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Following is the welcome speech by
the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon.
Donald Sangster, to His Imperial
Majesty, Emperor Haile, during the
civic reception at the National Stadium
yesterday afternoon.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
‘I have the great honour to express
to you, on behalf of the Government
and people of Jamaica, a most warm
and sincere welcome.
“This, your first visit to Jamaica, is
for us, your majesty, a most important
and significant event. We have long
hoped for this occasion, and your pres-
ence with us today is, assuredly, Your
Majesty, a high point in our history.
“Ethiopia and Jamaica have for long
been as terms of closest friendship. We
in Jamaica have always Your Imperial
Majesty in the highest personal regard,
and have shared with the rest of the
world profound admiration and respect
for Your Imperial Majesty in the suc-
cessful struggle which you waged in
the 1920’s to maintain the territorial
integrity and national sovereignty of
your great country, Ethiopia.
“We have watched with tense inter-
est and pride the emergence of the
continent of Africa as a force in world
affairs, and we have been especially
impressed by your own tremendous
contribution to this process of develop-
ment. Indeed I think it is true to say
that the excellence of your leadership
in Africa, no less that the fact that the
majority of Jamaicans are for closer
ties with the countries of Africa and
especially Ethiopia.
‘It will be recalled that in 1961 a
Mission from Jamaica had the honour
of an audience with Your Imperial Maj-
esty, and whilst it was not an official
mission representing the Government
of Jamaica, that missing visited your
country under the sponsorship of the
Government of Jamaica. That mission
as later followed by a technical mission
which visited Ethiopia on behalf of the
Government of Jamaica.
All Jamaicans who have visited
Ethiopia and those who are working
there now, whether as members of
the international organization or as
residents, have spoken highly of the
extreme courtesy, graciousness and
kindness accorded to them by Your Im-
perial Majesty and by the Government
and people of Ethiopia. It was, there-
fore, a source of great pleasure to me
personally to my Prime Minister Sir
Alexander Bustamante, to the members
of the Government and to the people
of Jamaica, that formal diplomatic
relations were last month established
between your country and ours.
“We are aware, Your Imperial Maj-
esty, that Addis Ababa has been select-
ed by the leaders of Independent Africa
as the site of the Organization of Unity
and we are conscious of the influence
which you have exercised in the de-
velopment of this young organization.
I would like to assure Your Majesty
that we in Jamaica have followed with
keen interest all that you have done to
mould new Africa as a vital force in the
world of today.
“We are happy to welcome you. We
are deeply honoured by your visit to us
and we look forward to even closer and
more friendly association with your
country, rendered especially meaning-
ful by the memories which all Jamai-
cans will long cherish of your gracious
presence amongst us.
“May I, Your Imperial Majesty, wish
for you long life and health and may I
once more welcome you to Jamaica on
this the occasion of your state visit and
pray that your stay may be both pleas-
ant and memorable.”