Felix Cole
Encyclopedia
Felix Cole was an American
diplomat. His postings in the foreign service
included ambassador
ships to Ethiopia
and Sri Lanka
.
Following the retirement of John K. Caldwell in 1945, Cole was selected to replace him. Emperor Haile Selassie was concerned that Cole had spent a great deal of his career in colonial territories, and through the Ethiopian ambassador to the United States, Blatta Ephrem Tewelde Medhen, voiced their objection at leas twice. On presenting their objection for the last time, according to John Spencer, The acting Secretary of State
Joseph C. Grew "was visibly angered. Tossing his head, he declared hat he found that objection ridiculous and that if we persisted, the United States would not be represented in Ethiopia."
The Ethiopian fears proved to be accurate soon after he arrived in Ethiopia October 1945. At the Potsdam Conference
, the United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union had proclaimed their intent "to seize German government property wherever it was found, even thought on the territory of friendly states." Cole then took the initiative, over the protests of the Ethiopian government, of seizing the official archives of the German legation in Addis Ababa
. Spencer observes, "His arrogance confirmed in the minds of the Ethiopian officials the view that the minister still held to his colonialist outlook." He was assisted in this endeavor by the caretaker of the German legation, whom "to rub salt in Ethiopia's wounds" he proceeded to appoint an official of the legation with diplomatic privileges. The Ethiopian government immediately declared the former caretaker persona non grata
, an act Ambassador Cole ignored. In 1947 the former caretaker was murdered in a legation car; in a footnote to his memoirs, although Spencer admits the facts both then and later "are extremely sketchy" he "cannot dismiss the suspicion that this assassination had been planned with the approval and the complicity of the Imperial Guard
."
Cole's final misstep came when he wore what the Ethiopians felt was inappropriate dress, which Emperor Haile Selassie viewed as a deliberate and public insult. As Spencer explains, "As elsewhere in Africa, great importance was attached to formal attire at ceremonies. At the dedication by His Majesty of a monument in the center of the city, a ceremony attended by all in the diplomatic corps, the American ministers appeared in a business suit, side by side with the other diplomats who were all attired in striped pants and top hat
s." Cole was subsequently recalled before the Ethiopian government could declare him persona non grata.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat. His postings in the foreign service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
included ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
ships to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Following the retirement of John K. Caldwell in 1945, Cole was selected to replace him. Emperor Haile Selassie was concerned that Cole had spent a great deal of his career in colonial territories, and through the Ethiopian ambassador to the United States, Blatta Ephrem Tewelde Medhen, voiced their objection at leas twice. On presenting their objection for the last time, according to John Spencer, The acting Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Joseph C. Grew "was visibly angered. Tossing his head, he declared hat he found that objection ridiculous and that if we persisted, the United States would not be represented in Ethiopia."
The Ethiopian fears proved to be accurate soon after he arrived in Ethiopia October 1945. At the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
, the United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union had proclaimed their intent "to seize German government property wherever it was found, even thought on the territory of friendly states." Cole then took the initiative, over the protests of the Ethiopian government, of seizing the official archives of the German legation in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
. Spencer observes, "His arrogance confirmed in the minds of the Ethiopian officials the view that the minister still held to his colonialist outlook." He was assisted in this endeavor by the caretaker of the German legation, whom "to rub salt in Ethiopia's wounds" he proceeded to appoint an official of the legation with diplomatic privileges. The Ethiopian government immediately declared the former caretaker persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
, an act Ambassador Cole ignored. In 1947 the former caretaker was murdered in a legation car; in a footnote to his memoirs, although Spencer admits the facts both then and later "are extremely sketchy" he "cannot dismiss the suspicion that this assassination had been planned with the approval and the complicity of the Imperial Guard
Imperial Guard
The Imperial Guard was originally a small group of elite soldiers of the French Army under the direct command of Napoleon I, but grew considerably over time. It acted as his bodyguard and tactical reserve, and he was careful of its use in battle...
."
Cole's final misstep came when he wore what the Ethiopians felt was inappropriate dress, which Emperor Haile Selassie viewed as a deliberate and public insult. As Spencer explains, "As elsewhere in Africa, great importance was attached to formal attire at ceremonies. At the dedication by His Majesty of a monument in the center of the city, a ceremony attended by all in the diplomatic corps, the American ministers appeared in a business suit, side by side with the other diplomats who were all attired in striped pants and top hat
Top hat
A top hat, beaver hat, high hat silk hat, cylinder hat, chimney pot hat or stove pipe hat is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, predominantly worn from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century...
s." Cole was subsequently recalled before the Ethiopian government could declare him persona non grata.