Ras Tafari International Consultants Africa Liberation day inquiry.
The British Government and the Death of King of Kings Theodore. is this a matter within the competence of the students of Africa and Europe?
Dear Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister. Witney Constituency,
Upon your oath of Office, and to vindicate the honour of the Crown of England, the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd, her heirs and successors you have made this Oath.
I ( David Cameron ) swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.
As a member of the voting public, we present new evidence, concerning the death of King of Kings Theodore, the looting of the Churches, and the judgment of Almighty God on the heirs and successors of Queen Victoria according to law, and to which you have been properly notified.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd will appear before you on 25th May, Africa Liberation Day, you will be invited to comment on Her speech, you will do your duty before Almighty God, upon your Oath to vindicate the Honour of the Crown of England to bear true allegiance to Her Majesty and in fulfilment of the highest Duties of your Sovereignty.
I am Seymour Mclean
Office of the Chaplain
EWF Inc. London.
§ THE EARL OF DENBIGH
said, he could not but share in the regret that this expedition had been undertaken, not because of the expense which would fall on this country, nor on the probable sacrifice of life, but because, in his view of the case, this war would be only the complement of a lamentable policy, and would add one more stone to the cairn of political crime. He believed that the gravest consequences would ensue from it, and he hoped that their Lordships would allow him a few moments in which to enunciate his opinions. If, as he believed, the detention of Mr. Rassam and his companions was owing to the culpable mismanagement of the noble Earl lately at the head of the Foreign Department, then war would be unjustifiable as well as unjust. He believed that the duty of individuals to one another was 591 applicable to nations. A man who killed another unnecessarily or unlawfully was guilty of murder; and in the same way a war which was unjust, unnecessary, or unlawful, was a crime also; and that crime was murder, and all who were the cause of it were involved in the guilt. An unnecessary war might arise from the incapacity of a statesman from whose policy it ensued, and the guilt of murder would attach to him; hence the necessity of all statesmen looking to the first principles of justice and morality. With regard to the origin of the Abyssinian war, it appeared from the blue book that Mr. Cameron had been condemned by the Foreign Office three or four times for mixing himself up with the internal affairs of Abyssinia, with which he had no business. He (the Earl of Denbigh) asked, why then the Foreign Office did not recall him? If Mr. Cameron had been at that time recalled, we should have heard no more about the matter; but he was left there, and King Theodore, rightly or wrongly, conceived that Mr. Cameron was mixing himself with internal intrigues in that country, and therefore laid hands on him. If the King was justified in doing this, then the present war was not as justifiable as it would appear at first sight. There were other causes. The noble Earl (Earl Russell) received a letter from the King for Her Majesty, and, according to Mr. Flad, the non-answering of that letter was a great cause of irritation to the King. The noble Earl, whose policy was certainly active in dealing with other States, must needs give orders to the Consul at Jerusalem to mix himself up in the intrigues of the Abyssinians and the Copts; and he (the Earl of Denbigh) was astonished when he saw that the reason given was that the Abyssinian Church was in spiritual communion with the Church of England. It was the first time that he had heard of such a thing, and when he examined the question he found that the Abyssinian Church was closely allied to Popery. Whether Mr. Rassam was or was not a proper person to send out with Her Majesty's letter to King Theodore was a question into which he would not enter. Mr. Rassam was sent out, and his capacity was such as to entitle him to respect. He seemed to have been well received. The Emperor granted his petition, and liberated the prisoners. But confusion arose in consequence of the noble Earl writing another despatch, entirely different from that which was forwarded through Mr. 592 Flad by our Consul General at Alexandria, and when the Emperor saw a despatch written in an entirely different sense his suspicions were awakened, and he was led in consequence to imagine that he was betrayed, and seized Mr. Rassam. If this supposition were well-founded, the noble Earl was responsible for all the events of the war. He did not blame the Government for giving their assent to the expedition, which was really forced upon them, and therefore they were entitled to claim co-operation. He considered that the question as to the lawfulness of war was one that ought not to be lost sight of. The circumstances of Europe at the present time were most peculiar and critical. They saw war waged on all sides without any attention to the rules of war. He would ask the Government to act in accordance with the old and time-honoured rules of law—of that International Law which had been so much violated. Not only had International Law been violated, but so had it been with laws human and divine. He had, he might add, heard it suggested that the noble Earl himself should be sent out as a messenger to King Theodore, inasmuch as he was likely to be the person most fitted to explain his own despatches.
