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I,Haile Sellassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, am here today to ask for the impartial justice which is due to my people and for the help which fifty- two nations had undertaken to extend to my people when they affirmed, eight months ago, that a war of aggression, in violation of international law, was being waged against Ethiopia and her people.
There is no one other than I Emperor Haile Sellassie I, who can present this appeal for the Ethiopian people, to these fifty-two nations.
Perhaps this is the first time that a King or Emperor appears before this assembly and address it. But it is truly only today that violence and aggression of this kind is seen being committed against a people, who is now falling victim to the aggressor.
Furthermore, there has not been seen a previous example of a government that has set out to extinguish methodically and by means of cruelty, the entire stock of another race of people, in transgression of a covenant which it has honorably and publicly entered into, in the form of a treaty concluded with the nations of the world, to wit that one government was not to deprive another of its country, by means of war and that it was not to exterminate innocent human beings by powerful and toxic poison gas. The reason that I, as Emperor of Ethiopia, have come to Geneva after having fought myself as Commander-in-Chief of my army, is to fulfil this highest duty of mine, and to defend the Ethiopian people, sruggling to presreve their independence which has endured for many thousands of years. I pray to God that He may keep the nations of the world from the torment that has been inflicted upon my people, and from the cruel actions which these chiefs who have followed me here have been witnesses and which have, indeed, happened to themselves.
I shall explain in detail to the representatives of the nations assemled in Geneva, who are responsible for the lives of many millions of men, women, and children, about the moral danger awaiting these creatures and the fate which has overwhelmed the Ethiopin people.
A mechanisms praying yperite poison liqiud was installed in the war aircrafts, and it was arranged that a fine rain like spraying should descend over vast areas of Ethiopia, bringing death and destruction upon any living creatures which it touches, at one time up to eighteen Italian war planes were flying to and fro spraying down unceasing rain of yperite poison gas down on the ethiopian people. From late January 1936 onwards this death -dealing rain descended uninterruptedly upon Ethiopian soldiers, women, children, cattle, streams, stagnant waters as well as pastures. The Italian army commander made the warplanes repeat this cruel terror work of theirs over and over again, in order to extinguish completely all living creatures and to turn into poison the waters and the grazing grounds. They made this cruel activity, their principal means of warfare.
The work of cruely, which was carried out with wickedness, killed so many people in places far removed from the battlefield and made their country into desert. The plan was to spead terror and death all over the blessed land of Ethiopia.
The most deplorable scheme was eventually accomplished. Man and beast perished compleatly. The deadly downpour that descended from the war planes, made anyone who touched it run with torment. Those who drank the water upon which this poisonous rain had settled or ate the food which the piison had touched, died in dreadful agony. The people who died as a result of the Italian yperite poison liquid must be reconed in many thousands. It was to make known to the international world, the torment which was inflicted upon the Ethiopian people that I decided to come to Geneva.
The above was taken from the Rebuke which his Majesty gave to the league of nations in the year 1936. When I come again I will post another segment for every one to see.
The journey of life continues. Take the best care of yourself and your people.
Again I send many oceans of blessings and self determination to African people everywhere.
ONE BLACK HEART ONE BLACK LOVE.
Baba Ras Marcus.
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