| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Haile Selassie I |
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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
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| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Selected Speeches |
| Slowed Progress |
The consequences of the past decade are known to all. The Federation
instituted between the people of Eritrea and the rest of Ethiopia has tended
to slow the speed of the economic and social progress of the entire nation,
including Eritrea.
The Federation has increasingly been manipulated as a ready-made tool
through which the enemies of Ethiopian and Eritrean progress and
solidarity have endeavoured to further their evil designs.
The Federation contains the inherent danger of creating misunderstandings
among people who have, for centuries past, experienced no problems in
living together.
The Federation, by duplicating administrative apparatuses, has occasioned
waste of both human and material resources which could have been
otherwise utilized for development purposes.
One is accordingly fully justified in concluding that the unfortunate
consequences of this particular form of federation and the needs of the
age, and not any conscious effort on the part of the people concerned,
have brought abut its demise.
Any responsible person who has deliberated upon and examined carefully
the unfortunate consequences flowing from the federal system under
consideration will feel no surprise that the people of Eritrea, who have had
the misfortune of being directly subjected to its adverse consequences,
have urged and pleaded that it be eliminated and replaced by a unitary form
of administration. The steps We are now about to take, therefore, merely
confirm and implement the result which the natural solidarity of the
Ethiopian peopole and their wise desire for closer collaboration hs already
brought about.
The people of Eritrea, through their representatives gathered together in
the Eritrean Assembly, recognizing the harmful consequences of the
operation of the federal system through the experience of the past decade,
desirous of living together with their other Ethiopian brothers without
hinderance or obstacle, have formally requested, by their resolution
voluntarily and unanimously adopted on November 14, 1962, that the
federation be dissolved. In its place, they have asked for the complete
administrative integration of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia in order to
facilitate and speed the economic growth and development of the nation.
We have accepted this resolution and have consented to its being placed
into effect.
The human rights and fundamental freedoms contained in the former
Constitutions of Eritrea are, equally, important provisions existing in the
Constitution which We promulgated for Ethiopia in 1955. The people of
Ethiopia have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy these basic freedoms, and
they shall continue to be protected zealously. All rights, privileges,
concessions and exemptions of whatever nature granted to persons or
companies within Eritrea, whether foreign or national, are sacred
obligations which will not be impaired or affected in any manner.
instituted between the people of Eritrea and the rest of Ethiopia has tended
to slow the speed of the economic and social progress of the entire nation,
including Eritrea.
The Federation has increasingly been manipulated as a ready-made tool
through which the enemies of Ethiopian and Eritrean progress and
solidarity have endeavoured to further their evil designs.
The Federation contains the inherent danger of creating misunderstandings
among people who have, for centuries past, experienced no problems in
living together.
The Federation, by duplicating administrative apparatuses, has occasioned
waste of both human and material resources which could have been
otherwise utilized for development purposes.
One is accordingly fully justified in concluding that the unfortunate
consequences of this particular form of federation and the needs of the
age, and not any conscious effort on the part of the people concerned,
have brought abut its demise.
Any responsible person who has deliberated upon and examined carefully
the unfortunate consequences flowing from the federal system under
consideration will feel no surprise that the people of Eritrea, who have had
the misfortune of being directly subjected to its adverse consequences,
have urged and pleaded that it be eliminated and replaced by a unitary form
of administration. The steps We are now about to take, therefore, merely
confirm and implement the result which the natural solidarity of the
Ethiopian peopole and their wise desire for closer collaboration hs already
brought about.
The people of Eritrea, through their representatives gathered together in
the Eritrean Assembly, recognizing the harmful consequences of the
operation of the federal system through the experience of the past decade,
desirous of living together with their other Ethiopian brothers without
hinderance or obstacle, have formally requested, by their resolution
voluntarily and unanimously adopted on November 14, 1962, that the
federation be dissolved. In its place, they have asked for the complete
administrative integration of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia in order to
facilitate and speed the economic growth and development of the nation.
