former Italian colonies, see pages 1600 ff.]