DECLARATION ON “V. E.” DAY
….. To win the war; to overcome the
enemy upon the field, cannot alone ensure the Victory in Peace. The cause of
war must be removed. Each nation’s rights must be secure from violation. Above
all, from the human mind must be erased all thoughts of war as a solution. Then
and then only will war cease…..
Almost six years ago, on September the 1st
in 1939, Hitler’s Germany attacked Poland. For many people in the world –
perhaps for most – this fearful day was held as marking the beginning of the
Second Great World War.
Later, with the wider perspective that the
years of battle have afforded, many have come to realize what We in Ethiopia
and Our Great Ally in the East had learned so bitterly, the war – this war – in
all its true significance had started many years before.
We are celebrating today, the redemption of
the world through the sacrifice of human life. We pray for the foundation of
World Peace which may now be laid in all those lands whose people were victims
of aggression.
And so, today, in a month already fraught with great significance for us
and for our history in Ethiopia, We join in special gratitude, together with
the representatives and members of the Nations of Our Allies, in solemn thanks
before Almighty God – for Victory.
Germany is defeated. The vast horror and
the tribulations of the war – which We foresaw – which We forewarned before the
League of Nations – has ceased for Europe.
The subtle gradual moves by the Axis
partners, piece by piece to swallow up the world, offer a fearful catalogue
which We may well this day recall.
Following her attack upon Manchuria and
different annexations, Japan was finally at war with China, in 1937.
In 1935 Italy attacked and invaded Our
Empire. This was not strange. It was but the continuation of Italian aggression
committed against Corfu, regarded by her as a glorious achievement. In 1939 on
Good Friday she invaded Albania.
In 1938 Hitler had annexed Austria only to
move on to Czechoslovakia and in 1939 to parts of Lithuania. Despite all this,
until the attack on Poland in September of that year, no general war was
recognized by the world.
The attack on Poland brought the
Governments of Britain and of France to her defence, but others hesitated,
until with the great German offensive of 1940 more lands were overrun.
First Denmark, then Norway, fell. With the
final attack on France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands were occupied.
Italy Joined
Italy,
seeking further glory, boastfully joined the conflict, an entry into war
described by that great and lamented leader the late President Roosevelt as
“stabbing in the back” – a description which will remain in history and human
memory for ever. She invaded Greece in October 1940; but Greece, inspired by the
tradition of her people’s courage and their independence, all but shattered
Mussolini’s troops. On the verge of defeat, Italy appealed for help and to be
rescued by her partner Germany, who took the opportunity to take in Yugoslavia
on the way. In June 1941 Germany, in contravention of her treaty, attacked the
mighty Soviet Union. The satellites, Hungary, Roumania and Bulgaria, thought it
best to join the Axis Group.
By December of that year the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbour bringing the United States into the conflict.
Thus, in a few short months, when We were
struggling for and as We gained Our freedom once again, the greater part of the
world was drawn into the holocaust of war. Our effort was not only to regain
our independence, but to attack the common enemies, the Fascists and the Nazis.
We ordered that all Fascist troops captured by our Patriots in Ethiopia be
handed over to our Army. The war against the Fascist was our war. That war with
all its unimaginable cost in human life and happiness and wealth is only now
just drawing to its close.
The day of reckoning is now at hand for
all those Quislings and war criminals to receive their due reward for all the
misery, torture, imprisonment and massacre committed by themselves and through
their orders against so many men and women, old and young.
The time has now come for such criminals
as Badoglio and Graziani who washed their hands with the blood of men; who were
pioneers of human destruction in Ethiopia.
Although
no one of Us can yet rejoice in full, for still one formidable foe remains. We
can with justice and with gratitude thank God that this great enemy – perhaps
the greatest of Our common enemies – has now been brought to book. With this
event Japan is doomed. The tyranny, which threatened all of Us and against
which so many fought with such incomparable bravery, is stilled. Much of the
tragedy and misery, death and destruction is at an end. For this We lay Our
heart before Almighty God in an thankfulness.
Today,
as We offer Our prayers in thankfulness, so do We offer Our prayers and
remembrance now, and in the silence of Our service, for those heroic soldiers,
sailors and airmen and for those civilians also, who from all nations of the
Allies, have laid down their lives. We would offer too Our prayers and with Our
prayers Our thoughts to those parents who have lost their sons and those widows
and dependents who have been left with all the aftermath of sorrow and of
difficulty.
Help Did Not Come
Ten
years ago, when Mussolini’s Italy attacked Our Empire, the masses of the
peoples of the world – even, We would hazard, most individual members of the
League of Nations – were in the fullest sympathy with Us. Some there were who
sought to do so. After Belgium and Czechoslovakia were overrun by Germany they
were accused by Mussolini for helping Ethiopia by providing arms. But in the
end, delay, discussions and considerations of the world prevailed. Help did not
come. We speak now without bitterness about that time. We can appreciate that
true idealism may have lain behind those policies, now indeed regretted by the
world and now admitted as disastrous, of “Peace at any price” and of
“appeasement.” Nevertheless, We pray that unity and that the strength behind the
unity, which failed before, will never lack again among the Councils of the
World. We also pray for wisdom to be granted to the Con-ference at San
Francisco now discussing World Security and that it shall finally achieve
results that shall be just to all the nations of the world. At this time the
aggressor and the persecutor are receiving their reward. It is they who are
being driven out, while those they had oppressed and persecuted can now begin
to wipe away their tears. Distorted history is changed to truth. The light of
justice dawns again.
