Fere Kenafer 2-55

* 1954: October November December
* 1955: January **February** March April May June July August September October November December
* 1956: January February March April May June July August September October November December
* 1957: January February March

## 474

What the government of Russia's special envoy and minister plenipotentiary Hon. Aleks Petrovich spoke when he presented his letter of appointment at Genete Leul Palace on February 13, 1955 at 11:00 standing before HM the King of Kings, and the response given from His Majesty.

A ) Speech of the hon. minister:

Your Majesty,

I feel honour when I present for Your Majesty the letter whereby my work comrade before me was recalled, and my letter of appointment whereby I was now appointed as special envoy and minister plenipotentiary in Ethiopia from the lofty Presidium of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I am humbly begging Your Majesty that I might find fortune, when I assure for Your Majesty that the people of the Soviet Union finely preserve the uninterrupted feelings they have for Ethiopia, and that the expansion of the relations of friendship between the two governments serves for the good deeds of the peoples of our countries, and likewise that it presents a means of strengthening for the world peace that was the heartfelt desire and standing cause of the Soviet government.

At the times when I fulfill the duties cast upon me from the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I shall guide all my labours upon the growth made by them to expand the relations of friendship that serve the common benefit of both countries.

Full faith being cast upon it by the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, when I put the lofty embassy given to me into action, I am humbly begging to remind that it be allowed for me to reveal the hope I have, that I will find help and support from the part of Your Majesty and likewise from the Imperial Ethiopian Government.

B ) Speech of HM the King of Kings:

**Honorable minister,**

**We are pleased when We receive from your hand, the letter whereby you were appointed as special envoy and minister plenipotentiary from the lofty Presidium of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics alongside Our Imperial Palace. And likewise, when We receive the letter whereby he before you, the renowned Mr. Ribakov (?) was recalled, We remember finely the service Mr. Ribakov did that the friendship continue to strengthen between the peoples of both countries.**

**We guarantee for you that, in the duties your excellency fulfills that the relations of friendship between the two countries continue to expand more in the future, Our continual good disposition, and also the help and unity of Our Ministers, will not be diminished on you. Because of the common benefit found by working in cooperation, as your excellency revealed in your speech, We make hope that your lofty embassy will produce this fulfillment.**

## 475

In making occasion of the return to its former country Ethiopia of the territory called Reserved Area that had been given in agreement as a base for the British army by reason of the war, because the landholders of Ogaden province had sent the joy they felt to HM the King of Kings in writing on February 7, 1955, the 12 landholders who came representing in the landholders' name to reveal this their joy, when they met approaching before His Majesty in the Genete Leul Palace at 12:30 on February 21, 1955, what one of the landholders Fitawrari Seyd Abdu Kerim spoke and the short word spoken from His Majesty.

A) The word that the landholders of Ogaden had sent to His Majesty in writing on February 7, 1955:

For Your Majesty,

After we waited having heard in great joy what was spoken by radio on January 5, 1955 by Your Majesty, the declaration proving that the one province of Ogaden that had been administered by a foreign government for about ten years, finally will soon be administered by the Kingdom of Ethiopia as it was anciently before the war, so that we, your citizens found in Ogaden province by Your Majesty's good Will and command, might be persuaded of the agreement as well as the spirit, because we came as far as Harer province and the details were told to us, because by what Your famous leadership conceived and planned, it was guaranteed for all the people to find its ancient right and honour, the joy we felt is passing beyond measure.

And because this day, for the first time since the invasion, is the day when it was considered that His Majesty's territory fully find its unity returning like it had anciently before the war, because we found an opportune time for the revelation of the gratitude and uninterrupted loyalty we have for HM the King of Kings, we reveal in great humility for Your Majesty our fortune being lofty.

Your citizens.

B) Speech of Fitawrari Seyd Abdu Kerim.

