Sylvia Pankhurst: Citizen of the World - Ethiomedia
Sylvia Pankhurst: Citizen of the World - Ethiomedia
Sylvia Pankhurst: Citizen of the World - Ethiomedia
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<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>: <strong>Citizen</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />
Her Struggle against Colonial Aggression in Ethiopia<br />
Emperor Haile Selassie, <strong>Sylvia</strong> E. <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
And <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Independence<br />
By Berihun Assfaw<br />
(Toronto, Canada)<br />
PART ONE<br />
“You will share my joy at re-entering my capital. Your unceasing efforts<br />
and support in <strong>the</strong> just cause <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia will never be forgotten by myself<br />
or my people”. (Cable from Emperor Haile Selassie to <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, 17<br />
May 1941).<br />
“Comrade <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> represents <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> hundreds upon<br />
hundreds <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> people that are oppressed by <strong>the</strong> British and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
1
capitalists. This is why she is subjected to a white terror….has been<br />
deprived <strong>of</strong> liberty etc. Vladimir Lenin, 1920.<br />
“I would like to be remembered as a citizen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world”. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
notes on “How I would be remembered.6<br />
The quotations are from <strong>the</strong> book, <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> A Crusading Life 1882-<br />
1960, By Shirley Harrison, pages 249, 195,267<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> struggled not only for <strong>the</strong> British women, but also, for<br />
women in <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, including Ethiopia. It was because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
struggle <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> and o<strong>the</strong>rs like her that hundreds <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong><br />
women throughout <strong>the</strong> world have now reached leadership positions in<br />
every level <strong>of</strong> society.<br />
A model <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> statue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
to be erected in London, England in front<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parliament Buildings.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> this <strong>the</strong> women <strong>of</strong> Britain<br />
are in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> erecting a statue<br />
for <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, who died and<br />
was buried in Addis Ababa. The<br />
British have already made a film. Even<br />
if we Ethiopians are unable to erect a<br />
statue and make a film for <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> we should be aware <strong>of</strong> all<br />
she did for Ethiopia during <strong>the</strong> Italian<br />
occupation <strong>of</strong> our country. <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> did more for Ethiopian<br />
independence than anybody except<br />
<strong>the</strong> “AREBEGNOCH”. It is for this<br />
reason that I present this short<br />
historical narrative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great<br />
English-Ethiopian Lady.<br />
2
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> fought for <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, against Signor<br />
Mussolini, in <strong>the</strong> political and diplomatic fronts in Britain, Europe, Africa,<br />
and North America. The “ARBEGNOCH” (PATRIOTS), including my fa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
fought and shed <strong>the</strong>ir blood for Ethiopia. All <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> my family, my<br />
uncles, and <strong>the</strong>ir wives were ARBEGNOCH. While my fa<strong>the</strong>r, at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong><br />
twenty-three years was wounded, his fa<strong>the</strong>r-in-law (my grand fa<strong>the</strong>r) died<br />
fighting Marshall Peitro Badolgio at <strong>the</strong> battle <strong>of</strong> “Debebeguna” in nor<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Ethiopia. The battle <strong>of</strong> Debebeguna is well known in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Ethio-Italian War.<br />
The memorial statue for <strong>Pankhurst</strong> is overdue. I applaud and congratulate<br />
<strong>the</strong> British women who didn’t forget <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s struggle for <strong>the</strong>m. If <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
hadn’t sacrificed herself for women’s right to vote and <strong>the</strong> equality <strong>of</strong><br />
women and men, hundreds <strong>of</strong> British women would never have been<br />
elected in both houses <strong>of</strong> parliament in Britain. Lady Margaret Thatcher,<br />
who is now <strong>the</strong> member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Lords, wouldn’t have been elected<br />
Prime Minister <strong>of</strong> Britain. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin’s government<br />
erected a memorial statue for her mo<strong>the</strong>r, Emmenlini <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, in 1930.<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, who did a lot for <strong>the</strong> political and social rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
British women and <strong>the</strong> working poor, was ignored. One need not be<br />
Einstein to understand <strong>the</strong> rationale <strong>of</strong> why she was ignored; it is because<br />
she was from <strong>the</strong> left <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> political spectrum. It is a tragedy that perhaps<br />
99% <strong>of</strong> Ethiopians don’t know who <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> was. This is <strong>of</strong><br />
course, <strong>the</strong> fault <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient government, who didn’t do enough to<br />
introduce <strong>Pankhurst</strong> to <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people in <strong>the</strong> proper way.<br />
Haile Selassie’s government should have told <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people what<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> did in <strong>the</strong> independence struggle against Italy. The<br />
Emperor glorified himself as <strong>the</strong> only man who fought and won <strong>the</strong><br />
independence <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. Not <strong>the</strong> patriots who fought in <strong>the</strong> mountains<br />
and valleys <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and shed <strong>the</strong>ir blood, not <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> and her<br />
friends who fought against Mussolini and fascism in political and<br />
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diplomatic fields, but only Haile Selassie. In <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie, <strong>the</strong><br />
Ethiopian people knew <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie better than that <strong>of</strong> God<br />
himself. Haile Selassie erected statues <strong>of</strong> himself and named hundreds <strong>of</strong><br />
hospitals, schools, colleges, avenues, streets, squares, airports and a<br />
university, after himself all over Ethiopia. But very few were named for <strong>the</strong><br />
patriots or o<strong>the</strong>rs like <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>. I know that a small road was<br />
named after <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> by Haile Selassie’s government, but it was<br />
not enough. Haile Selassie named a very prominent avenue after Winston<br />
Churchill, who was a political adversary to <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> and an admirer<br />
<strong>of</strong> Bento Mussolini up to 1940. He also named a lot <strong>of</strong> prominent avenues<br />
and streets for British generals, like Cunningham, Platt, and o<strong>the</strong>rs, who<br />
gave a hard time to <strong>the</strong> new Ethiopian government in 1941.<br />
I have seen this historical figure that did a lot for Ethiopia from 1936-1956,<br />
in Addis Ababa. I am also fortunate to have attended her funeral<br />
accompanying my fa<strong>the</strong>r, who himself was accompanying Emperor Haile<br />
Selassie. At that time, like o<strong>the</strong>r Ethiopians, I didn’t know who she was or<br />
what she did for Ethiopian independence, let alone what she did for<br />
women’s votes and <strong>the</strong> political and social rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British women and<br />
<strong>the</strong> working poor. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> fought tooth and nail not only for <strong>the</strong> political<br />
and social rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British women, but for <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> humanity.<br />
She did not fight only for <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, but also against<br />
fascism and British colonialism. She campaigned not only for Ethiopian<br />
freedom from fascism, but for freedom from all colonial rule worldwide.<br />
Contrary to <strong>the</strong> claims <strong>of</strong> many foreign historians it was <strong>Sylvia</strong> and <strong>the</strong><br />
Ethiopian patriots, not Haile Selassie, who fought against Mussolini for <strong>the</strong><br />
independence <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. But <strong>of</strong> course, Ethiopians believe it was Haile<br />
Selassie alone who brought independence to Ethiopia. It was taught in<br />
schools, it was written in books, and <strong>the</strong> media confirmed it.<br />
4
The truth was and is that Haile Selassie, like all <strong>the</strong> previous emperors,<br />
was a man who loved himself more than Ethiopia and didn’t want to<br />
sacrifice his life for Ethiopia. Some high <strong>of</strong>ficials who worked closely with<br />
him have been saying that he would do anything to save his own life. This<br />
was proven when he sacrificed his ministers to <strong>the</strong> “Derg”, in order to save<br />
himself, in 1974 during <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Revolution. History would never<br />
forgive him for his betrayal <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia in its darkest hour <strong>of</strong> her history.<br />
Seventeen years before Benito Mussolini conquered Ethiopia, twenty-one<br />
years before he declared war on Britain and France, it was <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> who warned <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> danger <strong>of</strong> Mussolini’s fascism in Britain. Italy<br />
instigated and started <strong>the</strong> Wel Wel incident as a pretext to conquer Ethiopia<br />
on April 1935. Understanding that <strong>the</strong> Italian aggression at Wel Wel was to<br />
provoke a general war, <strong>Sylvia</strong> wrote a very strong letter to her MP (Member<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parliament) Winston Churchill-who indecently was an admirer <strong>of</strong><br />