He could not help expressing his regret that the laws which had been laid down by Vattel, and which had commanded the sanction of all civilized nations, had been so much departed from. That great authority had laid down that unlawful war was as much murder as it was to execute a criminal without a warrant being drawn out. Previous to blood being shed a formal declaration of war ought to be made, and that declaration ought to be formally conveyed by the Sovereign making it to the other Powers. As a supporter of a Conservative Government, he wished to adhere to these laws and to see them carried out.
PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT. SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
21 August 1867 → Lords Sitting, Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR
delivered the SPEECH of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I AM happy to be enabled to release you from the Labours of a long and more than usually eventful Session, and to offer you My Acknowledgments for the successful Diligence with which you have applied yourselves to your Parliamentary Duties.
§ "MY Relations with Foreign Countries continue on a friendly Footing.
§ "THE Communications which I have made to the reigning Monarch of Abyssinia, with a view to obtain the Release of the British Subjects whom he detains in his Dominions, have, I regret to say, thus far proved ineffectual. I have therefore found it necessary to address to him a peremptory Demand for their immediate Liberation, and to take Measures for supporting that Demand, should it ultimately be found necessary to resort to Force.
HL Deb 19 November 1867 vol 190 cc1-6 THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said— § My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "THE Sovereign of Abyssinia, in violation of all international Law, continues to hold in captivity several of My Subjects, some of whom have been especially accredited to him by Myself, and his persistent Disregard of friendly Representations has left Me no Alternative but that of making a peremptory Demand for the Liberation of My Subjects, and supporting it by an adequate Force.
§ "I HAVE accordingly directed an Expedition to be sent for that Purpose alone, and I confidently rely upon the Support and Co-operation of My Parliament in My Endeavour at once to relieve their Countrymen from an unjust Imprisonment, and to vindicate the Honour of My Crown.
31 July 1868 Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR
delivered the SPEECH of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "MY Relations with Foreign Powers remain friendly and satisfactory. I have no Reason to apprehend that Europe will be exposed to the Calamity of War, and My Policy will continue to be directed to secure the Blessings of Peace.
§ "I ANNOUNCED to you at the Beginning of this Session that I had directed an Expedition to be sent to Abyssinia to liberate My Envoy, and others of My Subjects, detained by the Ruler of that Country in an unjust Captivity.
§ "I FEEL sure that you will share in My Satisfaction at the complete Success which has attended that Expedition. After a March of 400 Miles, through a difficult and unexplored Country, My Troops took the strong Place of Magdala, freed the Captives, and vindicated the Honour of My Crown; and by their immediate Return, without One Act of Oppression or needless Violence, proved that the Expedition had been undertaken only in obedience to the Claims of Humanity, and in fulfilment of the highest Duties of My Sovereignty.
27 April 1868 COLONEL SYKES
Is it true that King Theodore was found dead; and, if so, in what manner did he meet with his death?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE He was found dead, but we have no information as to the manner of his death.
SIR ROBERT NAPIER AND EX-GOVERNOR EYRE.—QUESTION.
HC Deb 22 May 1868 vol 192 cc715-6 715
§ CAPTAIN ARCHDALL
I wish, Sir, to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman at the head of Her Majesty's Government. Assuming that the Abyssinian Expedition was organized for the sole purpose of releasing certain of Her Majesty's subjects who had been taken prisoners and kept in confinement by the Emperor of Abyssinia, and that purpose having been accomplished by the liberation of the captives, it is obvious that the bombardment of Magdala resulted in the post facto death of the Emperor and several of his subjects. The question I wish to ask is this, Whether in the event of certain Members of this House conspiring with certain other persons out of the House to persecute Sir Robert Napier for in the manner described having caused the death of the Emperor Theodore, Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to defend that gallant Officer, or to leave his defence to the voluntary action of a just and generous Nation?
MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.
HL Deb 09 July 1868 vol 193 cc865-6 865
§ Delivered by The LORD PRIVY SEAL; and read by The LORD CHANCELLOR, as follows:
§ VICTORIA R.
§ Her Majesty, taking into consideration the important Services rendered by Sir Robert Napier' a Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Bombay, in the Conduct of the recent Expedition into Abyssinia, and being desirous to confer some signal Mark of Her Favour for these and other distinguished Merits upon the said Sir Robert Napier, recommends it to the House of Lords to concur in enabling Her Majesty to make Provision for securing to the said Sir Robert Napier and the next surviving Heir Male of his Body a Pension of Two thousand Pounds per Annnm.