Your Majesty,

Being chosen by the entire people of Ogaden, standing today beneath Your Majesty's throne, we landholders who were sent up to Addis Ababa to reveal our being your loyal citizens who waited without interruption, reveal in lofty humility the pride and deep joy we felt by the fortune given us.

Your Majesty,

And making before this, we the principal landholders of Ogaden being called to Harer by the regent of Harer province on February 7, 1955, by Your Majesty's perseverance and effort, You having persuaded the withdrawal and the details including the translation, of the Ogaden people's land that remained being called Reserved Area, on the basis of the agreement made between the two governments, we landholders who gathered by means of the province to reveal the joy we felt about the thing being great, having guaranteed by our full signatures, the writing we sent to Your Majesty having persuaded us, we believe it is what awaited.

And even now by Your Majesty's fatherly observation, we Your citizens who were Ethiopians, having entered our land that waited many years being seized by a foreign hand, even though it was made for us that we can find our rights that awaited being interrupted on us, on one part moreover by Your wide charity that was traditional and humane, and even though it was made to be fulfilled on the basis of the agreement that HM Menilek II made previously, that those who were citizens of foreign countries graze and water their cattle finding grass and water from this our land that was our inheritance, instead of those who found this charity being found grateful, because they are found going to their rulers to announce their complaint, because it seemed to us proper to reveal that this action didn't remain without saddening us, and moreover with this their action, when our government is restored its ancient inheritance, because we have heard that they are thinking to ignite a quarrel, because it worried us lest it be found on us what gives doubt to our being Your true citizens, if we pass it without revealing to Your Majesty the sadness we felt at all this reason and on our part also, when we mean that observation be cast upon it that sufficed for what we continue to point out, we present our plea with great humility.

Long life for His Majesty the King of Kings,

Long Life for Her Majesty the Empress and for the royal King of Kings household,

We present our fine desires that were from the heart, saying May Ethiopia live forever in her freedom with us her children.

C) Short word spoken by His Majesty.

**What you pointed out is proper. And We guarantee for you that it is what will preserve your rights for you.**

## 476

The speech H.M. King of Kings Haile Selassie I gave speaking on the Air Force School flag after He observed the air show that the cadets prepared being found at the Air Force School on Bishoftu Harer field on Wednesday, February 22, 1955 at 9 o clock.

**Nine years ago today, when We inaugurated this school, what We desired was to see you having grown, your number having become plentiful, and the company having been widened, the capability that had commenced in scholarship having matured, you having found the ability whereby you work mixing with the other defense company.**

**Because the era when the school was established, was collided with the time when the Second World War was fulfilled, by the trouble that was on Us to find from Europe in the measure that We desire, the savants and tools necessary for the school, and also above this, establishing an Air Force School in Ethiopia, being an unaccustomed thing, all this had caused doubt about the work succeeding.**

**However, by it's being what We are persuaded and what We believed in, that if Our country's people found time and education, it won't fail to taste and grasp any wisdom, We established the school without wavering.**

**As We followed it beginning from that time, We would find the progress you made in adjusting with this unaccustomed practice, a strengthener of Our belief. Those who sacrificed their lives in this work, though a fate of precedence encounter them, passed on leaving a fine name.**

**Because the level where you reached and the fruit that the school gave, was seen for Us being sufficient, being found here today We have been pleased by Our being able to give the Ethiopian Air Force flag. And while this is a sign for Us of Our reaching the desire there was when We established the school, when we regard it from afar, it has given Us faith that the other goal likewise will reach its place. Our praise for God Who helped Us to see when all this succeeds and Who brought Us hence, is great.**

**It does not seem to Us necessary to detail for you what the meaning of a flag is. Even so, in short a flag is a sacred sign where the King of Kings' glory, the freedom of the entire country of Ethiopia, is seen.**

**Beginning from the era when the Ethiopian people founded its freedom,**

## 477

* 1954: October November December
* 1955: January **February** March April May June July August September October November December
* 1956: January February March April May June July August September October November December
* 1957: January February March