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4/1/1957
- The Emperor: A Profile
by Smith Hempstone Jr.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS SH April The Emperor A Profile Addis Ababa Ethiopia Walter S Rogers mailed Nairobi Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Rogers In June enelik II victor Adowa warrior statesman under Ethiopia added southern provinces doubling dying Addis Ababa To called grandson Lij Yasu Ethiopian church principal chiefs peaking whisper barely audible vassals enelik named Yasu successor saing Cursed shall refuse shall black If shall betray worthy manner himself shall accursed shall beget black enelik although completely paralysed gered until December The years between designation Yasu successor death years intrigue abortive palace revolutions counter Far intrigue intimately involved akonnen enelik great general diplomat Ras Tafari Governor Harar Lij Yasu stacked against start The Epress Taitu despite advancing years rgiment person against rebels Tigre province scheming against This bizarre personality veteran marriages great rases Ethiopia seeking place enelik daughter Zauditu issue earlier riage enelik something Ethiopian Henry VIII wives throne Yasu nominal control developed clever solute irresponsible youth He wndered small force remote provinces toward Nile plain formed first mporary marriages among uslim tribes there He affronted Shoan Amhara nobles dallying Islam attempt dismiss dying enelik SH trusted advisors In Yasu public announcement cended ohammed Solomon He coronet shamma donned turban scimitar uslim disposed Christian proclaimed Ethiopia subject ligious Turkey Then marched Jigjiga uslim Harar raise force jihad The Shoan chiefs encouraged foreign legations feared general massacre Christians massed their forces Addis Ababa asked Abuna release their allegiance Yasu proclaim Zauditu empress stead Ras Tafari great akonnen regent The Abuna complied Saying supported Yasu would incur wrath Father Son Holy Ghost Twelve Apostles Fathers Council Nicaea curse Arius reprobation Judas This medicine Yasu Harar Dankali desert Thus almost bloodless revolution figure Ras Tafari intriguer vaulted three cornered battle throne Lion Judah His competitors Empress Zauditu aging inister War Fitaurari Hapta Giorgis Tafari wanted bring Ethiopia iddle Ages Twentieth Century But affronting servative nobility would He waited built Harar model province cemented foreign contacts He waited Fitaurari battle scared greying He could point succession victories covering years He preferred feudalism civil service modern innovations He Ethiopian versionbf combination Bob Taft General acArthur power among older nobles The Empress perhaps weakest three until Lij Yasu hands Wih trump chance rallying uslim support either Tafari Fitaurari should seize throne She fettered Yasu chains befitted turned loyal This three cornered stalemate broken death Fitaurari Ras Tafari moving secured himself Fitaurari lands supporters crushed oppositien gained support Abuna banishing unpopular Etchee ministrative hexad church Zauditu beaten Ras afari crowned Negus Negast The slight delicately featured prince throne Haile Selassie I meaning The Instrument Power Trinity His battle power during which exiled Menelik difficult times indeed seemed bearded little smile supported invincible Power Never story without explaining happened principal characters Lij Yasu reputed tried drown Haile Selassie while swimming together Harar confined castle Ethiopianlaw prince royal blood suffer capital punishment However April Italians gates Harar Emperor verge Djibouti Lij Yasu believed there God Allah disappeared Haile Selassie become Emperor doing foolish things leaving blood descendent Nenelik rival throne stronger claims throne hands conqueror Lij Yasu Addis Ababa cocktail crowd bottom where tried drown youthful friend At years I given historical prologue attempt something character The Emperor often remembered moving appeal before League Nations Italian agression Since character large extent created political propaganda purposes world which weuld needed But before Haile Selassie faced Fascist Italy It Nakonnen great father perhaps better sources power Ethiopia It French Nission School Harar which attended until It baked Garamoulatta Harar which governed He learned Shoan people governed Selale learned statecraft Nenelik court He learned mistakes exiled Kaffa province To throne Ethiopia requires children solid blood claim The throne Solomon intelligent crafty strong alert brave merciless Haile Selassie I believe these The Emperor apparently deeply religious He starts devotions attends church regularly observes frequent strict Ethiepian Church He telerates Nuslim subjects insists respect Ethiepian Church This politically sound clergy which comprises etween eight Ethiepians firmly behind He drinks fruit juice After devotions private chapel heavy breakfast Empress dines lightly lunch dinner SH After breakfast reads short begins series daily appointments cabinet ministers visitors His afternoons largely taken official appearances which Addis Ababa In evening unless entertaining officially Haile Selassie Empress Nenen massive powerful woman health those their children After dinner Emperor great movie usually private showing before turning around midnight On Emperor tries villas various parts empire He flies private Convair unless nearby hideaway Debra Zeit O minute drive Addis He little horseback riding boating although interest sports primarily vicarious Haile Selassie demands Ethiopian standards administrators himself He expects receives subjects degree respect which borders worship making rounds while Addis A standing street corner flipping quarter which Ethiopian coinage bears Emperor policeman walked placed under arrest What I asked Fool answered policeman making Emperor dizzy The Emperor officially forgave Italians their gression policies worked severe hardships Italian settlers particularly Eritrea He forgiven Ethiopians collaborated Italians although exiled Addis Ababa under survelance remote areas But Emperor forgives after offending party through rather humiliating traditional Ethiopian ceremony admitting guilt begging forgiveness He keeps sharp princes developing popularity showing ability If gains lowers shows himself adept statecraft brought Tafari throne usually finds himself assigned obscure provinces If transfer government another refuses government service taken personal disloyalty person Emperor risks years remote If shows dissatisfaction conduct affairs department powerful provinces given diplomatic powerless sinecure There Ethiopia The streets named after schools churches cafes These traditional actions ruler knows cement position dynasty continue The question which always arises during reign strong applies happens Emperor Nany means blood Sincerely Smith Hempsne Jr