We have accepted this resolution and have consented to its being placed
into effect.
The human rights and fundamental freedoms contained in the former
Constitutions of Eritrea are, equally, important provisions existing in the
Constitution which We promulgated for Ethiopia in 1955. The people of
Ethiopia have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy these basic freedoms, and
they shall continue to be protected zealously. All rights, privileges,
concessions and exemptions of whatever nature granted to persons or
companies within Eritrea, whether foreign or national, are sacred
obligations which will not be impaired or affected in any manner.
In the last decade, the people of Eritrea have increasingly come to realize
that the Federation, alien to their tradition and experience, was superfluous
and unnecessary among people whose unity had stood the test of time.
Moreover, the operation of this system was necessarily beset by serious
difficulties which, among other consequences, tended to retard the pace of
economic and social development. As the years passed, the people of
Eritrea repeatedly requested Us to abolish the federal system and to
re-establish the age-old integrity of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia We are
aware that many modern nations, including a number of major powers, do
not accept the concept of federalism for their own people and prefer
instead a unitary form of government. We also know that among those
nations which have subscribed to the principle of federalism, many have
been compelled by the demands of the fast-moving modern age to adopt
measures designed to mitigate the adverse effects of this system upon the
rate of progress of their people. But, nonetheless, We have, in good faith,
allowed this system, foreign to our history and experience, to function
without let or hinderance.
that the Federation, alien to their tradition and experience, was superfluous
and unnecessary among people whose unity had stood the test of time.
Moreover, the operation of this system was necessarily beset by serious
difficulties which, among other consequences, tended to retard the pace of
economic and social development. As the years passed, the people of
Eritrea repeatedly requested Us to abolish the federal system and to
re-establish the age-old integrity of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia We are
aware that many modern nations, including a number of major powers, do
not accept the concept of federalism for their own people and prefer
instead a unitary form of government. We also know that among those
nations which have subscribed to the principle of federalism, many have
been compelled by the demands of the fast-moving modern age to adopt
measures designed to mitigate the adverse effects of this system upon the
rate of progress of their people. But, nonetheless, We have, in good faith,
allowed this system, foreign to our history and experience, to function
without let or hinderance.
| Delegated Automony |
In Our Throne Speech of November 2, 1962, We spoke of measures
under consideration whereby administrative authority will be delegated to
local administrations to direct their own activities in such designated fields
as education, health, transport, communications and so on. Until such
time as these measures have entered into force and are fully implemented
and until the laws and regulations now in force in Eritrea are revised and
replaced, existing Eritrean legislation will remain valid.
Throughout Our nation's history, the Ethiopian people have spared no
sacrifice to maintain their unity and independence. Today, closer and
more united than ever, they stand ready to guard, jealously and gallantly,
this unity and independence in their peaceful and determined march
towards progress and prosperity. We thank Our people of Eritrea who,
guided by a deep sense of patriotism and unity, have laboured without
cease to bring about this advancement. We vow before God tha, as We
have repeatedly stated, We shall spare no effort to secure the happiness
and advancement of Our people.
We are thankful to Almighty God Who, through His Grace, has spared Us
to see this day.
under consideration whereby administrative authority will be delegated to
local administrations to direct their own activities in such designated fields
as education, health, transport, communications and so on. Until such
time as these measures have entered into force and are fully implemented
and until the laws and regulations now in force in Eritrea are revised and
replaced, existing Eritrean legislation will remain valid.
Throughout Our nation's history, the Ethiopian people have spared no
sacrifice to maintain their unity and independence. Today, closer and
more united than ever, they stand ready to guard, jealously and gallantly,
this unity and independence in their peaceful and determined march
towards progress and prosperity. We thank Our people of Eritrea who,
guided by a deep sense of patriotism and unity, have laboured without
cease to bring about this advancement. We vow before God tha, as We
have repeatedly stated, We shall spare no effort to secure the happiness
and advancement of Our people.
