"No human lips can express
the gratitude which I feel to the merciful God who has enabled me to
stand in your midst on this day, of which the angels in heaven and
creatures on earth could neither have thought of nor known about. Before
everything else, I want to tell you and to make you understand that this
... is a day on which a fresh chapter of history of the New Ethiopia
begins. In this new era, new work is commencing, which is the duty of
all of us to perform.
"As We remember the
affliction which befell Ethiopia, which had preserved her independence
for many thousand years, was attacked in 1888 E.C. (1895-6) by Italy,
which had harbored aggressive designs against her for many years and
intended to destroy her freedom, her brave sons fought at Adwa
and she retained her independence. The Treaty of Wuchale was not the
only cause of the battle that was fought at Adwa. It was only a pretext
for the ongoing aim that Italy had of ruling Ethiopia. Although the
Great European War interrupted her plans for a time, notwithstanding her
outward pretensions of friendship, Italy made preparations to invade
Ethiopia. Since her defeat at Adwa, she had been irate that justice
prevailed against her.
"When Italy began to wage a
war of aggression against Ethiopia, although We knew We were not so well
armed as she was, We countered with what strength We could muster,
because it was Our duty to resist an enemy that had come to seize Our
country. But as it was apparent that she was bent on exterminating
Our people with poison gas, the use of which was prohibited by
international law, We went to appeal to the League of Nations and claim
justice. As it was feared that the hostility started by Italy might
spread all over the world, and as it was a period when all those who
were charged with the responsibility of government were trying to save
the world for the catastrophe which has since befallen it, the [leaders]
worked to bring about understanding in the world to prevent the spread
of the conflagration. At the time our true friend, Great Britain,
received Us with sympathy. I remained there working, but in spirit was
constantly with my countrymen, whose blood was pointlessly and
ruthlessly shed at the hands of the Italians; with the monasteries and
churches that were being burned down; with those forced to take refuge
in foreign lands; and with those suffering and being afflicted in the
wilderness, in the caves and in the forests of their native land.
"How many are the young men,
the priests and monks whom the Italians pitilessly massacred during
these years? You know that in Addis Abeba alone many thousands perished
during the three days following St Michael's day on Yekatit 12, 1929
[Feb. 19, 1937]. The blood and bones of those who were killed with
spades and pickaxes, of those who were split with axes and hammered to
death, pierced with bayonets, clubbed and stoned, of those who were
burned alive in their homes with their little children, of those who
perished of hunger and thirst in prison, have been crying for justice.
Everybody knows that this act of barbarism and cruelty was not
perpetrated in Addis Abeba alone, but [also] in the provinces of
Ethiopia. There is hardly anyone who has not been caught and beaten,
kicked, humiliated and imprisoned.
"Now We shall pass on to the
new history that is before Us. five years ago on this day the fascist
forces entered Our capital city. Then Mussolini announced to the world
that he had established a Roman Empire in Our country, Ethiopia. He
believed that the land he declared conquered would forever be in his
hands. The gallantry of the Ethiopia people is recorded in history. But
as We had no ports through which to import armaments necessary for
people, we were unable to obtain them. Fifty-two nations condemned
Mussolini for his actions. But he boasted of his violent deeds and took
no heed of their condemnation. The past five years have been years of
darkness for you, my people. But you never lost hope, and in the
Ethiopian hills you gradually grew [strong]. The enemy never ventured to
come near the mountains on which you were, because, enduring every
hardship and affliction, you, the warriors of Ethiopia, safeguarded your
freedom during the past five years. But in spite of the fact that he
could not conquer the country, he spent many thousands of millions of
lire, saying that he was civilizing what he could hold. He spent all
that money not because he desired to improve the conditions of the
oppressed Ethiopian people or to mitigate the injustice he had done. It
was because he wanted to plant a fascist colony in Our sacred land of
Ethiopia and to impose on her the rule of oppression which he had
planned. He tried to exterminate the Ethiopian race and did not even
entertain the idea of giving her the administration of either a mandate
or a protectorate, which, in any case, would have been considered a heavy
yoke for Our people. But all the money that could be counted by the
thousands of millions and all the prepared armaments served a purpose
which Mussolini never intended. At the time when Italy revealed her
intentions of entering the war in order to be able to snatch from a
defeated France as much as she could, the number of soldiers, the amount
of money and the armaments she had sent to Ethiopia were enormous. The
regular troops she deployed were not less that 250 000, she also had
amassed provisions to last many years in case she was encircled.
Trusting in, and bragging of , the invincibility of this military force,
the fascist government proceeded with implanting dictatorial rule in Our
country. But something happened which the fascist government did not
take into account--the fighting morale, essential in modern war,
demonstrated by you.