Mussolini-urging <strong>the</strong> imposition <strong>of</strong> sanctions on Italy. Since Churchill’s<br />
response was not satisfactory, <strong>Sylvia</strong> accused him and everyone else in<br />
<strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Commons <strong>of</strong> cowardly dealing with Mussolini and Hitler.<br />
She first mentioned <strong>the</strong> danger <strong>of</strong> Italian fascism in her newspaper<br />
“Dreadnought” on 25 November, and again on 13 December 1919, after her<br />
attendance at <strong>the</strong> Socialist International Conference, in Bologna, Italy, in<br />
<strong>the</strong> same year. This was almost four years before Mussolini’s march to<br />
Rome to take <strong>the</strong> dictatorial power from King Emmanuel II. History tells us<br />
that at that time prominent personalities and politicians, like Mr. Winston<br />
Churchill and Mr. George Bernard Show, were supporters and admirers <strong>of</strong><br />
Benito Mussolini’s dictatorship.<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong>’s warning became a reality when Ethiopia, Mussolini’s first victim,<br />
was invaded in 1936, and his ideological students, <strong>the</strong> German Nazis, under<br />
<strong>the</strong> leadership <strong>of</strong> Herr Adolf Hitler, sent one thousand planes to Britain and<br />
bombed <strong>the</strong> British cities. British cities were severely shattered and<br />
burned; 14,000 civilians were killed in London alone. One home in every<br />
5
five was damaged or destroyed, factories shattered, and transportation,<br />
gas, electric and water systems destroyed. (See, <strong>the</strong> battle <strong>of</strong> Britain, 1940,<br />
Encyclopedia <strong>of</strong> <strong>World</strong> History, Sixth Edition). It was a bitter lesson for<br />
Britain and France, who tried to appease Mussolini by leaving him Ethiopia,<br />
in order to get him on <strong>the</strong>ir side, against Hitler.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> founded and published <strong>the</strong> first issue <strong>of</strong> “New Times and<br />
Ethiopia News” on May 5, 1936 on her fifty-fourth birthday, <strong>the</strong> same day<br />
<strong>the</strong> Italian fascists, under <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> Peitro Badolgio, marched into<br />
Addis Ababa. The weekly paper reached 40, 000 copies at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
year. The aims <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> paper were to campaign for British aid to Ethiopia<br />
and to step up and maintain <strong>the</strong> economic sanctions imposed on Italy by<br />
<strong>the</strong> League <strong>of</strong> Nations. As well <strong>the</strong> paper attempted to create propaganda<br />
against <strong>the</strong> fascist yoke, and to give up-to-date information to <strong>the</strong> British<br />
public about Ethiopia.<br />
In her paper <strong>Sylvia</strong> informed <strong>the</strong> British public, members <strong>of</strong> parliament,<br />
members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British government, prominent persons, friends <strong>of</strong><br />
Ethiopia, and <strong>the</strong> British Media, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italians’ inhumane and barbaric<br />
attack on <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people and <strong>the</strong> Patriots, using internationally<br />
forbidden poisonous gas. The first issue <strong>of</strong> her paper declared “The cause<br />
<strong>of</strong> Ethiopia cannot be divided from <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> international justice”.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> her campaign against fascism, <strong>Sylvia</strong> was getting abusive<br />
letters and death threats from Sir Oswald Mosley’s fascist followers in<br />
Britain, Italy and Germany. Since <strong>the</strong> death intimidations were serious<br />
Scotland Yard was forced to protect her. The German Chancellor Herr<br />
Hitler had also ordered his security <strong>of</strong>ficers, <strong>the</strong> Gestapo, to arrest <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> when <strong>the</strong> German armed forces occupied Britain.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> Woizero <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s strong support for Ethiopia, Mussolini, who<br />
himself was a journalist, had attacked her in more than one article which<br />
were always italicized in <strong>the</strong> Italian press. In addition, <strong>the</strong> Italian<br />
6
Government asked <strong>the</strong> Foreign Office to ban The New Times and Ethiopia<br />
News which were growing from day to day and were becoming very<br />
popular everywhere <strong>the</strong>y were sent.<br />
To inform and encourage <strong>the</strong> patriots in Ethiopia, <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> issued<br />
a special Amharic newspaper that was smuggled into <strong>the</strong> still only<br />
nominally occupied country. The writer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Amharic edition was one <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Ethiopian refugees, Ato Amannuel Abreha, who later became a minister<br />
in Haile Selassie’s government.<br />
Through Ras Andaregachew Messai, <strong>the</strong> Emperor’s son in law, and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
agents in Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan, she received up-to-date information<br />
about <strong>the</strong> battles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> patriots and <strong>the</strong> inhumane works <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italians.<br />
Ato Lorenso Tazaz, who was Ethiopia’s Representative to <strong>the</strong> League <strong>of</strong><br />
Nations, and had been on a mission to <strong>the</strong> ARBEGNOCH (Patriots)<br />
clandestinely, was <strong>the</strong> greatest help for <strong>the</strong> propaganda <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> paper. He<br />
was also a close associate, along with Dr. Workenh Eshate (Dr. Martin) and<br />
Efrim Towoldmedhin, to <strong>Pankhurst</strong>.<br />
On Ethiopian matters, <strong>Sylvia</strong> wrote innumerable letters and urged o<strong>the</strong>rs to<br />
write to <strong>the</strong> national press, as well as to Members <strong>of</strong> Parliament, cabinet<br />
ministers, and foreign statesmen. This included writing to President and<br />
Mrs. Roosevelt whose country, like <strong>the</strong> USSR, never recognized <strong>the</strong> Italian<br />
conquest <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia.<br />
In London she helped Dr. Workenh Eshate (Dr. Martin), <strong>the</strong> distinguished<br />
medical doctor who served 28 years for <strong>the</strong> British government in Burma,<br />
when he founded <strong>the</strong> Abyssinian Association (now <strong>the</strong> Anglo-Ethiopian<br />
Society). This helped <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian refugees in Britain, Palestine, Sudan,<br />
Kenya, and o<strong>the</strong>r places, financially, morally, and emotionally. Dr.<br />
Workenh Eshate was Ethiopian Minister in London when he and <strong>Sylvia</strong> met<br />
at <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> Mussolini’s invasion <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. Distinguished<br />
international persons, pr<strong>of</strong>essors, politicians, members <strong>of</strong> parliament,<br />
7
eligious people and anti-fascist Italians from different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world,<br />
had written articles in <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s paper, New Times, and Ethiopia News,<br />
against Mussolini’s aggression. Dr. Workenh Eshate (Dr. Martin) had<br />
written numerous articles and taught <strong>the</strong> British public about <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
history and culture. <strong>Sylvia</strong> hung his portrait on <strong>the</strong> wall <strong>of</strong> her study in<br />
West Den Office. When he was writing to her he used to say “You are very<br />
precious my darling”.<br />
In West Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and o<strong>the</strong>r African countries, <strong>the</strong> branch<br />
<strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Abyssinian Associations were founded in order to help in <strong>the</strong><br />
struggle for Ethiopian independence. In <strong>the</strong> New Times and Ethiopia News,<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> and her companion Silvio Corio, were writing long and penetrating<br />
articles about <strong>the</strong> inhumane colonization <strong>of</strong> Africa, with <strong>the</strong> motto “Africa<br />
For Africans”. This was <strong>of</strong> course, unpopular amongst <strong>the</strong> British<br />
government and <strong>the</strong> conservatives in general. Through <strong>the</strong> Abyssinian<br />
Association, <strong>the</strong> African sisters and bro<strong>the</strong>rs helped <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s efforts for <strong>the</strong><br />
Ethiopian struggle in whatever way <strong>the</strong>y could. They not only helped<br />
politically and morally, but also financially including assisting with <strong>the</strong><br />
founding <strong>of</strong> Princess Tsehai Memorial Hospital in Addis Abba.<br />
After Italian troops entered Addis Ababa, <strong>Sylvia</strong> went to Geneva and<br />
lobbied on behalf <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. She appealed to <strong>the</strong> delegates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> League<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nations not to give Ethiopia to <strong>the</strong> fascist wolves. She lobbied <strong>the</strong><br />
delegates to prevent Italy from getting oil and close <strong>the</strong> Suez Canal so that<br />
Italian military supply couldn’t pass through. If Mussolini had been<br />
prevented from having oil his military machines wouldn’t have moved<br />
outside <strong>of</strong> Italy. If Britain and France had closed <strong>the</strong> Suez Canal <strong>the</strong><br />
500,000 Italian troops wouldn’t have gone to Ethiopia in such a short span<br />
<strong>of</strong> time. Mussolini would have been forced to go around Africa, to<br />
Massowa, which he could have not afforded to do.<br />
When Emperor Haile Selassie arrived in London morally and physically<br />
defeated, it was <strong>Sylvia</strong> who mobilized <strong>the</strong> big British crowd and greeted<br />
8
him at <strong>the</strong> station. For <strong>Sylvia</strong>, ever <strong>the</strong> champion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> underdog, <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor became her personal responsibility. She told him that “She was<br />
not helping him because he was an Emperor, but because his cause was<br />
just”. The most important thing for her was <strong>the</strong> future <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people he<br />
represented and consequently <strong>the</strong> future <strong>of</strong> Africa and that part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
world under colonization.<br />
The British Government and <strong>the</strong> King wanted Haile Selassie to be in<br />
