ETHIOPIAN SITUATION REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78S01932A000100120003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 1998
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 2, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

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TO: IMMEDIATE WHITE HOUSE//SITUATION ROOM FOR'MR FAZIO,
STATE RCI//OPERATIONS CENTER MR FRY, NMCC//ATTENTION
CIA REP, TREASURY DEPT//INFO 25X1A9a
WARNING NOTICE SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS
INVOLVED
25X1A2g
THE ERITREAN LIBERATION FRONT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CARRIED OUT
THREE RECENT BOMBINGS IN ADDIS ABABA IN RETALIATION FOR THE
MILITARY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO INCREASE MILITARY OPERATIONS
AGAINST THEM.
ALL THE BOMBINGS WERE TARGETED AGAINST GOVERNMENT INSTALLA--
TTONS. ON NOVEMBER 30 AN EXPLOSION BLEW A HOLE IN A FUEL STORAGE
TANK AT THE CAPITAL'S INTERNATINONAL AIRPORT. A POWERFOUL
EXPLOSION YESTERDAY EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED CITY HALL; AT LEAST
THREE PEOPLE REPORTEDLY WERE KILLED AND SEVEN INJURED. ANOTHER
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EXPLOSION AT A RECENTLY NATIONALIZED HOTEL CAUSED LIMITED DAMAGE.
REINFORCEMENTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO REACH A TOTAL OF ABOUT
1,500 TROOPS RECENTLY BEGAN ARRIVING IN ERITREA. THEY WILL JOIN
ARMY TROOPS ALREADY THERE TO IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL'S DECISION
TO HAVE A MILITCEARY SHOWDOWN WITH THE LIBERATION FRONT. THE
INSURGENTS APPARENTLY DECIDED TO DEAL THE FIRST BLOW, AND CHOSE
ADDIS ABABA RATHER THAN A CITY IN THEIR OWN PROVINCE IN ORDER
TO AVOID INJURIES TO ERITREANS.
.THE COUNCIL IS CONVINCED THAT THE LIBERATION FRONT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBINGS AND WILL PROBABLY C DETAIN SOME
ERITREANS WHO LIVE IN ADDIS ABABA. FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSIONS
THE COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CAPITAL'S RESIDENTS TO CARRY IDENTIFI-
CATION CARDS AND HAS ALREADY ARRESTED SOME WHO WERE NOT CARRYING
PROPER IDENTIFICATION.
A SKIRMISH BROKE OUT YESTERDAY IN ADDIS ABABA WHEN TROOPS
ATTEMPTED TO ARREST AN ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE ARISTOCRAT WHO WAS
ONCE A CLOSE FRIEND TO HAILE SELASSIE. HE RESISTED AND TROOPS
FINALLY STORMED HIS RESIDENCE.
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MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN RENEWED INTEREST IN CON-
CLUDING AGREEMENTS ON US MILITARY ASSISTANCE. THE ETHIOPIANS
HAD HELD PORTIONS OF THE PACKAGE IN ABEYANCE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
WHILE GENERAL AMAN NEGOTIATED FOR A SEPARATE AGREEMENT ON ADDITIONAL
CREDITS AND GRANT AID. THE GOVERNMENT NOW SHOWS A STRONG DESIRE
TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CASH PURCHASE OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR IN THE ORIGINAL US OFFER. THIS INTENTION
FIRST SURFACED ON NOVEMBER 21--TWO DAYS BEFORE THE EXECUTION OF
AMAN--AND WAS CONFIRMED IN A MEETING ON NOVEMBER 29 BETWEEN THE
CHIEF OF THE US MILITARY ADVISORY GROUP AND THE VICE MINISTER OF
DEFENSE.
THIS DECISION INDICATES THE COUNCIL DOES NOT INTEND TO ALTER
IMMEDIATELY ETHIOPIA'S RELIANCE ON THE US AS ITS MAIN SOURCE OF
ARMS. THE FUTURE OF US MILITARY ASSISTANCE, HOWEVER, PROBABLY
HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED. SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS STILL
WANT TO TURN TO THE SOVIET UNION OR CHINA FOR ASSISTANCE. SOME
HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED DISSAPPOINTMENT OVER THE LEVEL OF US AID.
THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE DECIDED TO BUY AS MUCH US EQUIPMENT AS
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POSSIBLE BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION ON US ASSISTANCE.
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