The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-04-23
LAYS DETAILS OF
ITALIAN MASSACRE
BEFORE LEAGUE

leds SAH tH~M pStSuhal bCi0HAiHESs
except arms, horses and military pa
pers remain their property
Aticle 23 Of the same Convention
prohibits the killing or wounding
an enemy who, having laid down his
arms or having no longer the means
Of defending himself, has surren-
dered at discretion"
These summary executions are gra-
tuitous crimes, the application of a
policy of terrorism fully approved by
the Government OF Rome.
Ethiopian Youth Killed
In December, 1896, two of the
sons of Ras Kassa, the Deiazamatch
Aberra and Asia Wossen, and in
January, 1887, third son Of Ras
Kassa, the Dedjazamatch Wond-
| Wossen, were also put to death In
public to fill the Ethiopian people
| with horror
| All these valient chiefs had
the right to receive the generous
| treatment which civilised govern
ments aud The Hague Convention ac-
cord to combatants overcome by the
fortune Of war
~ On the day Of the attempt on
81, l3fa ~ nd.,r.I,,1 fssn.,.,., :, bn.,.,
bic hecetombe was ordered by the
italian authorities. Without any en-
quiry, without any preliminary pro-
ceedings, thousands Of Philippians
were put to death. II was not a
punishment: it was collective ven
geance. The Italian troops sur
rounded the place where the a.
tempt had been made; all the Ethiopi-
ans in this enclosure were killed
Among the victims were several
priests and Moslem religious leaders.
Three Days of Terror
". During the three days which
followed 4 reign Of terror and as
sassinataion was maintained by the
Italian authorities. Soldiers assis-
ted by Italian civilians, to whom
arms were distributed, were melted
to murder men, women and children.
| am IN possession Of information on
these scenes Of horror. With rifles,
pistols, bombs, cutlesses and clubs
distributed for this purpose. groups
of Blackshirts and workmen went
through all the quarters Of the town
killing men, women and children
whom they met. Others, with flame
throwers and tins Of petrol, set fire
TO the tukuls (native huts) and
houses, massacring all those who at
tempted to escape from them.
Those are not acts Of cruelty com
mitted on field of battle in the heat
OF the struggle. They are acts of
assassination. pillage and destruction,
ordered i'll cold blood and carried out
methodically under the direction of
! the Italian authorities in the capital
of my Empire. The victims were
not armed men, but inoffensive men,
women and children, whom it was
the duty of the Italian occupant to
| protect III virtue of international
laws. The massacre of February,
1887, will leave on the Italian ag-
gressor a bloody and indelible stain.
| Italian Grimes Denounced
! VI Such are some Of the crimes
| perpetrated against the unfortunate
Ethiopian people. In the name of
| my people, oppressed and plunged in
desolation, | solemnly denounce them
to the League of Nations, you know
all the acts of fury and violence
which have been let loose against my
people. Will you do nothing to stop
these massaeres2 Have you COM
pletely forgotten the solemn pledges
which you undertook towards the
Ethiopian people, and of which l
once more demand the fulfilmente
Will you allow defenceless people
to be exterminated? Will the mis-
fortunes which, as result of the
attack upon my Empire, have fallen
upon Europe. will the new acts of vio-
lence which are being prepared for
other nations by the same aggres-
sor, or with his cannivance, leave
you Indifferent? Will you forget
us for ever? What crime have we
committed that we should be aban-
doned by you? Is your conscience
at rest after our terrible experien-
ces?
I request the appointment Of a
Commission of Enquiry to investi-
gate all the horrors committed in
Ethiopia BY the Italian Government.
Done at Bath, the 18th day Of
March 1897.
(signed) Halle selassie1. Emperor
tsigned) Herouy, w. s., Minister for
Foreign Affairs Of the Empire Of
Ethiopia.