London acting not as a head <strong>of</strong> state, but as a refugee. Their concern was<br />
not Ethiopia or Haile Selassie but Mussolini. They didn’t want to anger<br />
Mussolini by allowing Haile Sellasie to act as a head <strong>of</strong> state. In fact his<br />
presence in Britain was an embarrassment and <strong>the</strong>y forced him to leave<br />
London and stay in <strong>the</strong> small town <strong>of</strong> Bath.<br />
In order to keeps <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian independence burning, <strong>Sylvia</strong> wrote<br />
numerous articles in her paper as well as in o<strong>the</strong>r national papers like The<br />
Manchester Guardian, The Times, The Daily Mail and The Chronicle.<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong>’s newspaper, by keeping <strong>the</strong> British public well informed and up-todate,<br />
succeeded in pressuring <strong>the</strong> British politicians. She was also in<br />
fierce battle with <strong>the</strong> British papers <strong>the</strong> Daily Mail, <strong>the</strong> Observer, and <strong>the</strong><br />
Morning Post, which were supporting <strong>the</strong> fascist invasion <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong>, like most <strong>of</strong> Ethiopians and European Military experts, was not<br />
happy when <strong>the</strong> Emperor fled to Europe leaving his country leaderless.<br />
She thought he would have stayed in <strong>the</strong> country and battled <strong>the</strong> Italians.<br />
There was a time when Emperor Haile Selassie was morally and financially<br />
bankrupt. At that terrible time in his life it was <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, and <strong>the</strong><br />
friends <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia that she organized, who supported him. After <strong>the</strong><br />
British recognition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italian conquest <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia in 1938, <strong>the</strong> hope <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor came to an end. At that juncture <strong>the</strong> financially and morally<br />
broken Emperor tried to negotiate with Mussolini through different persons<br />
9
making <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> unhappy. She was totally against it. Deep in her<br />
heart she most likely considered it as a betrayal <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia.<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> condemned <strong>the</strong> policy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British government when Mr.<br />
Nevill Chamberlain recognized <strong>the</strong> King <strong>of</strong> Italy as Emperor <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> this knife in <strong>the</strong> back work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British, <strong>Sylvia</strong> and her friends<br />
doubled <strong>the</strong>ir campaign against <strong>the</strong> British government.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> her principled stand against colonialism and fascism, <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
was insulted and she was hit by a stone at an anti-fascists rally on Oct.4,<br />
1936. It was <strong>Sylvia</strong> that was threatened by <strong>the</strong> fascists in Britain because<br />
<strong>of</strong> her campaign against <strong>the</strong> inhumane massacre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people,<br />
by Marshall Peitro Badolgio and General Rudolf Graziani, Mussolini’s<br />
commanders in Ethiopia.<br />
Finally, it was <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s strong campaign that pressured <strong>the</strong> British<br />
government, under Winston Churchill, to recognize <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong><br />
Ethiopia, and accept her as an equal partner against Hitler and Mussolini in<br />
1941. She almost forced <strong>the</strong> British government to play <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
National An<strong>the</strong>m along with o<strong>the</strong>r Allied Nations’ An<strong>the</strong>ms on BBC.<br />
It was because <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sylvia</strong> and her friends’ campaign that Mr. Winston<br />
Churchill, whom she had known as a political adversary since <strong>the</strong> turn <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> century, was forced to send Emperor Haile Selassie to Sudan and later<br />
to Ethiopia, as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leaders <strong>of</strong> allied forces, to fight <strong>the</strong> remaining<br />
Italian forces that were isolated in few towns and cities.<br />
In 1905, when Winston Churchill was campaigning to be a Liberal MP, <strong>the</strong>re<br />
was a confrontation between him and <strong>the</strong> young <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>. He<br />
physically pushed her from where she was questioning him about his<br />
support <strong>of</strong> “women’s right to votes?” Because <strong>the</strong> public forced him to<br />
answer her question he gave a negative answer about women's votes in<br />
Britain. She held a low opinion <strong>of</strong> him throughout her life, most especially<br />
10
his support <strong>of</strong> Mussolini and fascism, against Ethiopia, was contemptible<br />
to her. The only time <strong>the</strong>y agreed politically was when he came to <strong>the</strong><br />
opinion that fascism was a danger to <strong>the</strong> world, and later became anti—<br />
Hitler-Mussolini Axis. Of course, he was about 20 years late in recognizing<br />
<strong>the</strong> dangers <strong>of</strong> fascism.<br />
From 80% to 90% <strong>of</strong> Italian solders were already defeated by <strong>the</strong> Patriots,<br />
who fought for five and six years against Mussolini’s troops, and shed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
blood. The one hundred British solders that came to Ethiopia in 1941 with<br />
Haile Selassie under <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> Col. Orde Wingate, found morally and<br />
physically defeated Italians. The defeat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italians in East Africa<br />
boosted <strong>the</strong> morale and propaganda <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Allied Forces, especially that <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> British in Europe. After <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie to his country it<br />
was <strong>Sylvia</strong> who flew to Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1944 and visited <strong>the</strong><br />
countries which were controlled by <strong>the</strong> British Military Authorities. She was<br />
shocked to her core. She hadn’t thought <strong>the</strong> British would be so blatant in<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir treatment <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and Eritrea not as independent peoples as <strong>the</strong><br />
British government promised, but as colonial peoples. In Eritrea she found<br />
<strong>the</strong> British Military Authorities working with Italian fascists, hand-in-hand.<br />
The Eritreans were living in <strong>the</strong> localities for natives, and were not allowed<br />
to go to <strong>the</strong> white area. The fascists’ color bar was intact.<br />
In Eritrea, <strong>Pankhurst</strong> visited every institution, school, hospital, factory,<br />
government department and important town. She talked with <strong>the</strong> local<br />
people and <strong>the</strong> British Government Officials. Wherever she went, <strong>the</strong><br />
Eritrean people complained about <strong>the</strong> British Military’s Administration’s<br />
grave injustices under Brigadier Stephen Longrig.<br />
At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>’s visit, Italian fascists were still in <strong>of</strong>fice in<br />
Eritrea. They controlled <strong>the</strong> courts and imposed heavy sentences for<br />
trifling <strong>of</strong>fences by <strong>the</strong> Eritreans. Italian fascists, who were in high <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
under <strong>the</strong> British during <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s stay in Eritrea, were very<br />
important fascists sent from Rome, like Major Papa, a trusted fascist who<br />
11
was Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Police, Commendatore Antonio Buongiorno President <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Court <strong>of</strong> Asmara, Commendatore Emanuele Montsefusco Attorney<br />
General, Dr. Tucci Public Prosecutor and Judge Dorozza, Dr. Luigi Guerra<br />
and Dr. Tonarelli <strong>the</strong> judges <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> high court <strong>of</strong> Eritrea.<br />
Maresciallo Baldini, a fascist <strong>of</strong>ficer known to perform cruel deeds under<br />
<strong>the</strong> Italian regime, was Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Market area Police Station under <strong>the</strong><br />
British. The Fascist Color Bar was intact under <strong>the</strong> British rule.<br />
Discrimination against <strong>the</strong> Eritrean population continued when <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> visited Eritrea. Over <strong>the</strong> front doors <strong>of</strong> Cafés, cinemas,<br />
restaurants and hotels appeared <strong>the</strong> words “Vietato per Nativi” (Prohibited<br />
for Natives”). Italian taxi-drivers were not allowed to accept Eritrean<br />
customers under <strong>the</strong> British regulations.<br />
Mrs. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> had been informed about <strong>the</strong> unfairness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
British trading licenses and <strong>the</strong> granting <strong>of</strong> land. The Eritrean Elders<br />
complained to <strong>Sylvia</strong> when <strong>the</strong> British granted import and exporter licenses<br />
to foreign-residents which were refused to Eritreans. The Eritreans also<br />
complained to <strong>Sylvia</strong> that <strong>the</strong> British Authorities granted land to <strong>the</strong><br />
Italians, but refused it to Eritreans.<br />
The distinguished Eritreans, that represent <strong>the</strong> entire Eritrean population,<br />
also complained that taxation under <strong>the</strong> British was excessive and at a<br />
level which <strong>the</strong> people could not afford. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> had noticed also <strong>the</strong><br />
British government’s imposition <strong>of</strong> severe regulation to prevent<br />
uncensored written and printed matter between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Lorry<br />
drivers carrying letters from Ethiopia to Eritrea were getting heavy fines.<br />
Letters from Ethiopia to Eritrea had to be sent through postal channels and<br />
pass British censorship.<br />
Because <strong>the</strong> Eritreans wanted to be united with Ethiopia <strong>the</strong> Chief Military<br />
Administrator, Brigadier Stephen Longrig, prohibited <strong>the</strong> Eritrean<br />
population from meeting more than three persons at a time. This was to<br />
12
suffocate <strong>the</strong> voice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, in order to deny <strong>the</strong>m freedom <strong>of</strong> speech.<br />
