Dominic Winter Auctions
Lot 309
* Haile Selassie I (1892-1975). Emperor of Ethiopia 1930-1974. An audio interview conducted by a British reporter [David Holden] with Haile Selassie in Addis Ababa on the eve of the 40th anniversary of his Coronation, 1 November, 1970, the interview lasting 33 minutes and 33 seconds and recorded on Scotch Magnetic tape 215 (270m/900ft, 13cm/5in), on clear plastic spool in original printed card box with Haile Selassie name and the date inscribed to upper lid, a little soiled, spool size 13cm, together with a .wav file transfer of the interview on an 8GB memory stickQty: (1)NOTESThe interview was conducted by David Holden while preparing for his documentary 'Lion of Judah', and takes the form of five questions asked in English, followed by Haile Selassie's lengthy answers in Amharic, then followed by equally lengthy English translations by Haile Selassie's translator. There are occasional interjections by Haile Selassie and even a little English is spoken by him on request at the end of the interview. The interview begins with the question about what it was that Haile Selassie wanted to change when as a young man he first came to a position of power in Ethiopia. He answers that he believed in the values of traditional education and the moral values of his country with a modern education and that after his father's death he wanted to give Ethiopia its own constitution to safeguard rights of every citizen and their happiness. He describes how the implementation was not easy and how he fought to abolish slavery, fighting collaborators and officials. He managed to introduce education with great difficulty and for over 10 years he had the portfolio of education himself. He desired to give girls and boys free education to help serve their country the best the positive response he got from the people made him very happy. The other questions concern the period of his life with the invasion by the Italians in the 1930s and the failure of the League of Nations to protect Ethiopia, the interviewer asking him what affect that had had on his thinking about such organisations as the United Nations, etc., the third question to which Haile Selassie answers concerns the period of Italian occupation when he spent most of his time in England, asking him for his chief recollection and what he liked most and disliked most about the English. Haile Selassie speaks fondly of his time in Britain and his friendship with the British people, and describes the true friendship between British and Ethiopian people. The fourth question returns to education and refers to the student troubles in USA, France, Japan and United Kingdom. Haile Selassie describes how there had been a brief misunderstanding between university officials and government officials in Ethiopia, but students quickly realised that they were wrong and came to their senses. The final question is to ask if Haile Selassie would speak a sentence or two in English for the listeners to which Haile Selassie responded: 'You ask me really serious things. I see many changes in the world and hope always for peace'. He concludes that the world has changed many times since its inception and it's still changing and it can be better or for the worse and that one must do one's best to achieve peace, and talking is not enough. The interviewer thanks Haile Selassie and congratulates him on the 40th anniversary of his coronation the following day and hoping to be at the Parliament to see him give his speech. He asks whether it would be possible to take one photograph and gets a positive reply.
