Speech of The Day (60):

On Tuesday, November 11, 1958, His Imperial
Majesty, Haile Selassie I received in audience
the newly elected President and two Vice-Presidents
of the House of Deputies of the
Ethiopian Parliament. (President - Hon. Lij
Haile Mariam Kebede; Vice-President - Ato
Gebre Kristos Wolde Mikael; Vice-President
-Ato Abdulahi Mume Adus). In giving his
formal assent to the elected officials, His
Imperial Majesty said:





"According to the Constitution We have granted by
Our free will to Our beloved people, We recognise you as
elected President and Vice-Presidents by the Deputies
so as to enable you to assume the duties of your high
office.
However, in the long run your everyday deeds will
serve as the testimony whether or not you are the right
persons elected to bear the great burden of the responsibilities
placed on you."











Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 95 -

A photograph of the Ethiopian Parliament building during the time of Emperor Haile Selassie.  The striking art deco parliament building was built in the early 1930's.  Today the large mosaics of St. George and the Dragon (Ethiopia's Patron Saint) and the two Lions of Judah on either side of him have been painted over, and the gilding that covered the winged lions on the gates has worn away.  Although the Derg used the new Shengo Hall (it was the largest prefab building in the world when it was built) across the street as it's parliament, the present government has moved parliament back into this older building.