We are thankful to Almighty God Who, through His Grace, has spared Us
to see this day.
| Haile Selassie the First - November 16, 1962 |
| Accepting Eritrean Assembly Decision For Administrative Union Nov. 16, 1962 |
When the name of Ethiopia first appeared in the pages of history, Eritrea
formed an integral part of Our nation. Our ties do not consisst merely in
having lived together as one country. Ethiopia and Eritrea shared a
common heritage of territorial contiguity, race and language, and Eritrea
has served as one of the main fountains of Ethiopian civilization and
culture.
In the latter part of the 19th Century, when the colonial powers speartated
Eritrea from the rest of Ethiopia and established in Eritrea a rule which
lasted for about 60 years, it was their aim to establish a separate Eritrean
identity and to dissociate Eritrea from the motherland. In this, the
colonialists failed completely. There is no greater evidence of the
bankruptcy of this cruel policy than the fact that not only those elderly
Eritreans who had happily experienced the value of freedom in unity, but
even those who were born during colonialist occupation of their country,
voluntarily separated themselves from their parents and relative and,
emigrating to the motherland, shed their blood for the cause of reunion or
Eritrea with Ethiopia and, during the Fascist invasion for the liberation of
the entire nation.
formed an integral part of Our nation. Our ties do not consisst merely in
having lived together as one country. Ethiopia and Eritrea shared a
common heritage of territorial contiguity, race and language, and Eritrea
has served as one of the main fountains of Ethiopian civilization and
culture.
In the latter part of the 19th Century, when the colonial powers speartated
Eritrea from the rest of Ethiopia and established in Eritrea a rule which
lasted for about 60 years, it was their aim to establish a separate Eritrean
identity and to dissociate Eritrea from the motherland. In this, the
colonialists failed completely. There is no greater evidence of the
bankruptcy of this cruel policy than the fact that not only those elderly
Eritreans who had happily experienced the value of freedom in unity, but
even those who were born during colonialist occupation of their country,
voluntarily separated themselves from their parents and relative and,
emigrating to the motherland, shed their blood for the cause of reunion or
Eritrea with Ethiopia and, during the Fascist invasion for the liberation of
the entire nation.
| Fruit of Sacrifice |
Those Eritreans who so gallantly sacrificed themselves on the battlefield
did not die in vain. Their children stand today as living reminders of the
determination of the people of Eritrea to maintain the unity of Ethiopia in
freedom. When the invader was driven from Our nation by the combined
efforts of Eritreans and Ethiopians alike, the international political situation
was such that, unfortunately, no measure of Eritrean unity with Ethiopia
could be immediately attained. Thus We were compelled to continue Our
struggle for an additional decade before Eritrea was returned to its
motherland. With the blessing of Almighty God, Our just efforts and
struggles came to fruition, just 10 years ago, in Eritrea's federation with
the rest of Ethiopia -- although this particular form of association was not
that for which We had struggled, and it had been requested by no one.
Nonetheless, because of the world political situation then prevailing, the
people of Eritrea, through their elected representatives, acceded to the
Federation, and upon Our approval the federal system was put into
operation and has continued to this day.
did not die in vain. Their children stand today as living reminders of the
determination of the people of Eritrea to maintain the unity of Ethiopia in
freedom. When the invader was driven from Our nation by the combined
efforts of Eritreans and Ethiopians alike, the international political situation
was such that, unfortunately, no measure of Eritrean unity with Ethiopia
could be immediately attained. Thus We were compelled to continue Our
struggle for an additional decade before Eritrea was returned to its
motherland. With the blessing of Almighty God, Our just efforts and
struggles came to fruition, just 10 years ago, in Eritrea's federation with
the rest of Ethiopia -- although this particular form of association was not
that for which We had struggled, and it had been requested by no one.
Nonetheless, because of the world political situation then prevailing, the
people of Eritrea, through their elected representatives, acceded to the
Federation, and upon Our approval the federal system was put into
operation and has continued to this day.
| Alien-Imposed Federation |
| Chapter VII |
| Domestic |