On the End of the War in Ethiopia
By Benito Mussolini
Blackshirts of the revolution! Men and women of Italy! Italians and friends of Italy beyond the mountains and seas: listen!
Marshal Badoglio telegraphed me: "Today, May 5, at 4 PM, at the head of victorious troops, I entered Addis Ababa."
In thirty centuries of our history Italy has lived memorable hours but this today certainly is one of the most solemn.
I announce to the Italian people and to the world that the war is over. I announce to the Italian people and to the world that peace has been reestablished.
It is not without emotion and not without pride, that after seven months of fierce hostilities, I pronounce this great word, but it is strictly necessary for me to add it is our peace, Roman peace, which is expressed in this simple, irrevocable, definite phrase: Ethiopia is Italian!
It is Italian in fact because it is occupied by our victorious armies. It is Italian in law because of the law of Rome and civilization which triumphs over barbarities, justice which triumphs over cruel whims, redemption of miseries which triumphs over millennial slavery.
With the population of Ethiopia, peace is already an accomplished fact. The races of the former empire of the Lion of Judah have demonstrated with the clearest sign their desire to live and work tranquilly in the shade of the Italian Tricolour.
The chiefs and ras' are defeated and the fugitives do not count for anything and no force in the world can make them count for anything.
In the meeting of September 2 I solemnly promised I would do everything possible to avoid that the African conflict should become a European war. I have maintained that commitment, and more than ever I am convinced that disturbing the peace of Europe would lead to the collapse of Europe.
I must immediately add that we are ready to defend our shining victory with the same intrepid, irrevocable decision with which we achieved it.
We feel thus we interpret the will of the Italian combatants in Africa, of those who are dead, who have gloriously fallen in combat, whose memories will remain engraved for generation and generation in the hearts of all Italians and those other hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Blackshirts who in seven months of fighting have accomplished such prodigies as to force the world to give them unconditional admiration.
To them goes profound, devoted acknowledgement of the Fatherland, and such acknowledgement goes also to the one hundred thousand workers who during these months have worked with superhuman zeal.
This day is a great date for the Blackshirt revolution. And the Italian people, who resisted and who did not bend under the siege and hostility by Geneva, deserve to live in this great hour.
Blackshirts of the revolution! Men and women of Italy!
A milestone in our march has been reached, we will continue to march to peace, we will face with our courage, faith and determination the undertakings which await us tomorrow.
Viva l'Italia!
