[SECRETISSIMO]

June 5th 1947

As Ettorre Bastico lay on his seat in the office of the SISM, He grew vindicated. Despite everything he had been through, with the defeat of the Italian North Africa Army at Tripoli and his removal from command during the tumult of the Italian Civil War, he was left destitute and disgraced. Nevertheless, the global context has shifted, the Soviet Union threatens the very existence of Italy, The SISM is the first line of defense for a peace-time Italian Armed Forces and Italy must not be caught unaware of the happenings of the world. While internal squabbles dominate the politics of the Republic in the run-up to the 1948 elections. Bastico sets his sights on Africa.

The stipulations of the 1947 Treaty of Paris between Italy and the Allied Powers state that Italy would renounce all claims to it's former colonial empire with the future of the territories being decided by the Four Powers, the United Kingdom, the USSR, the United States and France. Nevertheless, the failed British gamble in the Ogaden has resulted in a planned general withdrawal of British troops from the former colonies of Italian East Africa. While this move would put it in line with the treaty as the territorial integrity of the Ethiopian Empire was upheld, the decision to pull out this early may cause significant consequences to the region's stability. There is no confirmed governing body that is expected to emerge after the British withdrawal and the United Nations has not spoken on the issue.

President Enrico di Nicola has made it clear that the United Nations should establish Trust Territories with Italian tutelage in these colonies in order to prepare them for independence. Sadly, his views were left with deaf ears as the UN decides what to do. Italy will not tolerate it's former colonies collapsing into civil war, and with it being the legacy we left to them. No! Marshal Bastico will not accept this. After discussions with his brother-in-arms, Vittorio Ambroiso , the former Governor General of Italian East Africa, documentation was shared to Bastico detailing census figures, base areas and infrastructure of Eritrea and Somalia.

"Italian Somaliland was never a profitable nor a prominent colony during the Empire and its political consciousness is developed to the point that the Somali Youth League could feasibly form a government. But Eritrea is a different story, split into religious and ethnic tribes, the region is ripe for civil war, and the city of Asmara lies at the center of it all, an oasis amidst a sea of ethnic upheaval. Fortunately for us, Asmara is unique in the sense that a large Italian population lives in the city as well as its surroundings, the Italo-Eritrean community is vast, wealthy, and capable, Should conflict start in the region, it is imperative to arm our people at once to protect them."

[ORDERS:]

-Contact Giuseppe Naldo, the informal leader of the Italo-Eritrean community, and get him to meet with Sergio Amanitore and his men over at Addis Ababa to cooperate and prepare a response to the withdrawal of British forces from Eritrea.

-Spread out agents in British Eritrea to help in the smuggling of weapons, identify supply and equipment depots, Provide maps and recon equipment to our fifth column.

-Prepare a blockade runner to transfer old armored cars, trucks, mortars, and guns to organizing Italian paramilitaries in Eritrea on the eve of the British withdrawal.

-Provide an offer to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia where, should he intervene and invade the Eritrean territory after the British withdrawal shall provision the following:

1. Italy, alongside the already agreed reparations under the Treaty of Paris, will return all artifacts claimed during the war back to Ethiopia as well as $30,000,000.
2. Italy would recognize Ethiopian territorial claims in Eritrea in exchange for similar amnesty programs and property protections for the Italian community in Eritrea as well as the maintenance of an Italian presence in the Port of Asmara where Italian ships may dock duty-free. A special autonomous zone for Italo Eritreans would be established and they reserve the right to maintain an organized militia, The militia will act in support of the Emperor against hostile paramilitaries and bandits in Eritrea
3. Italy would recognize Ethiopia’s hegemony over the Ogaden region and will refuse to recognize claims of a prospective independent Somali state.
4. Should the Emperor be open to the recovery of Italo-Ethiopian relations, Material, economic aid, and military aid will be provided to the Ethiopian Army to help maintain their territorial integrity and sovereignty intact against would-be aggressors.
5. Italian businesses and industries may operate in the Asmaran zone and will invest in the Ethiopian economy.

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