The regulation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British governor <strong>of</strong> Eritrea didn’t have successes in<br />
preventing Eritreans from meeting and talking about <strong>the</strong>ir future. They<br />
continued meeting in small groups in various houses to discuss <strong>the</strong> future<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir country.<br />
Politically, <strong>the</strong> British Authorities had divided <strong>the</strong> Eritrea’s populace by<br />
ethnicity, religion, region, language and locality, in order to divide and rule.<br />
The promises which were given to Emperor Haile Selassie, Eritreans, <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong>, <strong>the</strong> Friends <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, and <strong>the</strong> British Public were reversed.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> divide and rule method and instigation <strong>of</strong> conflict by <strong>the</strong><br />
British, <strong>the</strong> Eritrean people started fighting each o<strong>the</strong>r. The people who<br />
wanted to be united with Ethiopia were suppressed, beaten, imprisoned,<br />
and some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m killed.<br />
In Asmara, <strong>Sylvia</strong> talked with Eritrean political and social leaders under <strong>the</strong><br />
leadership <strong>of</strong> Ato (later Dejazmach) Tedla Baheru and o<strong>the</strong>rs. She was<br />
informed about <strong>the</strong> political views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eritrean populace-<strong>the</strong> majority<br />
wanted to be re-united with Ethiopia. She visited <strong>the</strong> native localities and<br />
talked with people. Wherever she went, she found out that <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Eritrean populace wanted unity, but <strong>the</strong> British authorities acted as<br />
obstacles, using <strong>the</strong> anti-unity, and pro-British persons like Ato Woldeab<br />
Wolde Mariam, <strong>the</strong> British’s Ras, Ras Tessema and his son Dejazmch<br />
Abraham Tessema.<br />
The British also dismissed a large proportion <strong>of</strong> Eritrean police and<br />
replaced <strong>the</strong>m with Sudanese soldiers. The Eritrean police <strong>of</strong>ficers were<br />
dismissed because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir love <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir pro-Ethiopian<br />
political stand. The Sudanese solders acted brutally against <strong>the</strong> Eritreans<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Greeks who were detained in Eritrea. The British detained <strong>the</strong><br />
Greeks, who were anti- monarchists, and <strong>the</strong> Palestine Jews, in Eritrea.<br />
13
<strong>Pankhurst</strong>talked with <strong>the</strong> distinguished Eritrean Elders, studied <strong>the</strong>ir views,<br />
saw <strong>the</strong> socio-political activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, observed <strong>the</strong> divide and rule<br />
way <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British, and took <strong>the</strong> matter to <strong>the</strong> British Officials. She told<br />
<strong>the</strong>m what <strong>the</strong>y did in Eritrea was unfair, unjust, undemocratic and contrary<br />
to <strong>the</strong> promise that <strong>the</strong> British government gave to Ethiopia and Eritrea.<br />
She told <strong>the</strong>m “when she returned to London, she would bring <strong>the</strong> matter<br />
to <strong>the</strong> attention <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British public, and government”.<br />
After she returned to London, <strong>the</strong> great English lady with <strong>the</strong> big heart, who<br />
worked day and night for <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian independence, wrote an open letter<br />
to Prime Minister Attlee, Foreign Secretary Bevin, Mr. A. Greenwood and<br />
Mr. Noel Baker. She explained to <strong>the</strong>m what <strong>the</strong> British Military Authorities<br />
were doing in Ethiopia and Eritrea under <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Britain. She<br />
reminded <strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pledge <strong>the</strong>y gave to her and <strong>the</strong> friends <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y were on <strong>the</strong> opposition. Since <strong>the</strong> turn <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> century when she<br />
was young, working with her mo<strong>the</strong>r and sister for “Women’s Political and<br />
Social Suffrage”, <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> had been called anti-British.<br />
The British Officers in Asmara and Addis Ababa, who were <strong>the</strong> worst<br />
colonialists, were very critical <strong>of</strong> her. They continued to accuse her <strong>of</strong><br />
being anti-British and, because <strong>of</strong> her struggle for universal suffrage and<br />
being a <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, she was refused jobs after she finished <strong>the</strong> art college.<br />
Back home in London, because she wrote in her own and o<strong>the</strong>r national<br />
papers about <strong>the</strong> British policies in Ethiopia and Eritrea, <strong>the</strong> information<br />
minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British government labeled her as ano<strong>the</strong>r “Gobbles”-a<br />
comparison to <strong>the</strong> propaganda minister <strong>of</strong> Hitler.<br />
14
PART TWO<br />
It is unfortunate that Ato Zewede Retta,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor’s Ambassador to Italy,<br />
didn’t reveal <strong>the</strong> great contributions <strong>of</strong><br />
Wozero <strong>Sylvia</strong> in <strong>the</strong> struggle for <strong>the</strong><br />
return <strong>of</strong> Eritrea to Ethiopia in his 542<br />
pages Amharic book, “Ye Eritrea<br />
Haile Selassie and his Prime<br />
Guday” (The Case <strong>of</strong> Eritrea). In fact,<br />
<strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> was <strong>the</strong> first to lift up<br />
<strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> Eritrea, including Italian<br />
Somaliland, to Ethiopia in 1942. Not<br />
Emperor Haile Selassie or his long time<br />
Prime Minister Stehaffi Tezaz Akililu<br />
Habte Wolde. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> studied <strong>the</strong><br />
historical connections <strong>of</strong> Eritrea to<br />
Ethiopia, from Blaten Geta Lorenzo<br />
Tazaz, and Blaten Geta Efrem Twolde<br />
Medhin, both seniors to Tsehaffi Aklilu.<br />
Minister Akililu Habte Wolde.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> lobbied in <strong>the</strong> first London<br />
based Big Powers Conference, and later in <strong>the</strong> Paris Peace Conference in<br />
1946, not to give back <strong>the</strong> Italian colonies to <strong>the</strong> new government <strong>of</strong> Italy,<br />
but to Ethiopia.<br />
It was because <strong>of</strong> Sylva’s unceasing propaganda that <strong>the</strong> new labor<br />
government <strong>of</strong> Prime Minister Clement Atlee changed its pro-Italian stand<br />
and opened <strong>the</strong> door for <strong>the</strong> reunion <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and Eritrea. That is why<br />
she wrote 8 books about Ethiopia, 3 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m on <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> former<br />
Italian colony to Ethiopia; “Ethiopia and Eritrea (The last Phase <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
15
Reunion Struggle 1941-1952)”, “Eritrea on <strong>the</strong> eve: <strong>the</strong> past and future <strong>of</strong><br />
Italy’s ‘first born’ colony, Ethiopia’s ancient sea province”, and “Why are<br />
we destroying <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Ports?” These books were written before Ato<br />
Zewede Retta finished high school. Zewede’s book, “Ye Eritrea Guday”<br />
lacks objectivity and is emotionally one-sided, overvaluing his relative <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor Haile Selassie.<br />
It seems that Ato Zewde Retta didn’t read enough, “The New Times and<br />
Ethiopia News” from 1936-1956, in which <strong>Pankhurst</strong> and her companion<br />
Silvio Corio, wrote hundreds <strong>of</strong> articles about Ethiopia and <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong><br />
Eritrea to Ethiopia. Ato Zewede’s book “Ye Eritrea Guday” represents Ato<br />
Akililu’s work at <strong>the</strong> United Nations in a <strong>the</strong>atrical way with different<br />
unnecessary photographs <strong>of</strong> him.<br />
First and foremost, Ato Zewede didn’t explain why Ato Akililu Habte Wold<br />
replaced <strong>the</strong> heroic and astute politician Blaten Geta Loronzo Tazaz, who<br />
was <strong>the</strong> right hand man <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor in exile and who wrote <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor’s speech at <strong>the</strong> League <strong>of</strong> Nations.<br />
Those foreign educated Ethiopians would have done better than Ato<br />
Akililu’s representation <strong>of</strong> Eritrea, from 1946-1950, especially those<br />
Eritreans who were members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> delegation. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> his<br />
delegation, Belaten Geta Efrem Twolde Medhin, was an English teacher and<br />
later minister abroad when <strong>the</strong> young Akililu was a student in Paris, and<br />
after that secretary in <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Legation also in Paris. Blaten Geta<br />
Efrem was also one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian delegation to <strong>the</strong><br />
League <strong>of</strong> Nations that was led by <strong>the</strong> Emperor.<br />
He was deputy representative to Blaten Geta Lorenzo Tazaz to <strong>the</strong> League<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nations, and <strong>of</strong>ficial English translator <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor during <strong>the</strong> Italian<br />
occupation <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. Above all he was an Eritrean who knew <strong>the</strong><br />
political conditions and <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> Eritrea under <strong>the</strong> Italian colonial<br />
yoke. He was a man with extensive experience, who spoke Tigrinya,<br />
16
Amharic, French, English, and Italian. It is doubtful whe<strong>the</strong>r Ato Akililu,<br />
understood <strong>the</strong> history and socio-political situations <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and Eritrea<br />
at that time. It would have had credibility if <strong>the</strong> Eritrean cause had been<br />
presented and debated by <strong>the</strong> Eritreans <strong>the</strong>mselves.<br />
What would Ato Akililu had done if <strong>the</strong>re was no cause <strong>of</strong> Eritrea from 1946-<br />
1950? Let alone at that time, even afterwards, <strong>the</strong> foreign minister was <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor himself. There were only four embassies in Addis Ababa, that <strong>of</strong><br />
Britain, America, France, and <strong>the</strong> former Soviet Union (Russia). The<br />
