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ltaly and Ethiopia–
Old Ties Renewed
Ethiopia is a Western-oriented kingdom in an
orea of
nations generally hostile
or
passive toward Christian Europe.
lt should
come as no
surprise that ltaly, the rest
of
Christian
Europe and the Vatican
are
keenly interested in this
E
THIOPI.A -
the home of the "black
Jew," the only Christian nation in
Africa, the domain of the vener.
able emperor, Haile Selassie, who
claims to be "The Lion of the Tribe of
Judah." To many people Ethiopia is an
enigma, to others it is merely a name in
the geography books. To the nation of
Italy, however, it has always been an
area of intense interest.
This interest was heightened by the
visit of Ethiopia's emperor, Haile Se–
lassie, to Rome in late 1970. Selassie's
visit was
very welt
received by Italian
officials and public alike. Relations
between the two nations have generally
been close although not always cordial.
During the period that ltaly was
establishing colonies in Africa, a treaty
of friendship and cooperation was
negotiated between Italy and Ethiopia.
This pact was signed on May 2, 1889.
The Ethiopian negotiator was Menelek
JI,
who was crowned emperor of his
nation in November of the same year.
Disagreements soon arose over
Article 17 of the treaty, which in the
Italian text was interpreted as con–
stituting an ltalian protectorate over
Ethiopia. After difficult and abortive ne–
gotiations, war broke out between the
two countries in November 1895. !tal-
Afro-Christian nation.
by
Carmelo Spiccia
ian expeditionary forces under General
Oreste Baratiere were defeated at
Adowa in 1896. The treaty was revoked
and Italy was forced to recognize the
independence of Ethiopia.
Mussolini Invades Ethlopia
Italy smarted under the defeat for 40
years. Then, in 1936 Italy's Fascist dic–
tator Mussolini once again dispatched
invasionary forces to Ethiopia, suppos–
edly to avenge the disaster of 1896.
The ltalian forces defeated the poody
equipped Ethiopian army and Emperor
Selassie was forced into exile. At
Geneva, Selassie appeared in person
before the assembly of the League of
Nations to plead the cause of bis people.
But his sojourn was in vain. Italian
representatives to the League derided
him publicly. The League was pow–
erless to act in the Emperor's behalf.
Ethiopia was annexed, which to–
gether with Eritrea and Italian Somalia
became Italian East Africa. Mussolini
declared he was re-establishing the
"Roman Empire." To the Italian dicta–
toe, Ethiopia was a very important
piece of real estate. As far as he was
concerned "properly developed Ethiopia
could feed half of Europe or all of the
Middle East."
Curiously enough, the Italian occupa–
tion period proved beneficia! for the
Ethiopians in severa! ways. Even
Emperor Selassie admitted as much. For
example, after seeing the solid.ification
of central government carried out dur–
ing the five-year Italian rule (1936-41),
Haile Selassie reportedly remarked,
"What a pity that 1 had to come back
today; it would have been better in ten
years.
In
ten years they [ the Italians
J
would have done wonders."
One of Haile Selassie's major pre–
occupations since 1930 has been to
bring his country up to 20th century
Western standards. When he returned
from exile and saw the public works,
the roads, the abolition of slavery, new
schools and hospitals, agricultura! and
industrial development, the Emperor
was pleasantly surprised.
Realizing that he might never have
been able to introduce these reforms
himself, he ordered that the thousands
of Italians in Addis Ababa be consid–
ered good friends of the nation. No re–
venge was taken.
In
fact, Selassie went as far as to
order Abebe Aregai, the head of the
resistance movement against Italian
occupation, not to plan any vendetta on
the Italians whatsoever.
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