Haile Selassie Visits Washington
1954-05-26
Eritrea had become an autonomous unit federated with Ethiopia under the Ethiopian Crown in 1952, bringing its Red Sea ports into the emperor's development plans. American military and technical assistance supplied another part of the relationship. [1] [2]
Haile Selassie arrived in Washington in May 1954 for a state visit. His schedule included a White House dinner, meetings with senior American officials, and a dinner hosted by the emperor at the Ethiopian embassy. [3]
At a White House conversation on 29 May, the emperor sought American help with Ethiopia’s economic development. He raised investment, transport, and airline needs. [2]
President Dwight Eisenhower responded sympathetically but made no specific financial commitment. Further discussions were left to the Ethiopian foreign minister and American officials. [2]
Eisenhower encouraged private investment, and Haile Selassie arranged for his foreign minister to return with detailed requests. [2]
Sources
- UN General Assembly Resolution 617 (VII), 17 December 1952
Preamble and operative paragraphs 1–2: Eritrea's autonomous status under federation and proclamation on 11 September 1952
- Memorandum of Conversation, 29 May 1954
FRUS 1952–1954, vol. XI, part 1, document 205
- Memorandum on the Emperor’s visit
FRUS 1952–1954, vol. XI, part 1, document 204
Related Reading
Cite This Article
Haile Selassie Visits Washington. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record c5e97f2b7c4866ad3f60. https://chanceries.org/research/history/ethiopia-visit-2c208efb0e/