ambassadors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se countries did not know <strong>the</strong> gate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
foreign ministry. If <strong>the</strong>y needed to discuss an issue <strong>the</strong>y headed straight to<br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor himself. To <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> gate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> palace was open; <strong>the</strong><br />
emperor’s respect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m was so high, that <strong>the</strong> French ambassador<br />
criticized him.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> protesting Italy's fascist<br />
occupation <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia (taken in London<br />
on October 4, 1936).<br />
The Ethiopian embassies abroad<br />
were only in America, Britain, France,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> former Soviet Union (Russia).<br />
The Ethiopian ambassadors’<br />
communications were also directly<br />
with <strong>the</strong> Emperor not with <strong>the</strong> foreign<br />
minister. The ministry <strong>of</strong> foreign<br />
affairs <strong>of</strong>fice at that time was very<br />
small and its annual budget was<br />
about 200,000 Birr.<br />
There were nothing more for Ato<br />
Akililu Habte Wold to do o<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
go to New York and stay for months<br />
every year.<br />
17
In <strong>the</strong> true meaning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> word, he was nei<strong>the</strong>r foreign minister nor prime<br />
minister. He himself told <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people “he was only prime minister<br />
by name; <strong>the</strong> real prime minister was Princess Teigna Work”. The last<br />
prime minister <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie was a French man in black skin. He had a<br />
low opinion about <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people and culture. In his fifteen years as<br />
Prime Minister he never visited <strong>the</strong> provinces. He refused to appear in<br />
Parliament when <strong>the</strong> Parliamentarians summoned him. The Ethiopian<br />
people and Akililu Habte Wold did not know each o<strong>the</strong>r. He did not serve<br />
<strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people during <strong>the</strong> darkest hour, <strong>the</strong> Italian occupation, like<br />
Lorenzo Tazaz and o<strong>the</strong>rs. When Ethiopia needed his service and intellect,<br />
Ato Akililu was living in Paris and Lisbon. He simply appeared in Addis<br />
Ababa after Haile Selassie returned from exile, and was appointed a<br />
minister.<br />
Ato Zewde’s book needs a dictionary to translate all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> unnecessary<br />
foreign words used in his book. Ato Zewde perhaps hoped that using<br />
foreign words would be a sign <strong>of</strong> advancement but in fact it is shameful<br />
and a sign only <strong>of</strong> backwardness. Ato Zewde Retta has put <strong>the</strong> French<br />
culture over <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian. He thinks that <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French culture, by<br />
Ato Akililu Habte Wold, was something to be proud <strong>of</strong>. As far as I am<br />
concerned, an Ethiopian Prime Minister who was not proud <strong>of</strong> his country’s<br />
culture and history should not be called wholly an Ethiopian. People who<br />
worked closely with Ato Akililu at that time, <strong>the</strong> late Bitweded Zewede, Ato<br />
Haddis Alemayehu and those who are still living, Ato Amannuel Abrham,<br />
Ato Menase Lemma, and his private secretary Ato Emeru Zelleke, did not<br />
confirm <strong>the</strong> au<strong>the</strong>nticity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book. The reliable source <strong>the</strong> great<br />
principled author Ato Haddis Alemayehu commented on <strong>the</strong> book saying<br />
“Is it Akililu we knew or ano<strong>the</strong>r Akililu?”<br />
In addition, Ato Zewde didn’t attach <strong>the</strong> original correspondences between<br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor and Tsehaffi Tezaz Wolde Giworgis on one side, and Ato<br />
Akililu on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side. Why not? Since all <strong>the</strong> documents that he got<br />
18
from <strong>the</strong> late prime minister and o<strong>the</strong>r sources belonged to <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
people, Ato Zewde should give <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> National Library or Addis Ababa<br />
University, so that every researcher can read <strong>the</strong>m. They are public<br />
property. The 94 year-old Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Spencer, who was a friend and<br />
political adviser to Ato Akililu, told us about Eritrea in his book “Ethiopia at<br />
Bay”. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Spencer described what Ato Zewde described but in a<br />
scholastic and objective way. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Spencer was <strong>the</strong> one who played<br />
a central roll in “Eritrea Guday”. Unlike Ato Zewde, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Spencer did<br />
not give a lot <strong>of</strong> credit to Ato Akililu. We know that one <strong>of</strong> Ato Akililu’s<br />
dilemmas was his pro-French stand in world politics which created a<br />
problem in <strong>the</strong> English-speaking world. The Anglo-Saxons did not see his<br />
lack <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English language in a favorable way. That is why <strong>the</strong>re was<br />
collision with <strong>the</strong> British representative at <strong>the</strong> United Nations.<br />
In his book, Ato Zewde shows his nostalgia <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie's government.<br />
If Ato Zewede thinks that Ato Akililu was <strong>the</strong> one who played <strong>the</strong> greatest<br />
role in bringing Eritrea to Ethiopia he is mistaken. Nobody else should get<br />
<strong>the</strong> credit for <strong>the</strong> former unity between Ethiopia and Eritrea but <strong>the</strong> Eritrean<br />
people.<br />
Even though Haile Selassie’s government had partial success in <strong>the</strong> return<br />
<strong>of</strong> Eritrea <strong>the</strong> problems for separation germinated within <strong>the</strong> same period.<br />
Instead <strong>of</strong> giving <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> governance <strong>of</strong> Eritrea to <strong>the</strong> Eritreans<br />
who paid <strong>the</strong> greatest sacrifices under <strong>the</strong> British, Haile Selassie appointed<br />
his incompetent cronies and Amharinized <strong>the</strong> Eritrean administration. He<br />
started to govern Eritrea like Gondar, Gojam and o<strong>the</strong>rs without<br />
understanding <strong>the</strong> difference <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> life and mentality that had been<br />
created by 51 years <strong>of</strong> separation.<br />
The old Ras Kassa Hailu, whom <strong>the</strong> Emperor’s educated supporters had<br />
accused <strong>of</strong> being a reactionary conservative because he was not for<br />
westernization <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, understood <strong>the</strong> difference between Ethiopia and<br />
Eritrea, and pointed out his doubt about its sustainability. Ras Kassa<br />
19
advised <strong>the</strong> Emperor, Including Ato Akililu, not to rush to unity. He said<br />
“when we are economically developed <strong>the</strong>y would come by <strong>the</strong>mselves”.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> his belief in Ethiopia’s culture and history, he rejected <strong>the</strong><br />
British military’s general uniform, while <strong>the</strong> Emperor, his two sons, three<br />
Rases, one Dejazmach, and one Wagshoom, dressed in Marshall and<br />
general uniforms, without being trained as military <strong>of</strong>ficers. Even though<br />
Ras Kassa was commander in chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn front and fought with<br />
Marshall Badoglio and lived with <strong>the</strong> Emperor for five years in Britain he<br />
was not attracted to <strong>the</strong> British military uniforms. When one thinks about<br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor and his family, one wonders why <strong>the</strong>y were trying to be<br />
British. The leaders <strong>of</strong> India, Burma, Pakistan and o<strong>the</strong>rs whose countries<br />
have been ruled for hundreds <strong>of</strong> years by <strong>the</strong> British did not copy <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
dress and way <strong>of</strong> life as did <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Emperor and his family. Instead<br />
<strong>the</strong>y copied things that were useful for <strong>the</strong> well being <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir countries.<br />
Had Haile Selassie’s government left <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> Eritrea to <strong>the</strong><br />
Eritreans instead <strong>of</strong> sending people with no knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eritrean<br />
country he may have succeeded in uniting <strong>the</strong> two. This makes Haile<br />
Selassie’s government responsible at least partially, if not totally,<br />
responsible for what happened in 1991. “Ye Eritrea Guday” needs a very<br />
thorough knowledgeable critical review. Now back to <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>.<br />
20
PART THREE<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> arrived in Addis Ababa on Nov. 16, 1944. When she flew to<br />
Ethiopia in 1944 <strong>the</strong> Second <strong>World</strong> War was not over and yet she did not<br />
worry about her own physical well-being. At <strong>the</strong> airport she was greeted by<br />
<strong>the</strong> government <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day, headed by Tsehafi Tezaz Wolde Giorges,<br />
Minister <strong>of</strong> Pen and Interior and <strong>the</strong> second most powerful ruler <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia.<br />
With him were Ato Makonnen Habte Wold <strong>the</strong> Minister <strong>of</strong> Industry and<br />
Commerce, Tsehafi Tezaz Teffera Work, who was <strong>the</strong> Private Secretary <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Emperor, Ato Ammanuel Abrha <strong>the</strong> Vice Minister <strong>of</strong> Education, Woizero<br />
Ketsela Belachew <strong>the</strong> Secretary General <strong>of</strong> The Ethiopian Women’s<br />
Association, Blata Belatchew Yadete who was President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Senate,<br />
Blata Wold Kiros <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Patriotic Association, Ato<br />
Gebre Maskel Haptemariam (Dejazmach) <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eritrean<br />
Association and Ato Sereqberhan Gebre Egezi who was Ambassador <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Eritrean Association which was working for return to Ethiopia <strong>of</strong><br />
Eritrea.<br />
