1 November 1940-XIX
TO THE HIGH COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE A.O.I. - General Staff
- ADDIS ABABA -
Greek communities in A.O.I-
Following the recent European events, culminated with the beginning of the advance of Italian troops in the Hellenic territory, the relations between the two nations - although they have not yet had the open character of a declared war - lead us to believe that in the next few days they could even lead to a complete breakup.
In this forecast it is necessary to study carefully the problem of the various Greek colonies located in the Empire and amounting to about a thousand elements.
The mental characteristics and the particular attitudes of the Greeks transplanted abroad are well known: thirst for gain, ineptitude for any work other than trade, sometimes, almost always, conducted by illegal means, are the most salient aspects of their character in general.
In particular, the Greeks residing in the Empire, almost all of them for many years, respond fully to this common denominator of their moral character, characterized by absolute lack of any scruple, which makes them even forget any sentimental ties with the motherland.
At this particular time, the general fear of material damage that could be caused by possible internment is added to lorb, and it can be said that this fear currently dominates all other considerations. Watchful, reserved, fearful of everything, many of them, especially the wealthiest ones, have gone so far as to express publicly and cynically that Italy should hurry up and wipe out their king and government, so that they can resume their lucrative commercial activities in peace.
If all this is to be referred to the great masses, it cannot be excluded that there are still numerous elements that are truly dangerous for the political and military purposes of our security. A small minority, tries to stay away from the same remnant for fear of compromise.
In order to avoid any surprises on this side, it is appropriate to divide Greek citizens residing in the various territories of the Empire into three categories according to their danger:
Category 1: political or military suspects
a) - already interned in concentration camps in June last year and simulated there;
b) - already interned in concentration camps in June last year and then released;
c) - elements for which no action has been taken to date.
2 category: immune from unfavorable precedents.
3 category: immune from precedents and to be considered useful to the economic ends of the Empire
According to the territory of respected residence, the Greek colony of the Empire is then subdivided in the following figures:
( Scioa................. no. 580
( Eritrea............... " 300
Governments ( Somalia.............. " 10
( Harar................... " 160
( Amara................. " 10
( Gimma .............. " 40
Total n.1100
These figures should not be understood as absolute, since the lists of police stations do not always include minors under 16 years of age, who are not required by law to have residence permits. However, it can be roughly estimated that the number of Greeks under the age of 16 residing in the Empire does not exceed 300. Adults would amount to 800.
In view of the above and considering that even apparently harmless elements can assume - given the prevailing and future circumstances - a dangerous character, it is considered the duty of the High Command to consider the appropriateness of internment in the third category, in free, albeit restricted, movement.
Bearing in mind that most of those belonging to the first category are already interned in the various existing concentration camps, it is believed that the number of those who will have to be interned ex-novo will not exceed one hundred, we have the honor to propose that they be distributed among the concentration camps already established and functioning in Quoram (those of Eritrea and Amara) and in Sarcama - Dire Daua (those of Harar, Scioa and Somalia) and in Abalti (those of Galla and Sidama).
The Greek citizens of the second category, about 600 adults and 300 minors under the age of 16, could all be concentrated in a new camp, which could, for example, be set up in Mai Habar, in the workers' accommodation camp, whose existing equipment would lend itself well to hosting families, women and children. Or they could be divided between Mai Habar, Dire Daua and Addis Ababa, always in existing camps and suitably prepared.
There are in total about a thousand individuals for whom it is necessary to arrange transportation to the designated location and food and lodging for the duration of the war.
With regard to the complex economic activities owned and carried out by individual Greek citizens in the Empire, the same criteria could be adopted as those that informed the protection and preservation of the activities and assets owned by the citizens who left the A.O.I. in September of last year:
- 1) movables and liquid assets: entrusted to credit institutions;
- 2) real estate: entrusted to the Residence or to proxies of the interested party's choice.
This Inspectorate is preparing a complete list, divided by Government and according to the above-mentioned categories, which will be sent to you as soon as possible.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
f. to Magg.Gen.P.A.I. Renzo Mambrini
P.C.C.
THE HEAD OF OFFICE II
(Lt.Col.P.A.I. V.D'Ajutolo)
The document pretty much speaks for itself, but in conclusion, the document speaks of the deportation of Greeks to various concentration camps in A.O.I (Italian East Africa).
The Sarcama camp which was mentioned in the document was first populated with 11 Greeks in November 1940 (along with a couple of other individuals, all foreign) but this number grew to 77 in January 1942.
Sources:
https://campifascisti.it/scheda_campo.php?id_campo=1245
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