04.11. - 2 - Speech of The Day - Occasion of 28th Coronation Anniversary - Armed Forces and Police

On Thursday, November 4, 1958, on the occasion

of the 28th Coronation Anniversary, His

Imperial Majesty Haile Sellassie I spoke to

representatives of the Armed Forces and the

Police. Following is His Imperial Majesty's

speech.:

"After, through God's mercy, We were able to

liberate Our country from fascist invasion, one of Our ·

major administrative tasks in the process of raising the

standard of living of Our people was the organization of

the Armed Forces and the Police.

In pre-war days it was the custom to provide the

Armed Forces and the Police with provisions, and they

were given land holdings. This was superseded immediately

after the Liberation by a salary system together with

the supply of uniforms and other military requirements.

It was a mark of pride to see Our servicemen adopt their

traditional and customary habits to the modern military

organisation, to see them trained in the execution of up-to-

date tactics and in the use of modern weapons.

Although thorough military organization requires a

great deal of money and much sacrificial labour, We

still pressed forward with the programme of establishing

military schools to train Our Armed Forces.

In addition to promoting Our officers in the various

ranks in recent times We, being aware of the necessity

of other ranks and the rank and file to share in better

living conditions and in sound health, established

military hospitals, increased their salaries and added

allowances for their children.

Today the sum of Eth. $1,500,000 has been added to

the budget of the Armed Forces including the Police

which will provide salary increases over and above the

previous made for uniform, hospitalization and family

allowance.

Moreover, We have given orders today that all those

who have not benefitted previously should be given one

gasha of free-hold land each. Officials have already been

assigned to see that this order is executed. The reason

is clear, for money is expendable while land, being real

estate, is permanent and transferable to your children.

It is not enough just to say that one owns land. The

grant will be organized so that the recipient could cooperate

together for its exploitation.

This land distribution declaration which We made

today includes the Police Force and is ordered effective

from November 23, 1958.

We should like to remind you before concluding

that, just as your fathers and forefathers, with the Almighty

as the source of their defence, never yielded to enemy

force or propaganda in preserving the freedom of Our

country, so you, strengthened by your inherited valour

coordinated with the modern military techniques you

have acquired, are expected to fulfil the high tasks with

which you have been assigned.

To maintain one's personal freedom in honour

demands self-sacrifice which, in turn, calls for valour and

loyalty. We commend devotion in duty so that by

your glorious military exploits, you could preserve the

honour and freedom of your country."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 93 -