These <strong>of</strong>ficials, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m refugees in England or Sudan, knew <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong>. They knew what she did for <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian independence and<br />
how she helped <strong>the</strong> Emperor when he was in England. They also knew how<br />
she organized <strong>the</strong> British Public in order to help <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian refugees,<br />
how she fought and lobbied <strong>the</strong> British Officials on behalf <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, and<br />
how she struggled for women’s votes and <strong>the</strong> social and political rights <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> British women. They knew how famous and well-known <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> and her family were in Britain and throughout <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
After she was lodged in one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> palaces, one young <strong>of</strong>ficer, Major Assfa<br />
Lemma, was assigned to be her guide. In <strong>the</strong> same day without having a<br />
21
est she started visiting <strong>the</strong> different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. Her guide Major<br />
Assfa later became one <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie’s ministers.<br />
The next day she went to meet <strong>the</strong> Emperor and <strong>the</strong> Empress. She found<br />
<strong>the</strong>m not in a small house in miserable conditions but in a palace, in a big<br />
room, on a big throne. It must have been <strong>the</strong> first time that <strong>the</strong> leftist and<br />
socialist <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> entered <strong>the</strong> palace <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ruling king. She was,<br />
<strong>of</strong> course, at <strong>the</strong> Kremlin Palace and met Lenin, in 1920.<br />
She was born and grew up in <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> Queen Victoria and her son<br />
Edward VII. Including Queen Victoria she had passed through six kings<br />
and queens. She had never been a friend <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irs. In fact, she had<br />
agitated for <strong>the</strong> overthrow <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> monarchy since <strong>the</strong> turn <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> century.<br />
Even though along with her mo<strong>the</strong>r, sister and o<strong>the</strong>r leftist women she had<br />
struggled for <strong>the</strong> political and social liberation <strong>of</strong> women, she had never<br />
been invited to <strong>the</strong> annual garden party in Buckingham Palace. It is<br />
perplexing when one reads history sometimes. Queen Victoria, who ruled<br />
women and men <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Empire for more than sixty years, was<br />
against <strong>the</strong> equality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> genders. She believed in superiority <strong>of</strong> men<br />
over women.<br />
In Haile Selassie’s cause, because <strong>of</strong> her anti-fascist stand and Mussolini’s<br />
brutal aggression against Ethiopia, she saw <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian monarchy as one<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> symbols in <strong>the</strong> struggle against fascism. The Emperor and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
Ethiopians, especially princess Tsehai, had impressed her. Thanks to<br />
Woizero <strong>Sylvia</strong>, Princess Tsehai was a well-known person and symbol <strong>of</strong><br />
Ethiopia in Britain during <strong>the</strong> Italian occupation <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. The Emperor<br />
gave a reception in honor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>and decorated her with medals that<br />
were only given for <strong>the</strong> “ARBEGNOCH” (Patriots). King George VI and <strong>the</strong><br />
British government were not happy about her decoration by Haile Selassie.<br />
Like she did in Asmara, <strong>Pankhurst</strong>saw schools and hospitals and visited<br />
every ministry and talked with <strong>the</strong> ministers. In Addis Ababa she was<br />
22
shocked by <strong>the</strong> condition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> government <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie-which was<br />
controlled by <strong>the</strong> British-and <strong>the</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> indigenous Ethiopians, as<br />
“enemy occupied territory”. She asked how things were going with <strong>the</strong><br />
British Authorities who were controlling everything. She was informed that<br />
<strong>the</strong> British were dismantling and shipping to Kenya things that would have<br />
been beneficial for Ethiopia’s own development. The British quickly<br />
became unpopular in Ethiopia. There was a very famous fight between <strong>the</strong><br />
young Ethiopian <strong>of</strong>ficers and <strong>the</strong> British <strong>of</strong>ficers at King George Bar, in <strong>the</strong><br />
center <strong>of</strong> Addis Ababa.<br />
The British <strong>of</strong>ficers had imposed a color bar in a country that has never<br />
been ruled by outside forces. The owner <strong>of</strong> King George Bar was a Greek<br />
who wanted to make his bar open only to <strong>the</strong> British and o<strong>the</strong>r Europeans.<br />
The Ethiopians had been humiliated by <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong> British treated <strong>the</strong>m<br />
and <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>of</strong>fended by <strong>the</strong>ir arrogant and racist manners. The Emperor<br />
who approved <strong>of</strong> and went along with anything <strong>the</strong> British did was not<br />
bo<strong>the</strong>red by this unacceptable behavior. One day two young Ethiopian<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficers, who later became revolutionary leaders, went to King George Bar<br />
deliberately to show to <strong>the</strong> British that Ethiopia is an independent country<br />
and not a colony. While <strong>the</strong> young Ethiopian <strong>of</strong>ficers were drinking, <strong>the</strong><br />
British <strong>of</strong>ficers told <strong>the</strong>m “it was not <strong>the</strong>ir place”. After a hot argument that<br />
was worsened by drinks <strong>the</strong> boxing started and it became a very bloody<br />
physical fight. The political and <strong>the</strong> social outcome <strong>of</strong> this fight were<br />
worse. British authorities went directly to <strong>the</strong> Emperor who never<br />
questioned <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> a European demoted <strong>the</strong> two <strong>of</strong>ficers and had <strong>the</strong>m<br />
imprisoned. These two young <strong>of</strong>ficers, Brigadier General Mengestu Neway<br />
and Lt. General Aman-Michael Andome later went on to respectively lead<br />
<strong>the</strong> failed coup <strong>of</strong> 1960 and replace Emperor Haile Selassie as Head <strong>of</strong><br />
State.<br />
This was <strong>the</strong> political and social situation in Ethiopia <strong>Pankhurst</strong> went to<br />
Ethiopia in 1944. Because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir arrogance and racism everything <strong>the</strong><br />
23
British had done to help Ethiopia in 1941 became worthless to <strong>the</strong><br />
Ethiopians. The Patriots (Arebegnoch), who had fought for six years for<br />
independence from <strong>the</strong> Italians, were complaining to <strong>the</strong> Emperor about <strong>the</strong><br />
British. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m felt that <strong>the</strong> British had replaced <strong>the</strong> Italians as a new<br />
colonial power.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> also learned first had how terrible conditions were for <strong>the</strong><br />
people <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia. This was what she wrote after she visited <strong>the</strong> only<br />
hospital in Ethiopia, Menelik II hospital in Addis Ababa which had been<br />
under <strong>the</strong> British since <strong>the</strong> return <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor but was vacated and<br />
transferred to <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian government before <strong>Pankhurst</strong> went to Addis<br />
Ababa. At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong>re were 250 patients in <strong>the</strong> hospital under <strong>the</strong><br />
directorship <strong>of</strong> Dr. Dassios, a Greek doctor.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> wrote <strong>the</strong> following: “Dr. Dassios took it over, he found it filthy<br />
and neglected, with sunken floors, plaster breaking from <strong>the</strong> wall, motor<br />
machinery, etc., out <strong>of</strong> order, many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parts missing; no tools<br />
wherewith to execute repairs. The paint worn <strong>of</strong>f beds and furniture,<br />
blankets and linen old and rugged, and gravely insufficient eating utensils<br />
totally inadequate in number. The storerooms for sanitary, medical, and<br />
pharmaceutical materials were totally empty; even branches and cloths for<br />
cleaning were absent.<br />
There was no laundry, a very essential requirement. The soiled linen had<br />
to be washed in <strong>the</strong> “Kebena River”, where <strong>the</strong> poor people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
neighborhood do <strong>the</strong>ir washing. The water supply was pumped into <strong>the</strong><br />
hospital only every o<strong>the</strong>r day. The sewerage pipes broken, resulting in<br />
obnoxious smells and dangerous liability to infection.<br />
The wards where 250 patients were sleeping were wholly devoid <strong>of</strong> electric<br />
light bulbs. The linen store was empty no sheets, no blankets, no pillows,<br />
no mattresses. Patients were covered with old blankets, without bed<br />
24
sheets.” (Ethiopian Health Services by The Editor, New Times and<br />
Ethiopia News, October 14, 1944).<br />
Encouraged by <strong>Pankhurst</strong> and o<strong>the</strong>rs, Princess Tsehai was <strong>the</strong> first<br />
Ethiopian to go to <strong>the</strong> modern nursing school in London. After graduating<br />
<strong>the</strong> Princess worked in one <strong>of</strong> London’s children’s hospitals, and became<br />
very famous in that city.<br />
After <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Princess Tsehai in 1942, remembering <strong>the</strong> princess’<br />
dream to found a modern hospital in Addis Ababa, and encouraged by her<br />
companion Signor Silvio Corio- an Italian socialist who strongly opposed<br />
fascism, also <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>’s son Dr. Richard <strong>Pankhurst</strong>-<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> set up a committee chaired by Lord Davis, to build a modern<br />
hospital under Princess Tsehai’s name. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> became <strong>the</strong> honorary<br />
secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> committee and <strong>the</strong> treasurer was Lord Hordon <strong>the</strong> Private<br />
Physician <strong>of</strong> King Gorge VI. Contributions were made to aid with<br />
