Addis Ababa, Aug. 2, 1928, Ambassador Giuliano Cora (fourth from right in front row) and a few staff members on the steps of Villa Italia, with Ethiopian Regent Ras Tafari (center front row), at the signing of the Treaty of Bilateral Friendship, after the official breakfast. The plaque commemorates the recently completed renovations. (from "Diplomatic Imagery" by Stefano Baldi)
Within two months, on 7 October 1928, Ras Tafari would be proclaimed Negus.[nb 3] A little over two years later, on 2 November 1930, Zewditu had died and Tafari was proclaimed Nəgusä Nägäst[nb 4]Haile Selassie I.
In 1926, the Kingdom of Italy and the United Kingdom attempted a joint commercial penetration of the Ethiopian Empire. By bringing joint pressure upon Ras Tafari, the Italians planned to exploit a railway, and the British hoped to construct a mighty water works for irrigating the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Tafari yielded momentarily but made a protest to the League of Nations that was so potent that British public opinion turned against the water works scheme, and it was cancelled. That left the Italians in the lurch.[3]
The treaty declared a 20-year friendship between the two nations, access to the sea for Ethiopia, a road for Italy and an agreement to settle future disagreements through the League of Nations.[4] Also, the treaty provided a concession to Ethiopia at the Red Sea port of Asseb in the Italian colony of Eritrea, called for both nations to co-operate in building a road between Asseb and Dessie and made the border between Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia 21 leagues parallel to the Benadir coast (approximately 57.5 mi).
Aftermathedit
Both sides were at cross purposes when they approached the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1928. Mussolini wanted the treaty to be a vehicle to allow Italy to penetrate Ethiopia economically and never intended to approach the League of Nations for arbitration. Meanwhile, Ras Tafari wanted arbitration but never intended to allow the Italian road from the sea to be built. He considered the road from Asseb to be a natural invasion route.[4]
Marcus, Harold G. (1994). A History of Ethiopia. London: University of California Press. pp. 316. ISBN0-520-22479-5.
Nicolle, David (1997). The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935-1936. Westminster, MD: Osprey. pp. 48 pages. ISBN978-1-85532-692-7.
External linksedit
. Time Magazine. November 5, 1928. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
April 27, 2024
italo, ethiopian, treaty, 1928, also, known, italo, ethiopian, treaty, friendship, arbitration, treaty, signed, between, kingdom, italy, ethiopian, empire, august, 1928, nigiste, negest, zewditu, ruled, ethiopia, time, this, treaty, year, tafari, makonnen, rep. The Italo Ethiopian Treaty of 1928 1 also known as the Italo Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship and Arbitration 2 was a treaty signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire on 2 August 1928 Nigiste Negest nb 1 Zewditu I ruled Ethiopia at the time of this treaty but it was the 36 year old Ras nb 2 Tafari Makonnen who represented the government of Ethiopia Tafari who was still in his minority was heir apparent and Regent Plenipotentiary Addis Ababa Aug 2 1928 Ambassador Giuliano Cora fourth from right in front row and a few staff members on the steps of Villa Italia with Ethiopian Regent Ras Tafari center front row at the signing of the Treaty of Bilateral Friendship after the official breakfast The plaque commemorates the recently completed renovations from Diplomatic Imagery by Stefano Baldi Within two months on 7 October 1928 Ras Tafari would be proclaimed Negus nb 3 A little over two years later on 2 November 1930 Zewditu had died and Tafari was proclaimed Negusa Nagast nb 4 Haile Selassie I Contents 1 Background 2 Terms 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBackground editIn 1926 the Kingdom of Italy and the United Kingdom attempted a joint commercial penetration of the Ethiopian Empire By bringing joint pressure upon Ras Tafari the Italians planned to exploit a railway and the British hoped to construct a mighty water works for irrigating the Anglo Egyptian Sudan Tafari yielded momentarily but made a protest to the League of Nations that was so potent that British public opinion turned against the water works scheme and it was cancelled That left the Italians in the lurch 3 Rather than giving up his own plans the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini enlisted the aid of King Victor Emmanuel s cousin Prince Luigi Amedeo Duke of the Abruzzi In 1928 with pomp and panoply the Duke and a following of royal proportions crossed the Mediterranean sailed down the eastern coast of Africa and then struck inland to Ethiopia and its remote capital Addis Ababa The Duke thawed the suspicious Tafari s reservations by giving him a large Isotta Fraschini limousine a luxurious Italian product that then sold in the United States for some 18 000 equivalent to US 319 000 in 2023 along with many other gifts 3 Terms editThe treaty declared a 20 year friendship between the two nations access to the sea for Ethiopia a road for Italy and an agreement to settle future disagreements through the League of Nations 4 Also the treaty provided a concession to Ethiopia at the Red Sea port of Asseb in the Italian colony of Eritrea called for both nations to co operate in building a road between Asseb and Dessie and made the border between Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia 21 leagues parallel to the Benadir coast approximately 57 5 mi Aftermath editBoth sides were at cross purposes when they approached the Italo Ethiopian Treaty of 1928 Mussolini wanted the treaty to be a vehicle to allow Italy to penetrate Ethiopia economically and never intended to approach the League of Nations for arbitration Meanwhile Ras Tafari wanted arbitration but never intended to allow the Italian road from the sea to be built He considered the road from Asseb to be a natural invasion route 4 See also editItalian Colonial Empire Abyssinia Crisis Second Italo Ethiopian War League of Nations Prince Luigi Amedeo Duke of the AbruzziNotes editFootnotes Usually translated as Queen of Kings or Empress Roughly equivalent to Duke Usually translated as King Usually translated as King of Kings or Emperor Citations Nicolle The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935 1936 p 7 Marcus A history of Ethiopia p 126 a b Fascist New Year Time Magazine New York City Time Inc 1928 11 05 a b Marcus A history of Ethiopia p 126References editMarcus Harold G 1994 A History of Ethiopia London University of California Press pp 316 ISBN 0 520 22479 5 Nicolle David 1997 The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935 1936 Westminster MD Osprey pp 48 pages ISBN 978 1 85532 692 7 External links edit Fascist New Year Time Magazine November 5 1928 Archived from the original on November 21 2010 Retrieved January 19 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Italo Ethiopian Treaty of 1928 amp oldid 1216373872, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
