Speech of The Day (209) - May 5, 1959, the 18th Anniversary of the Liberation - reply to the adress of Blatenguetta Aklilu Hapte-Wold, The Deputy Prime Minister

 

On May 5, 1959, the 18th Anniversary of the

Liberation, H. E. Blatenguetta Aklilu Hapte-

WoId, the Deputy Prime Minister, addressed

His Imperial Majesty at a reception held at

the Old Palace at 12 noon. His Imperial Majesty,

Haile Selassie I, replied to the speech

of the Deputy Prime Minister as follows:

"You have, in your well-chosen words, given a

clear depiction of the present situation. The moral

confusion brought about by two world wars has led

to the springing up of numerous iniquitous political

ambitions, destroyed mutual trust and confidence

amongst mankind, and is now in the process of utilizing

the superior technical skill of man for the creation of

weapons capable of annihilating this earth.

Ethiopia too, in the days when it fell to her lot to

become the innocent victim of this moral confusion,

fought valiantly to ward off her ill fate, and her efforts

were not only crowned with success, but also earned

the goodwill and sympathy of the whole world. We

believe, as ought also Our people, that it was the hand

of the Almighty which did all this and gave Us the victory.

This liberation of Our land let in a ray of light into

the whole of this continent, which is now leading on to

the opening of the doors of freedom to the nations of

Africa. Our responsibility, therefore, becomes indeed

great, to take the lead also in striving for the unity and

strength necessary for bringing Our country to the level

of the more advanced nations of the world.

For this it is essential that Ethiopia, in her efforts

for the spread of education takes care to see that aca- .

demic instruction is supplemented by intensive technical

training, which alone can save Our nation from becom-

ing the dumping-ground of the products of foreign

industries. Further, it is her duty to benefit from resources

in order to enable herself to be of assistance to

the free nations as well as to those still striving for their

emancipation.

It is only from such determined efforts that national

strength and economic prosperity can ensue. We would

therefore enjoin upon Our beloved people their sacred

duty to co-operate fully with the plans We have laid

for the attaining of this goal. Praised be the Lord

Almighty Who has done all this and will continue to

do all that needs to be done."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 123 -