constructing <strong>the</strong> hospital by <strong>the</strong> Queen, members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong><br />
Commons, members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Lords, cabinet ministers, doctors and<br />
nurses who worked with <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian princess, business people, and<br />
common people from every aspect <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
After <strong>Sylvia</strong> arrived in Addis Ababa and met <strong>the</strong> Emperor <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
government, under <strong>the</strong> honorary chairmanship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor, established<br />
a committee in Ethiopia to fundraise for <strong>the</strong> hospital. The contribution was<br />
<strong>of</strong> course symbolic. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> was chosen as honorary secretary <strong>of</strong> Addis<br />
Ababa’s committee and <strong>the</strong> Emperor’s son, Ras Imeru Haile Selassie, was<br />
made executive president. The hospital was built mostly by <strong>the</strong> British<br />
contribution. Since, <strong>the</strong> Ethiopians were short <strong>of</strong> cash <strong>the</strong>ir contribution <strong>of</strong><br />
money was symbolic. The land was <strong>of</strong> course was <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor,<br />
which was not originally his property, but <strong>of</strong> Ras Tessema Nadew's. He<br />
inherited <strong>the</strong> land by forcing <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> Ras Tessema, Woizero<br />
Assegedech. The small hundred pound contribution <strong>of</strong> Queen Elizabeth,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Queen Mo<strong>the</strong>r, was written about in both “The New Times and<br />
25
Ethiopian News”. After <strong>the</strong> hospital was finished in 1951, <strong>Sylvia</strong> returned<br />
back to Addis Ababa, for <strong>the</strong> opening ceremony and two wings were named<br />
after her and Major General Orde Wingate.<br />
In Addis Ababa <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> was also shocked to see a lot <strong>of</strong> disabled<br />
beggars causing her to found <strong>the</strong> first welfare association, which later<br />
became Haile Selassie Welfare Association.<br />
In 1956, <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> left her birth country <strong>the</strong> United Kingdom, <strong>the</strong><br />
country in which she fought more than half century for women votes, for<br />
universal suffrage and for political and social rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> working masses.<br />
The greatest humanist, anti-racist, and anti-colonialist, <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
chose as her burial place economically <strong>the</strong> poorest, but historically and<br />
culturally <strong>the</strong> richest country, Ethiopia. Like any revolutionaries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> past<br />
and present <strong>Sylvia</strong>, her mo<strong>the</strong>r, and her siblings sacrificed <strong>the</strong>ir entire lives<br />
in pursuit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greater good-in this case for <strong>the</strong> social and political rights<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British women. Because <strong>of</strong> this <strong>the</strong>y were laughed at, imprisoned,<br />
starved, and beaten.<br />
From 1906-1922 <strong>Sylvia</strong> was sent to Prison fifteen times because she<br />
campaigned for equality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> genders and because she was against all<br />
forms <strong>of</strong> racism and colonialism. It is good to see that <strong>the</strong> British people<br />
did not forget <strong>the</strong> sacrifices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>s. The British <strong>the</strong>y erected a<br />
statue for <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s mo<strong>the</strong>r, and for her sister <strong>the</strong>re is a plaque at <strong>the</strong><br />
Parliamentary Buildings. A film was made about <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s struggle and <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are going to erect a statue in front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Parliament very soon.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> died in Addis Ababa on Sept. 27, 1960 at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> seventyeight.<br />
It was “Masqal”, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> principal holidays <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia’s year<br />
which celebrates <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> True Cross by Saint Helena. She was<br />
buried in <strong>the</strong> ground <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> “ Kidest Selassie Deber- or The Trinity Church”,<br />
that was set aside for <strong>the</strong> “ AREBEGNOCH” or <strong>the</strong> Patriots, who struggled<br />
for <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian independence from fascism, and <strong>the</strong> unity <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia and<br />
26
Eritrea. She had paid greater sacrifices than anybody except those she had<br />
joined in <strong>the</strong>ir burial place, <strong>the</strong> Arebegnoch.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> was. Woizero <strong>Sylvia</strong>, who was born to one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foremost<br />
socialist fa<strong>the</strong>r, Dr. Richard <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, and molded by him, and who grew<br />
up in an ambiance in which socialism was <strong>the</strong> political philosophy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
educated class, and who had doubted religion throughout her life, was<br />
given an Ethiopians Orthodox Church name “Walate Krestos” (daughter <strong>of</strong><br />
Christ).<br />
Her funeral was attended by <strong>the</strong> Emperor, <strong>the</strong> Crown Prince, <strong>the</strong> Prime<br />
Minister, cabinet ministers, <strong>the</strong> entire general staff, and many diplomats<br />
including <strong>the</strong> British ambassador. The Arebegnoch- <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Patriotic<br />
Association members -led by <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> association were also<br />
present. The President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Patriotic Association laid a bundle<br />
<strong>of</strong> flowers at her burial ground. The Emperor’s son-in-law, and minister <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Interior, Ras Andaregachew Mesai, who knew <strong>Sylvia</strong>’s struggle and<br />
worked with her in <strong>the</strong> propaganda war against Italy, read <strong>Pankhurst</strong>’s life<br />
history and spoke <strong>of</strong> her struggle for Ethiopia’s independence. In<br />
retrospect, <strong>the</strong> Emperor should have told <strong>the</strong> life and work <strong>of</strong> this great<br />
woman who did a lot more for <strong>the</strong> liberation <strong>of</strong> our country than <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor himself.<br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> preferred Ethiopian soil over that <strong>of</strong> her birth country, Britain.<br />
She was joined to <strong>the</strong> country not only through her struggle but also by<br />
blood. Her only son is married to an Ethiopian and has two children. Both<br />
are outstanding scholars <strong>of</strong> Ethiopian history and culture. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Richard <strong>Pankhurst</strong> has written hundreds <strong>of</strong> books, pamphlets, and articles<br />
on Ethiopia over <strong>the</strong> last 60 years. Not only did <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> struggle<br />
for Ethiopia but she left for us also Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Richard <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, his wife,<br />
and <strong>the</strong>ir children.<br />
27
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> published 22 books and wrote and edited thousands <strong>of</strong> articles<br />
on politics, history, art, culture, and on social and political problems.<br />
She also edited <strong>the</strong> following newspapers and journals: The Women’s<br />
Dreadnought (1914-17), The Workers’ Dreadnought (1917-24), Germinal<br />
(1923), Humanity (1932), New Times and Ethiopian News (1936-1956) and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Observer (1956-60).<br />
If we go to <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian-British relations, <strong>the</strong> Emperor was<br />
more pro-British than any <strong>of</strong> his predecessors. He loved whatever <strong>the</strong><br />
British did and had trusted <strong>the</strong>m personally or politically. But we have<br />
never been sure whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> British had <strong>the</strong> same feelings towards him.<br />
The Emperor and his family lived in Britain for five years. In <strong>the</strong>se years<br />
nei<strong>the</strong>r King Edward VIII, who vacated <strong>the</strong> British throne for <strong>the</strong> sake <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
woman he loved, nor his successor King George VI invited him to tea at<br />
Buckingham Palace.<br />
The Governments <strong>of</strong> Prime Ministers Stanley Baldwin, Nevill Chamberlain,<br />
and Winston Churchill, were not pleased with his stay in Britain. In fact,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were embarrassed <strong>of</strong> him. When <strong>the</strong> Emperor and his courtiers went<br />
to <strong>the</strong> Palace <strong>of</strong> Westminster (Parliament) for a visit, Prime Minister Stanley<br />
Baldwin, who was taking tea on <strong>the</strong> balcony, disappeared through <strong>the</strong> back<br />
door <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> restaurant so as to avoid meeting <strong>the</strong> Emperor. For <strong>the</strong>m, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> ruling class, <strong>the</strong> Emperor was just one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> many tribal chiefs in<br />
Africa.<br />
The British government or <strong>the</strong> monarchy did not help him when he was in<br />
financial difficulty. He was supported by rich philanthropists, through <strong>the</strong><br />
“Abyssinian Association” which was organized by <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian minister in<br />
London, Dr. Workenh Eshate (Dr. Martin), and <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>. There was<br />
no evidence that <strong>the</strong> British monarchy, whose culture he copied and loved,<br />
28
espected Haile Selassie. The British <strong>of</strong>ficers continually told Ethiopians<br />
not to try to emulate <strong>the</strong> British but to be proud <strong>of</strong> what <strong>the</strong>y are.<br />
The Ethiopians starting from <strong>the</strong> Emperor did not like this. They felt that<br />
<strong>the</strong> British did not want to be dressed like <strong>the</strong>m. Ras Beru, a relative and a<br />