Throughout
the years of tribulation We have learned the need for unity. In those first
fateful days in 1939, by no means all the nations who, together, have now
gained this victory, were then convinced that each and all must hang together
or must fall. When – almost too late – after the resistance of Great Britain
following the epic of Dunkirk – hope had been brought once more into the world,
the larger that spirit grew. The Governments and Empires of those countries who
were overrun but not defeated, joined their lot with Britain. Symbolized in the
inspiration of their great leader – President Roosevelt – so recently and so
tragically dead, the people of the United States of America joined their spirit
through Lease-Lend. The dastardly attacks upon the Soviet Union and upon Pearl
Harbour finally crzystallized the realization that this menace was world-wide.
After
the treacherous attack on Pearl Harbour, the unlimited resources in men and in
machinery, the unquenchable democratic faith of the Great United States of
America were ranged against the Axis Powers. From then there was no faltering.
Unity continued to build up the vast resource and potential of the Allies – the
United Nations – who have now achieved this Victory in Germany; who will
achieve that even greater Victory of peace within the world and realize the
aims of those essential freedoms outlined in the Atlantic Charter.
Meaning Of Victory
Lastly,
for a few moments, We would turn Our thoughts towards all this victory must
signify to our own land – to Ethiopia. As we have said, the sorrows of Our
land, the gas that fascists poured upon Our people and the massacres and
tortures that the fascist leaders, symbolized by Graziani, practised on Our
folk; these, to Our mind, are all part of this great war, whose end so rapidly
approaches.
As
We, here celebrate the Allied Victory in Germany and pray for those who brought
this victory about, also We may pray again in thankfulness that through their
effort We, here, in this land, are saved.
Here
too We may recall the first great allied Victory of this war. The Victory by
which the soldiers of Great Britain and her Commonwealth, fighting together
with Our patriots, brought freedom back to Ethiopia. But this alone could not
ensure Our gain, because the battle was still close.
By
her resistance to the Italians in 1935 Ethiopia was first actively to oppose
the forces of the Axis on the continent of Africa. For five years Ethiopian
patriots maintained the fight to such effect that when the world war spread to
Africa their forces of resistance were already marshalled. With the British
they expelled the enemy from Ethiopia. One threat which menaced Egypt and the
Sudan was ended. The victories in Africa two years ago made surety more sure.
After
the defeat of the Italians We willingly contributed all available supplies and
means of transport and communication to the War effort. To further the
prosecution of the war We placed a large part of Our territory under military administration.
We offered troops. By all means at her disposal Ethiopia, from the first,
contributed reverse Lend-Lease.
When
Italy surrendered – then was Our oppressor humbled. But still his friend
remained, powerful in might, well supplied in all the machinery of war. The
mighty Soviet Union opposed this enemy on land. All the resources of the
arsenals of Unity were turned upon the Nazi foe. Battered from the East, bombed
from the air, and finally invaded from the West this enemy, by God’s grace, now
too, has gone. Only Japan remains – a hope forlorn – and We in Ethiopia with
all of Our friends are saved.
Those
who had attacked Us rejoiced in Our defeat and in Our tribulation. We trusted
in the Lord. He gave Us Victory. Our Salvation is the Lord. Who here can fail
to trust in God, whose judgments are all righteous and who fails not those who
put their faith in Him. Has not the Lord, the mightier than mighty, once again
revealed that under the Kingdom of Heaven no one Government of man is greater
than another.
We
do not forget that though the battle in the West is won, the battle in the East
continues. We offer Our tribute of admiration for the amazing feats of arms
that Our Allies are performing in that area. May they achieve an early victory.
There is no need for renewal of Our offer to send troops to fight against the
common enemy side by side in battle with the forces of Our Allies. Though Our
country Ethiopia, is now far from the scene of battle, Our thoughts are there.
All help which may be asked of Us, even the lives of Our people, will be given
willingly. We do not believe that distance need prevent Our land from giving
assistance in the common cause.
May
it be taken as Divine significance, that, as We mark the passing of the Nazi
Reich, in America at San Francisco, delegates from all United Nations, among
whose number Ethiopia stands, are now met together for their long-planned
conference to lay foundations for an international pact to banish war and to
maintain World Peace. Our Churches pray for the successful triumph of this
conference. Without success in this, the Victory, We celebrate today, the
suffering that We have all endured will be of no avail.
To
win the War; to overcome the enemy upon the field; cannot alone ensure the
Victory in Peace. The cause of War must be removed. Each Nation’s rights must
be secure from violation. Above all, from the human mind must be erased all
thoughts of War as a solution. Then and only then will war cease.
May God grant
Us his every aid to speed the final Peace and keep it.
May, 1945.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 339 –
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