TO VISITING U. S. EDITORS
It is a great pleasure for Us to receive
this large delegation of American journalists. We take your visit as a manifestation
of interest in the challenge which Africa has so long presented to the world, a
challenge to respect for the principles of freedom, of international Law,
non-intervention, mutual respect and progress, a challenge, also, that for too
many decades had gone unheard. For years, as Sovereign of one of the oldest and
very few independent States on this Continent, We had been called by historic
events to press forward, at times quite alone, in defence of those principles.
We, therefore, take your presence here today as an evidence of the
encouragement which is now flowing in from all quarters of the world to those
who have fought and who are continuing to fight for those ideals and
principles.
Freedom, in Africa,
as the history of Our Reign, We believe, demonstrates, signifies an implacable
and unceasing struggle against colonialism. Within Our lifetime, Ethiopia has
twice been called upon to defend her age-old independence against invasion. The
victory of Adowa merely gave her a respite, during which time imperialist
forces built up their plans and strength to attack us once again. As before at
Adowa in 1896, so Ethiopia in 1935, under Our leadership, waged without
assistance an implacable struggle against superior forces. Many were the
occasions before and during the years of lonely vigil abroad, when imperialist
interests sought to bring Us and Our people to abjure and abandon Our high
cause. They did not even hesitate to utilize neighbouring brothers and
territories, like Somaliland, as bases for assaults upon our independence,
although many of those brothers fought on our side against imperialism. We and
Our people rejected these attempts and so, at a critical stage of world
history, helped defend the cause of the freedom of Africa.
However, even upon vindicating our
freedom, the struggle had not yet been won. Vested interests persisted in opposing
the return to Ethiopia of lands and population torn off by colonialist
aggression, as well as her access to the sea. Today, in this region, as
elsewhere in Africa, these interests seek through “Balkanization” to
consolidate their positions in the face of coalescence of national forces.
African Liberation
Nevertheless, with
the victory, and although much remained to be accomplished, We turned Our
efforts towards advancing the cause of freedom of others on this Continent. We
felt it important that Our brothers in Africa should attain to freedom and
independence without the cruel sacrifices and sufferings We had known. However,
the proffering of this assistance to others was beset with many difficulties. At
the end of the War, as indeed, for decades before the War, Ethiopia was still
totally surrounded, even cut off from the sea, by colonial territories.
Colonialist interests had thus built a barrier to separate us from the rest of
Africa. Notwithstanding these obstacles, we contributed, as we are today
contributing, to the movement for the liberation of all African peoples. For
years, therefore, We brought Our efforts to bear at the United Nations and
elsewhere, to bring the nations of the world to the realization that
colonialism is no longer possible on the Continent of Africa.
Thus, alone in 1896, alone in 1925, alone
in 1935 and alone at Geneva in 1936, Ethiopia fought for those principles of
freedom, independence, territorial integrity, non-intervention and collective
security that have become today the implicit precepts upon which the United
Nations are based and which, through that struggle, have so substantially
contributed to the achievement of independence and the end of colonialism in
Africa. Years ago, We took the lead in pressing by active measures, for the
freedom and independence of those States who today are honoured Members of the
United Nations.
Since political freedom cannot be assured
without economic independence, this struggle has been a long and, at times, a
bitter one. The economic obstacles are formidable, to say nothing of the
political opposition which those economic obstacles in fact support. The
opposition would divide the countries of Africa, profiting by their present
vulnerable economic postures, in order to promote political aims.
We are confident that, by concerting among
themselves, the people of Africa will be able to build an enduring com- munity
linked by solid economic as well as political bonds. However, it is important
that the opportunities for consulta- tion be expanded to a maximum. For this
reason, Ethiopia has been a staunch supporter of every conference of Independent
Africa States. We feel that by consultation and co-operation between
independent States, the clarity and force of the ideals or of freedom can best
be preserved. Addis Ababa has thus been the scene of many conferences of
African countries, and, in June of this year, the second Conference of
Independent African States will meet in Our Capital, to be followed by a series
of other African meetings.
Purposeful Visits
Moreover, during the last few years, We
have personally travelled to your great country, to Europe, to the Far East,
and to the Middle East, in order to press the cause of freedom in Africa. Now
We are engaged in a series of visits to the independent countries of Africa so
as to assist in strengthening the bases of collaboration which are so necessary
for the attainment of those objectives.
In concerting our efforts, we must, at the
same time, be prepared to pool our energies and resources and to contribute to
the establishment of an African programme of mutual aid. For example, the
independent African States have the obligation to open their educational
institutions to students from all African countries. We have, to this end,
already provided no less than 250 scholarships. It is hoped that Our University
at Addis Ababa may play an ever-more important role in this great African
endeavour. Here is a field where disinterested foreign contributions would be
of inestimable value in drawing closer together peoples of distant Continents.
Similarly, it is
essential that capital resources be avail-able to permit that industrial
development which is so essential to the maintenance of political and economic
independence. It is a fact that too many agricultural countries today fail to
perceive that a measure of industrial development and an industrial structure
constitute a necessary safeguard of economic autonomy and, consequently, of
political independence. We firmly believe that foreign capital and skills can, without
compromising political or economic independence – on the contrary, by
supporting them, make a profound contribution to the progress and welfare of
African peoples. In this situation, the greatest industrial Power today should
be alert to augment the measure of its investments in the African economies.
It is to be hoped that, with greater
knowledge of African affairs which your visit to this Continent will certainly
bring about, and with a more penetrating comprehension of the motive and ideals
which are inspiring all Africans today, it may prove possible to open a new era
of material as well as political and spiritual progress for the good of
mankind.
Mar. 14, 1960.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 667 –
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