close associate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor, begged for a British <strong>of</strong>ficer’s headwear<br />
from <strong>the</strong> British Military Authorities, and wore it when he entered Ethiopia<br />
in 1941.<br />
After he returned back from exile, <strong>the</strong> protocol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor’s Palace<br />
became British. The ancient Ethiopian styles were downgraded as second<br />
and third classes. British military and civil clo<strong>the</strong>s were considered a sign<br />
<strong>of</strong> civilization. From <strong>the</strong> Emperor down to his ministers and military<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficers all attempted to appear British. The only thing <strong>the</strong>y could not<br />
accomplish was to change <strong>the</strong>ir skin. Different kinds <strong>of</strong> medals were made<br />
in order to be like <strong>the</strong> British ruling classes. The Emperor used to wear<br />
about 160 different kinds <strong>of</strong> medals on different occasions. The Emperor<br />
with his marshal uniform and medals all over his chest looked like <strong>the</strong><br />
British king when he opened <strong>the</strong> British Parliament annually. He created<br />
<strong>the</strong> titles <strong>of</strong> prince, princess, and dukedoms, which had never been used in<br />
Ethiopian history. All military titles from marshal to colonel were also<br />
copied from <strong>the</strong> British. The Emperor even gave <strong>the</strong> British title “Lordship”<br />
to one <strong>of</strong> his cronies.<br />
History teaches us that <strong>the</strong> difference between <strong>the</strong> Pope <strong>of</strong> Rome and King<br />
Henry VIII was due to marriage. Henry VIII, who was changing wives like<br />
shirts, did not want <strong>the</strong> Pope <strong>of</strong> Rome to be a hurdle to his way <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
Henry had murdered two <strong>of</strong> his wives, among <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Queen<br />
Elizabeth I, accusing <strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> adultery. Since Henry VIII rebelled against <strong>the</strong><br />
Pope and separated <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> England from Rome, <strong>the</strong> kings and<br />
queens have been <strong>the</strong> nominal head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Anglican Church. In Ethiopian<br />
history, <strong>the</strong> heads <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Orthodox Church and <strong>the</strong> Emperors<br />
have been almost on equal levels; <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church in charge <strong>of</strong><br />
29
eligious affairs and <strong>the</strong> Emperor <strong>of</strong> political affairs. But after Haile<br />
Selassie returned from exile he copied <strong>the</strong> British and appointed himself<br />
head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Church, without understanding why it happened in<br />
Britain. He became not a titular head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church as <strong>the</strong> British<br />
counterpart, but a dictatorial head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He<br />
nominated and approved <strong>the</strong> appointment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Patriarch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
Orthodox Church.<br />
When Queen Elizabeth II, visited Ethiopia in 1964 The Emperor <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia<br />
tried his best to make <strong>the</strong> receiving <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Queen resemble what <strong>the</strong> British<br />
did for him in 1954. He bought horses from Australia, built a European<br />
style hall in his palace, bought new military uniforms from Germany for his<br />
bodyguards, prepared military parade. He even copied <strong>the</strong> Buckingham<br />
Palace’s changing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> guards. Although millions <strong>of</strong> taxpayer’s dollars<br />
were spent on <strong>the</strong> preparations, upon her arrival <strong>the</strong> Queen did not show<br />
any interest in any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se things. In fact, she was much more interested<br />
in experiencing <strong>the</strong> “Ethiopian” side <strong>of</strong> things.<br />
She was less interested in <strong>the</strong> military parade than in <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian<br />
traditional sport “GUGES”. She did not want to have <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial dinner in<br />
<strong>the</strong> new modern hall but in <strong>the</strong> old Emperor Menelik’s Hall. Of course, <strong>the</strong><br />
Queen was right to reject what <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Emperor prepared for her<br />
because she had not traveled to Ethiopia to see <strong>the</strong> duplication <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
British culture, but ra<strong>the</strong>r to witness Ethiopia’s own culture firsthand.<br />
It would have been preferable for <strong>the</strong> political well being <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia if <strong>the</strong><br />
Emperor had copied <strong>the</strong> British Parliamentary Political system and a<br />
constitutional crown ra<strong>the</strong>r than focusing solely on mannerisms and dress.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> world knows, <strong>the</strong> Emperor was not only an absolute dictator, but he<br />
thought himself to be equal to God. He had to be asked to give permission<br />
for <strong>the</strong> most trivial things, like <strong>the</strong> transfer <strong>of</strong> insignificant <strong>of</strong>ficial or for an<br />
increase <strong>of</strong> small salaries.<br />
30
The older he got <strong>the</strong> more distanced he became from <strong>the</strong> people. His<br />
government, which lasted for 52 years, is responsible for <strong>the</strong> political,<br />
social, and economical upheaval in which Ethiopia currently finds herself.<br />
It is unfortunate that <strong>the</strong> Emperor did not use his popularity for <strong>the</strong> good <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> country. He had all <strong>the</strong> chances to give <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people a<br />
sustainable political system that would bind all <strong>the</strong> ethnic groups toge<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
He had all <strong>the</strong> chances inside and outside Ethiopia to develop <strong>the</strong><br />
backward economy <strong>of</strong> his country. He had all <strong>the</strong> chances to create<br />
democracy for his people. But, he loved himself and lived only for himself<br />
and left a confused, so-called educated class that is nei<strong>the</strong>r White nor<br />
Ethiopian, an educated class that copied <strong>the</strong> Emperor’s self-loving.<br />
Emperor Haile Selassie, after ruling <strong>the</strong> country as a god, left about 99% <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Ethiopian populace as <strong>the</strong>y lived for three thousand years. That was<br />
why, when he was overthrown, <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian people were happy to see him<br />
go. It is sad that after he ruled <strong>the</strong> country like a god, <strong>the</strong> 84 year old<br />
monarch died in a dreadful way.<br />
The Ethiopian Emperor, who ruled Ethiopia during a time when <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> world reached <strong>the</strong> highest growth in economic, social, and political<br />
development, left his country worse than any time in its history. He<br />
deliberately left Ethiopia without a government institution that had <strong>the</strong><br />
respect and trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people and left <strong>the</strong> country for Mengestu Haile<br />
Mariam and his thugs. Because <strong>of</strong> his 52 years <strong>of</strong> misrule <strong>the</strong> misery <strong>of</strong><br />
Ethiopia continues. No light is seen at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tunnel.<br />
31
Sources:<br />
1. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, A Crusading Life 1882-1960, by Shirley Harrison<br />
2. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, Sexual Politics And Political Activism, by Barbara<br />
Winslow<br />
3. The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain 1866-1928, by Sophia A.<br />
Van Winger den<br />
4. Votes For Women, Edited, by Jane Purvis And Sandra S. Holton<br />
5. Who Is Who in <strong>the</strong> British History, Edited by Juliet Gardener<br />
6. The Ascent <strong>of</strong> Women, A History <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Suffragette Movement…by M.<br />
Phillips<br />
7. Emmeline <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, A Biography, by J. Purvis<br />
8. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, A Life in Radical Politics, by Mary Davis<br />
9. Emmeline <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, by Paula Bartlsey<br />
10. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>, Artist and Crusader, An intimate portrait, by<br />
Richard <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
11. Ethiopia At Bay, A Personal Account <strong>of</strong> Haile Selassie Years, by<br />
John H. Spencer<br />
12. Haile Selassie’s War, by Anthony Moclker<br />
13. Ethiopian War, by Angelo Del Boca<br />
14. Ethiopia- A New Political History, by Richard Greenfield<br />
15. Soviets Russia, As I Saw It, by E. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> (1922)<br />
16. Education In Ethiopia by <strong>Sylvia</strong> E. <strong>Pankhurst</strong> (1946)<br />
17. Ethiopia- A Cultural History, by E. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong> (1955)<br />
18. Ethiopia And Eritrea (The last Phase <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Reunion Struggle 1941-<br />
1952, by E. <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong>- Editor “ New Times And Ethiopian<br />
News”, And Richard K. P. <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
19. British Policy in Eritrea And Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ethiopia, by E. <strong>Sylvia</strong><br />
<strong>Pankhurst</strong> (1945)<br />
20. “ New Times and Ethiopia News” 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946<br />
21. The Ethiopian Observer ( 1956- 1960), edited by <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Pankhurst</strong><br />
32
22. The International Who’s Who, 1936-1960, London-Europe<br />
Publications LTD<br />
23. Who Was Who Volume V, 1951-1960<br />
24. Encyclopedia <strong>of</strong> <strong>World</strong> History, Sixth Edition<br />
25. The Fighting <strong>Pankhurst</strong>s-A study in Tenacity, by David Mitchell<br />
26. Ye Eritrea Guday, by Zewde Retta<br />
27. Hiwote Ena YeEthiopia Ermega, ( Amharic) by Emperor Haile<br />
Selassie<br />
28. Tezeta ( Amharic), by Haddis Alemayehu<br />
29. The Tragedy <strong>of</strong> Abyssinia, by Emperor Haile Selassie, 1937.<br />
30. The Voice <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, New <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia, N.Y. N.Y., Sept. 14, 1940, by<br />
Dr. Melaku E.Beyan<br />
31. Colonel Legesse Wold Hanna, <strong>the</strong> former Minister, and Ambassador<br />
33