I have unceasingly made it known, time and time again, that I was not seeking to wage the war that was being imposed upon me. That I was fighting was solely to prevent my people's liberty and Ethiopia's territorial integrity from being affected; I was additionally defending in this war the cause of all small nations who are neighbors of powerful states, lest such a neighbor should be able to take their country by force.
In the month of October 1935 the fifty two nations who are listening to me today gave me the following promise: The aggressor will not prevail, we will see that the provisions of the covenant are implemented, so that a lawful government shall be firmly supported and that the perpetrator of force, transgressing the law, shall be destroyed.
I would remind the nations not to forget this their policy, for it is I who have followed the policy which the fifty two nations have pursued these last eight months, in which I manifested my faith and upon which I directed my people to defend themselves against a government that had been condemned of aggression by the whole world.
Although my war equipment was so much less than the aggressor's and although I possessed no aeroplanes, artillery, other weapons whatsoever or indeed hospital services for the wounded, my hope rested upon the covenant of the League of Nations. I thought it impossible that fifty two nations, among whom were some of the mightiest in the world, could be defeated by one sole aggressor government. Reposing my trust in the efficacy of treaties- exactly as happened to some small nations in Europe- I had made no preparations for war. When the danger became more pressing and the responsibilty towards my people irked nmy conscince, I tried to obtain arms throughout October 1935- May 1936. Many governments prohibited the export of arms intending to prevent me from obtaining any. The Italian Government however, was able to transport through the Suez Canal weapons, munitions, and troops, uninterruptedly and without anyone stopping them. On the 4th of October the Italian army invaded my country, and only a few hours after that did I issue a proclamation of mobilization. In the desire to live by main-
-taining peace, I directed my troops to fall back some 30 kilometres from the frontiers, in order not to provoke a conflict by whatever pretext-exactly as an important nation had done when war was about to break out at the time of the great war. after that, war continued with great violence, exactly as I have explained to the Council.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The journey of life continues. Take the best care ofyourself 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.
