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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Chapter IV |
| The Mercy Proclamation July 1940 |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - July 1940 |
By the Proclamation released on Hamle 17th, 1932, I announced to you
that I advised the Italians in Ethiopia and who were completely encircled to
submit to our Chiefs in order to avoid being killed. Consequently I
recommend to you to receive in a suitable manner and to keep all the
Italians who submit to you with or without arms. Do not reproach them
for their atrocities to which they had subjected our population. Show
them that you are soldiers possessing human feelings and a human heart.
Do not forget that during the Battle of Adowa, the valiant Ethiopian
warriors who had handed over the Italian prisoners to their Emperor have
increase the honor and elevated the name of Ethiopia.
Actually, as you know, the Italian troops are wandering about dispersed, in
Libya, Albania, and Ethiopia. In Libya the British troops have captured
more than 130,000 men. The Greek troops have captured many
thousands of Italians in Albania. The British troops have co-operated with
Us and those who have penetrated into Eritrea continue to capture each
day numerous Italians.
The Italians are escaping and evacuating the regions to the West of
Ethiopian territory, form the North of Ethiopia to Lake Randolph. In the
face of these circumstances, be vigilant on all your positions so as to avoid
that they destroy the country in the course of their withdrawal.
But We recommended to you to spare their lives and treat well the enemy
which will represent humanity; We particularly recommend to you spare
and respect the life of children, women and old people. Do not pillage the
goods of others, even the property of the enemy. We recommend to you
not to burn any house.
When I order you to respect all these things it is only to ask you to
perform an act of conscience, because my heart tells me that the Ethiopian
people is not unfair to any other civilized people in their respect for the
laws of war.
that I advised the Italians in Ethiopia and who were completely encircled to
submit to our Chiefs in order to avoid being killed. Consequently I
recommend to you to receive in a suitable manner and to keep all the
Italians who submit to you with or without arms. Do not reproach them
for their atrocities to which they had subjected our population. Show
them that you are soldiers possessing human feelings and a human heart.
Do not forget that during the Battle of Adowa, the valiant Ethiopian
warriors who had handed over the Italian prisoners to their Emperor have
increase the honor and elevated the name of Ethiopia.
Actually, as you know, the Italian troops are wandering about dispersed, in
Libya, Albania, and Ethiopia. In Libya the British troops have captured
more than 130,000 men. The Greek troops have captured many
thousands of Italians in Albania. The British troops have co-operated with
Us and those who have penetrated into Eritrea continue to capture each
day numerous Italians.
The Italians are escaping and evacuating the regions to the West of
Ethiopian territory, form the North of Ethiopia to Lake Randolph. In the
face of these circumstances, be vigilant on all your positions so as to avoid
that they destroy the country in the course of their withdrawal.
But We recommended to you to spare their lives and treat well the enemy
which will represent humanity; We particularly recommend to you spare
and respect the life of children, women and old people. Do not pillage the
goods of others, even the property of the enemy. We recommend to you
not to burn any house.
When I order you to respect all these things it is only to ask you to
perform an act of conscience, because my heart tells me that the Ethiopian
people is not unfair to any other civilized people in their respect for the
laws of war.
| Historic - War and Peace |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |