SECOND
AFRICA CONFERENCE
... Independence cannot be a simple word devoid of meaning, it must
remain a principle admit-ting of no compromise or suspicion, a principle
demanding respect, for self and at the same time equal respect for the rights
of others.
In 1958, at the inaugural Session of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa here in Addis Ababa, We took great
pleasure in welcoming the many distinguished delegates, the majority of whom
rightly represented African States. Meeting as We do today, at a moment of
crisis in the relations of the Great Powers of the world, We have special
reason to extend on behalf of Ourselves and Our beloved people, to all of you
distinguished delegates, Our warmest greetings at this Conference of the
African States.
The breakdown of the Summit Conference is
certainly a matter of great concern to all of us; for Africans, like the rest
of humanity, are anxious to have the danger of nuclear and thermonuclear war
removed from the world. Peace is indivisible and is essential to prosperity and
orderly progress towards a higher standard of living on our continent. It is,
therefore, Our sincere wish that efforts will continue so as to bring about a
negotiated settlement in disarmament and other matters that are a source of danger
to world peace.
When, in the discussion of such matters, the peace, indeed, survival of
the numerous small as well as the few large na-tions, is at stake, it is
important that the many small Powers should be heard and afforded equal
opportunity for consulta-tion and deliberation.
At the First Session of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa, We noted that the political growth of the
peoples of Africa was a development of the most striking and extraordinary
evolution in the recorded history of man. The continuation of that struggle in
the ensuing months has won achievements beyond expectation in the rapid
emergence of a large number of new States and in the advances achieved by
African peoples towards independence. Such accomplishments stand as a vivid
testimony to that development and, indeed, to the wholesome vitality of the
peoples of this great continent. We would be faithless to the will of the
Almighty who has offered us the possibility of unity, were we to allow this
ideal to become a mere dream.
Today we take great pleasure in welcoming the
Congo, Cameroons, Togoland, Nigeria and Somalia to full participa-tion in our
deliberations. It is our conviction, as We noted before, that the political
growth of the African peoples will not reach its culmination until the ultimate
goal, which is independence and complete freedom for every African people.
This
impressive and inexorable advance towards the complete emancipation of our
continent has not been with-out obstacles. The bloodshed and sufferings that we
have witnessed during the past year in various parts of this con-tinent are too
vivid in our memory to require recital of the facts; they are tragic and we
must see to it that they will not recur. We must devise ways and means to
arrest the senseless destruction of African lives. Africans have com-mitted no
sin, unless the pursuit of independence and freedom from colonial oppression
is considered to be one. Therefore, it is our duty to see that that yearning
attain its goal by giving it appropriate expression in our decisions here at
the Conference. To this end, we must resolutely unite as fearless and
determined advocates for our South African brothers. It was with the
consciousness of this duty in mind towards our brothers that We granted financial
assistance and scholarships to the orphans of those who fell as victims in
South Africa. The task that remains to be accomplished in the political field
is certainly a considerable one, but We trust that, united in our determination
to see the complete independence of every African people, we shall succeed in
our endeavours.
However, this achievement cannot redound
to the credit of African peoples if independence attained is one in name only.
In such a situation, the emergence from co-lonialism is but illusory, and the
use of the word “inde-pendence” would constitute not only a distortion, but
also a disservice to the cause of African freedom by erecting a screen behind
which those same foreign influences which hitherto were revealed to the world as
colonialist interests, could, in disguise, continue to operate.
In other words, those who seek
independence, must be prepared to struggle for it rather than accept it; and,
having won it, to stand on their own feet without dependence, and without favours.
They must be prepared to assert their ability to maintain independence without
exchanging it for financial support or for subsidies.
Independence cannot be a simple word
devoid of meaning; it must remain a principle admitting of no com-promise or
suspicion, a principle demanding respect for self and at the same time equal
respect for the rights of others.
Hence, while we
co-operate fully with all States and International Organizations, we must be
most careful lest we accept formulae that perpetuate colonial regimes or sow
the seeds of divisions among our countries by spurious methods,
all-too-reminiscent of its ideal of the days of colo-nial eras.
The strongest foundation of our
independence is the development of our economic resources. It is heartening to
note that all our peoples are devoted to this central idea and that the leaders
of our continent – fulfilling the wish of their peoples – are directing their
energies to this accom-plishment. Our continent is rich and the efforts devoted
to it so far, demonstrate that our lot can be abundance in material prosperity.
This ideal can be made to come to fruition
more rapidly by closer collaboration among ourselves. Therefore, we must make
bold decisions for intra-African co-operation. We must link our roads; we must
connect and associate our airlines and indeed think in terms of merging our
inter-national services. We would, in fact, propose the establish-ment, through
subscription of share participation, of an African Development Bank for promoting
the expansion of our trade, commerce, communications and international
services; we must exchange agricultural and technical in-formation, we must, in
all fields of human endeavour, attain highly developed relations. If we achieve
these ends, then our dependence on foreign markets with all their ad-verse
effects, can be relieved and our freedom immeasurably strengthened, without in
any manner becoming isolationists or following narrow nationalistic economic
policies.
Already since five years ago, the Afro-Asian
Conference at Bandung, had urged the adoption of these basic principles. It is
time that a second and similar Conference should be convened again to press
forward these broad and fructifying economic policies.
Socially and
culturally, we must develop those natural bonds of our peoples to each other
that have been stretched and weakened through the fragmentation of our
continent by the colonial practices of divide and rule. Even today tribal and
other differences, vestiges of that regrettable era, are being exploited for
the same deplorable ends. We must see to it that the history of each of our
peoples is known to the others and appreciated throughout the continent. Our
independence and freedom are meaningless unless they are tied to the hearts of our
peoples. To that end, we must spare no effort to expand our scholarship and
other cultural exchanges with a view to sharing the historical heritage of our
continent.
Unity
These are some of the problems that need
our dedica-ted endeavours. Each specific problem and the general well-being of
our peoples require unity of thought and action. Be it here at the Conference
of Independent African States, at the United Nations, or at any international
forum, our unity is truly our strength. We must give support to the struggle of
the peoples of our continent by giving prompt expression to unity in our common
cause.
In the past, due to the subjugation of our
lands and peoples by colonial Powers, such a conference of our own was not
possible. Today, it is not only possible to meet, but also to evolve united
action in all matters of common interest by the process of consultation such as
the present one.
The fate of our continent is no longer
decided by non-Africans. The traditions of Berlin and Algeciras, the entire
system of colonialism are being wiped out from the conti-nent. We now have our
destiny in our own hands, but we must never slacken in our determination never
to allow new forms of colonialism, whatever their guise may be, to take hold of
any of us, in threat to the hard-won inde-pendence and, indeed to the stability
and peace of the world.
African leaders must, in self-abnegation, press forward the economic,
political and spiritual welfare of their peoples in the interest, not merely of
national gain but of that trans-cendent continental unity which alone can bring
to a close the era of colonialism and Balkanization.
The development of this process of consultation
to its highest refinement is, therefore, in our own interests. It will not only
bring governments to closer collaboration and understanding of each other, but
it will also be a con-crete evidence of our determination to direct our
thinking to the common affairs of our continent. Consequently the decisions and
deliberations of this Conference are of the highest importance, not only to our
continent, but also to the world at large.
We pray, therefore, that the deliberations and
decisions of this Conference may not only stand the test of time and serve as
an inspiration to the peoples of the continent, but that they may also enable
us to attain, by common effort a peaceful, free and abundant life on our
continent.
June 15, 1960.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
– page 199 –
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