RECONCILIATION WITH ITALY
On
this historic occasion, after so many trials and vicissitudes suffered by the
nations of the world, including Our beloved people, We welcome you to Our Court
as on a special mission of the new Italy to discuss the resumption of
diplomatic relations between our two countries. We are sensible of the fact
that you are herewith accomplishing a gesture of goodwill and friendship in
coming to Our Court and by your visit to Ethiopia to testify to the end of a
long and tragic period of relations between Our two countries.
We,
for our part, having fully shared the sufferings of Our own beloved people,
have nevertheless, always been conscious that the people of Italy, themselves,
have also been victims of Fascist oppression. We have, therefore, ever been
guided and inspired by the principles of Christian charity and it was in that
spirit that, from the moment of Our historic return to Our Empire, We called
upon Our faithful people to accept, respect and protect those Italians who had
chosen to lead their lives among us. The thousands of your compatriots who
remain here today and who participate in our national life, bear testimony to
the fact that this appeal has always been heard and obeyed by Our people.
We
desire nothing but peace and the opportunity quietly and without hindrance to
march along the path of progress and We welcome you to Our Court as a
representative of a people who, We would believe, are inspired by those same
ideals and who would resolutely reject all past and future policies of
aggression.
In
this critical era of modern history when the world is delicately balanced
between war and peace and when peace-loving people of the earth scan anxiously
the horizon for some hopeful augury in these perilous hours, Our final and
friendly reconciliation should be a sign of encouragement and a contribution to
the strengthening of world peace.
Sept. 7, 1951.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 166 –
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen