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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Chapter III |
| Inter-Africa |
| War Settlement and Italy's Return Feb. 23, 1948 |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - February 23, 1948 |
Long before the wind of change started to waft over Africa with such telling
effect. His Imperial Majesty had sown the seeds of African liberation. Ethiopia's
struggle against colonialsim and aggression constitutes not only the first chapter
in the history of Africa's liberation, it was a beacon and a symbol to those who
later joined the ranks to African freedom fighters.
His Majesty the Emperor has evinced his sustaining interest in Africa's peace,
progress and prosperity. In inter-African affairs he will go down as the father of
the Organization of African Unity. For in both the convening of the historic
Summit of 1963 and the signing of the OAU Charter he placed a decisive role.
If Addis Ababa has become the Geneva of Africa, it is primarily because of His
Imperial Majesty's unflagging efforts to see that Africa prepares for and merits
her rightful place wihtin the councils of the world. These selected speeches tell
the story.
effect. His Imperial Majesty had sown the seeds of African liberation. Ethiopia's
struggle against colonialsim and aggression constitutes not only the first chapter
in the history of Africa's liberation, it was a beacon and a symbol to those who
later joined the ranks to African freedom fighters.
His Majesty the Emperor has evinced his sustaining interest in Africa's peace,
progress and prosperity. In inter-African affairs he will go down as the father of
the Organization of African Unity. For in both the convening of the historic
Summit of 1963 and the signing of the OAU Charter he placed a decisive role.
If Addis Ababa has become the Geneva of Africa, it is primarily because of His
Imperial Majesty's unflagging efforts to see that Africa prepares for and merits
her rightful place wihtin the councils of the world. These selected speeches tell
the story.
At the various meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London and
Paris and of their deputies as well at the Peace Conference through Our
Delegates, We have set forth to the world the position of Ethiopia in regard
to the return to Ethiopia of territories taken from her by Italian aggression.
As first victim of Axis aggression in Europe and the first of the United
Nations to be liberated, Ethiopia feels justified in declaring as she has
already declared at the Paris Peace Conference, that any return of Italy to
such territories would constitute ratification of three aggressions and an
act of international injustice. It should be understandable that Ethiopia
cannot possibly countenance any return of Italy to such territories other
than as a direct and instant threat to one of the United Nations. We are
confident that the world will readily understand that the security of
Ethiopia would be completely compromised if those territories which had
three times served as bases of aggression against her were to remain as
such in the future. We have further pointed out that an impovershed Italy
who seeks and who continued to receive foreign financial and other
assistance at the same time seeks to regain territories in an attempt to
launch a fourth invasion of Ethiopia, thanks to such foreign assistance.
The case of Ethiopia is clear and requires no further statement. Ethiopia
has fought for more than a decade for justice. It is time that she received
it......
Paris and of their deputies as well at the Peace Conference through Our
Delegates, We have set forth to the world the position of Ethiopia in regard
to the return to Ethiopia of territories taken from her by Italian aggression.
As first victim of Axis aggression in Europe and the first of the United
Nations to be liberated, Ethiopia feels justified in declaring as she has
already declared at the Paris Peace Conference, that any return of Italy to
such territories would constitute ratification of three aggressions and an
act of international injustice. It should be understandable that Ethiopia
cannot possibly countenance any return of Italy to such territories other
than as a direct and instant threat to one of the United Nations. We are
confident that the world will readily understand that the security of
Ethiopia would be completely compromised if those territories which had
three times served as bases of aggression against her were to remain as
such in the future. We have further pointed out that an impovershed Italy
who seeks and who continued to receive foreign financial and other
assistance at the same time seeks to regain territories in an attempt to
launch a fourth invasion of Ethiopia, thanks to such foreign assistance.
The case of Ethiopia is clear and requires no further statement. Ethiopia
has fought for more than a decade for justice. It is time that she received
it......
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |