Introduction
In this brochure an attempt is made' to give a picture of what took place in Eritrea on Their Imperial Majesties' State visit to that Territory, from the 4th to the 18th of October, 1952.
As background it is essayed to sketch briefly some important aspects of the recent Eritrean history. Why the res¬toration of Eritrea to the motherland, Ethiopia, became necessary; why the people gave Their Imperial Majesties such a hearty welcome?
For 67 years this territory, now restor¬ed to Ethiopia through the United Na¬tions, was separated from its original geographical and political setting. To be exact, it was only in 1890, that it was given the name of Eritrea and re¬presented then the result of foreign conquest. Limitrophe to the rest of the Ethiopian territory and containing its seacoast, this separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia robbed the latter of her access
'to the sea.
The alienation of this territory took with it the section of the people by which it was inhabited. A part of the Province of Tigre at that time, this conquest caused the irredentism which the United Nations by its resolution of December 2, 1950, decided to end. Of the same stock as the inhabitants of the northern province, these people, later called Eritreans, continued to yearn for reunion with their rest of kin in Ethi-opia. This desire was sharpened by the sufferings which they underwent and by the• certain knowledge that their brothers, across the artificial barrier which divided them, enjoyed the fruits of progress, free from foreign domina¬tion.
His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie First, on Whose shoulders rested the campaign for the liberation of Ethiopia, while exerting every effort to free His country from the invader, answering' the call of history, never left Eritrea and the Eritreans out of the general plan. In His diplomatic and military offensive to bring this condition about, He included the unification of Eritrea to the motherland. Long before the final assault, His Majesty the Emperor fathered the Eritrean people, lent them material and moral support and inspir¬ed them to look forward to the day of their eventual freedom, joined -again' with their brothers across the Mareb.
The age-old unity and oneness of the Eritrean and Ethiopian people exemplified itself in an effective solida¬rity which contributed to the success of the campaign of liberation. On this, Their Imperial Majesties' first State visit to the territory after its restoration, this same solidarity has expressed itself in the unique manner which is partially described in this brochure.
Following the end of the Second World War, and particularly in view of the force of Ethiopia's legitimate claim for the restoration of Eritrea, the matter devolved on the Four Great Powers. This was provided for in the Treaty of Peace with Italy at Paris in 1946. So also were the provisions for the hand¬ling of the issue by the United Nations General Assembly, as an alternative to the failure of the Great Powers to come to an agreement.
The fate of Eritrea and the demand of Ethiopia for its restoration subsequently fell to the lot of the United Nations, through the disagreement of the Four Great Powers as to its final disposal. After over three years of discussions, on December 2, 1950, a formula was found in the General As¬sembly to federate Eritrea to the motherland, Ethiopia. The justice sought and defended by the Imperial Ethiopian Government, led by His Majesty the Emperor, the genuine wishes of the Eritrean and Ethiopian people to be rejoined were thus fulfill¬ed. Eritrea has been returned to the fold - now federated with Ethiopia under the Sovereignty of the Ethiopian Crown.
It was the General Assembly of the United Nations, which set in motion the machinery that was to crown with success the determined and long sustain¬ed struggle of His Imperial Majesty for the reunion of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and paved the way for His triumphal entry into Eritrea. On December 2, 1950, this body adopted Resolution No. 390 (V) (A) providing a procedure for the Federation; the rejoining of people long held apart by an arbitrary and artificial boundary at the River Mareb. The considerations which prompted the resolution were stated therein thus:
"a) The wishes and welfare of the inhabitants of Eritrea, including the view of the various racial, religious, and political groups of the provinces of the territory and the capacity of the people for self-government." ,
"b) The interests of peace and security in East Africa."
"c) The rights and claims of Ethi¬opia based on geographical, historical, ethnic and economic reasons, including in particular Ethiopia's legitimate need for adequate access to the sea."
In that portion of the resolution de¬nominated The Federal Act, the As¬sembly declared that Eritrea should constitute an autonomous unit federated with Ethiopia under the sovereignty of the Ethiopian Crown and that a single nationality should prevail throughout the Federation. The resolution provided procedures for the appointment of a United Nations Commission to assist Eritrea in the adoption of a Constitu¬tion and decreed that the Federation should be effective when the Eritrean Constitution and the Federal Act should be ratified by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Ethiopia.
Pursuant to the directive of the re¬solution, Dr. Eduardo Anze Matienzo was appointed United Nations Com¬missioner for Eritrea.
After several months of pains taking endeavour, Dr. Matienzo, with the co¬operation of the Eritrean people, the Administering Authority and the Im¬perial Ethiopian Government, brought forward the draft Eritrean Constitution. According to the terms of the United Nations resolution on Eritrea, this Constitution finally came into effect on the 11th of August, after its ratification by His Majesty the Emperor.
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