§ Ordered, That the said Message be taken into consideration To-morrow.
Back to SIR ROBERT NAPIER.
VICTORIA R.
HC Deb 09 July 1868 vol 193 cc914-5 914
§ Her. Majesty, taking into consideration the important Services rendered by Sir Robert Napier, a Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, and Commander in Chief of the Army of Bombay, in the conduct of the recent Expedition into Abyssinia, and being desirous to confer some signal mark of Her favour for these and oilier distinguished merits upon the said Sir Robert Napier, recommends it to the House of Commons to enable Her Majesty to make provision for securing to the said Sir Robert Napier and the next surviving Heir Male of his Body, a Pension of Two Thousand Pounds per Annum.
§ MR. DISRAELI
I shall move tomorrow that the House take into consideration, in Committee, Her Majesty's most gracious Message.
§ Committee thereupon To-morrow.
MR. BRISCOE 29 July 1869 → Commons Sitting → CORONATION OATH.
So in regard to the dispute with Abyssinia, it was not the fault of a diplomatist, but of the individual having charge of the foreign affairs of this country when it first arose.
MR. MAGUIRE 16 May 1870 → Commons Sitting → IRISH LAND BILL— [BILL 29.]
But surely the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who had lately called on the British taxpayer to pay £10,000,000 for the slaughter of a wretched nigger in Abyssinia, might call on the same British taxpayer to sanction the advance of £1,000,000 to Her Majesty's Irish subjects, on the best possible security.
Commons Sitting → ABYSSINIAN WAR—PRIZE—THE ABANA'S CROWN AND CHALICE 30 June 1871
HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 c1463W Ethiopian Manuscripts
§ Mr. Fraser
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans exist to return to Ethiopia the ecclesiastical manuscripts, artifacts an other items taken by the British Army from Ethiopia in 1868 and currently stored in the British Library, India Office collections and the royal library at Windsor castle. [35275]
§ Mr. Sproat
There are no plans at present to return to Ethiopia objects obtained in 1868 which are in the British Library, including the India Office collections.
The disposal of objects in the royal collections is entirely a matter for Her Majesty's the Queen.
14 March 2002 → Written Answers (Commons) → CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
HC Deb 14 March 2002 vol 381 cc1232-3W Ethiopian Artefacts
§ Mr. David Stewart
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Ethiopian artefacts that remain in British possession from the raid on Magdala in 1868. [42723]
§ Dr. Howells
There have been no requests for return from the Ethiopian Government for any of the objects in question. With regard to the manuscripts in the British Library, microfilm copies have been deposited in Addis Ababa, and scholars have access to the originals at the Library. We understand that the Ethiopian Government are content with these arrangements.
Dear Mr McLean
Thank you for your email to the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw, regarding Ethiopian manuscripts currently in the possession of the British Museum. I have been asked to reply.
We are aware that many people have very strong views about these manuscripts. However, as our national museums and galleries operate independently of Government, this is a matter for the British Museum.
These manuscripts form part of the British Museum's collection. Under the Museum's governing statute, the Trustees are prevented from “deaccessioning” objects in the Museum's collections unless they are duplicates or not worth keeping. The Government has no plans to change the law in this respect.
The British Museum Trustees believe that the Museum is the best place for these manuscripts to be displayed. It is a world museum and people from all over the world come to visit it for free. There is nowhere else in Europe where visitors can look at the cultural achievements of the whole world under one roof.
Yours sincerely
Gerry Ranson
Dear Prime Minister
Please accept our warmest greetings on your election to Office.
Concerning the looting of the Ethiopian churches on 13 April 1868 and the looted Church treasures in England today, please find the comment of one of your MP's,
"But surely the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who had lately called on the British taxpayer to pay £10,000,000 for the slaughter of a wretched nigger in Abyssinia, might call on the same British taxpayer to sanction the advance of £1,000,000 to Her Majesty's Irish subjects, on the best possible security."
In view of the death of King of Kings Theodore and the looting of the Ethiopian Churches, what action can the Government take to remedy this growing crisis and to , and to vindicate the Honour of the Crown.
Please see email addressed to your members of Parliament.
Seymour Mclean Office of the Chaplain
EWF Inc. London 19th May 2010 Email [email protected]