RULER OF ABYSSINIA

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1928, Page 9

RULER OF ABYSSINIA

CONGRATULATIONS FROM KING. (British Official Wireless). Rugby, Oct. 7. The following telegram has been sent by the King to His Imperial Highness Ras Tafari, hefr to the throne of Ethiopia, Regent-Plenipotentiary and Negus of Addis Abeba: “On the occasion of your Imperial Highness’ coronation as Negus I have great pleasure in offering you my most cordial congratulations on the signal honour which her Majesty the Empress has been pleased to bestow upon you.” GROWTH OF RAS TAFARI'S POWER. SHARE IN ABOLISHING SLAVERY. Ras Tafari, the new King of Abyssinia, was born in July, 1891, as second son of Ras Makonnen, who was present at the coronation of Edward VII. in 1901, as envoy of the Emperor Menelik. After the deposition of the Emperor Lidsh Jeassu and the accession of the daughter of Menelik, the Waizeru Zauditu, Judith, he was declared heir to the throne and appointed regent. In that capacity he had wide powers, but the influence of the Empress Judith herself on the course of events in Abyssinia has been by no means inconsiderable.

In September, 1923, Ras Tafari brought about the entry of Abyssinia into the League of Nations. The law of March, 1924, abolishing slavery, is attributable to him. In the summer of 1924 he made a tour of Europe, during which he visited Rome, Paris, Brussels and London. This journey was remarkable in that it was the first occasion on which an Abyssinian monarch or regent had been known to leave his native country. At the end of July, 1926, Ras Tafari sent to the League of Nations a formal protest against the Anglo-Italian agreement of April, 1926, with regard to Abyssinia. In the course of it he wrote: “When we were received into the League of Nations, we were told that all countries belonging to it had equal rights and that their independence must be respected by all. We were not told that some of the members could agree among themselves to impose their policy on another member, even when the latter regarded that policy as incompatible with his national interests.” '

In 1912 Ras Tafari married the Princess Menen, a half-sister of the former Emperor Lidsh Jeassu. Hie heir is his eon Makonnen. He has another son and three daughters.