Ethiopian ambition in the Horn was apparent in the expansionist ambition of its monarch when Haile Selassie claimed Italian Somaliland and Eritrea. He made this claim in a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the Paris Peace Conference and at the First Session of the United Nations. In the United Nations the debate over the fate of the former Italian colonies continued. The British and Americans preferred to cede Eritrea to the Ethiopians if possible as a reward for their support during World War II. "The United States and the United Kingdom have (similarly) agreed to support the cession to Ethiopia of all of Eritrea except the Western province. The United States has given assurances to Ethiopia in this regard."Top Secret Memorandum of 1949-03-05, written with the UN Third Session in view, from Mr. Rusk to the Secretary of State. The Independence Bloc of Eritrean parties consistently requested from the UN General Assembly that a referendum be held immediately to settle the Eritrean question of sovereignty.
ethiopian ambition in the horn was apparent in the expansionist ambition of its monarch when haile selassie claimed italian somaliland and eritrea he made this claim in a letter to franklin d roosevelt at the paris peace conference and at the first session of the united nations in the united nations the debate over the fate of the former italian colonies continued the british and americans preferred to cede eritrea to the ethiopians if possible as a reward for their support during world war ii "the united states and the united kingdom have (similarly) agreed to support the cession to ethiopia of all of eritrea except the western province the united states has given assurances to ethiopia in this regard"top secret memorandum of 1949-03-05 written with the un third session in view from mr rusk to the secretary of state the independence bloc of eritrean parties consistently requested from the un general assembly that a referendum be held immediately to settle the eritrean question of sovereignty