"You were able to destroy the
enemy who were superior to you in numbers and equipment, because you are
a people of bravery and mercy and because you cooperated and knew the
strategy of war. The British troops, who were fighting for human rights
on other fronts...needed time to get ready to come to the assistance of
Ethiopia. and free her. But you, warriors of Ethiopia, harassed the
enemy by cutting his communications [and] by restricting him to his
fortifications. In spite of the great numbers of troops in which he put
his trust, he realized that the Ethiopian people from one end [of the
country] to the other hated him and his rule. He understood also
that it was impossible for him to live in such a country and in the
midst of such a people. Even by using poison gas and bombs and by
[committing] atrocities. he could no longer hope to enjoy overlordship
in a country where he was terrible undermined. He realized that the
soldiers who surrounded him were adversaries more powerful than he
was. He spent his daring and money to meet his adversaries. Then he
looked around, if perchance he could find somewhere where he could take
shelter in Ethiopia, but he could not find even one place.
"When the time came, Our
great ally, the British Government prepared to launch a proper attack
against Our enemy. As soon as I knew this, I left for the distant land
of the Sudan, which borders us the west, and entered central Gojam. In
Gojam Our enemy had strong fortified positions, powerful troops,
airplanes, and artillery. On comparing the number of Our soldiers with
those of the enemy, We found that We had one soldier for every 20 of
his. Moreover, We had no artillery or aircraft at Our disposal. The fact
that I was found in the midst of my warriors at once attracted many
thousands of men. And the fear and anxiety of Our enemy increased. While
my soldiers were harassing and cutting off the enemy's communications
and , after having driven his troops across the Abay river, were
pursuing them towards Shewa and Begemdir, I heard the good news that
British Imperial troops had, with incomparable speed, retaken Our
capital city and were pushing towards Dese in the north and Jima in the
south. In the same way, the troops who started from the Sudan destroyed
the fortress at Keren with brilliant force and utterly defeated the
enemy. And as the time came for my return to my capital, I mustered my
soldiers who were scattered in every direction in pursuit of the
enemy... I am exceedingly happy that I have been able to arrive here at
the head of my soldiers, the enemy who was found on my path having been
defeated, and to break the power of the common foe. I am deeply thankful
to Almighty God that I stand today in your midst in my Palace, from
which the fascist government has fled.
People of my country, Ethiopia!
Today is a day in which Ethiopia is stretching her hands to God in joy
and thanksgiving and revealing her happiness to her children.
"This day , on which the
people of Ethiopia are freed from the oppressive foreign yoke and
eternal servitude and on which I am enabled to rejoin my people, whom I
love and have yearned for, will be honored as a holiday to be commemorated
annually as a Great Ethiopian Anniversary. On this day we shall remember
those heroic warriors who, determined not to surrender the great
charge passed on to them by their fathers, became martyrs, shedding
their blood and breaking their bones for the freedom of the land they
loved and for the honor of the Emperor and their flag. Their heroic
deeds will remain recorded in Ethiopian history.
"The tribulations and
afflictions, which befell us during the past five years and which cannot
be recounted and enumerated in detail, will be a great lesson to us all
and, with industry, unity, cooperation and love engraved in your hearts,
will be a great incentive to your to be my helpers in the construction
of the Ethiopia which I have in mind. In the New Ethiopia I want you to
be a people undivided and endowed with freedom and equality before the
law.
"You will have to join me in
my efforts for the prosperity of the country, for the riches of the
people, for the development of agriculture, commerce, education,
learning, for the protection of the life and resources of Our
people, and for the perfection, on modern lines, of the country's
administration.
"It is my firm wish and
purpose to merit the blessing with which God in His mercy has visited on
Us, first, by showing Our gratitude to Our allies, the British, by the
release of the Imperial troops to fight the common enemy on other
fronts, and by supplying them with troops whenever they may be needed;
secondly, to do work beneficial to the people and the country by
establishing in Our Ethiopia a government which will protect Our nation
and make it respectable by guaranteeing the liberty of the people and freedom
of conscience.
"What I would finally
announce to you, my people, is that today is a day of rejoicing for us
all. Today is the day on which we defeated our enemy. We shall see that
our enemies are disarmed and sent out the same way they came. As St
George who killed the dragon is the Patron Saint of our army as well as
of our allies, let us unite with our allies in everlasting friendship
and amity in order to be able to stand against the godless and cruel
dragon which has newly risen and which is oppressing mankind. I charge
you to consider [our allies] as brothers and friends [and] show them
kindness and consideration."
See also message
from Ras Nathaniel on May 5th 2003
