Office of the Historian

884.001 Selassie I/376

Draft of Letter From President Roosevelt to the Emperor of Ethiopia (Haile Selassie I)36

undated

Your Imperial Majesty: I have received with great pleasure your kind letters of May 1, 1942 and of August 10, 194237 and thank you for your gracious remarks in regard to the American people.

It is a source of much satisfaction to me and to the people of the United States that your country, which fought so courageously against a ruthless enemy, has regained its territorial sovereignty and self-government. The steadfast friendship of the American people and their sympathy with you in your period of trial will continue to be manifested during the days to come. That you and the gallant people of Ethiopia are determined as ever to defend your land and are willing to share in the joint sacrifices required to restore law and order in international relations is abundantly clear from the adherence of Ethiopia to the Declaration by United Nations.

I look forward to the day when, by reason of their sacrifices, the peoples of our respective countries will be free to resume the labors of peace and to harvest in bountiful measure the fruits of justice and good deeds.

In this spirit I send you greetings.

Your Good Friend,

  1. Apparently signed by the President on October 23, 1942.↩
  2. Latter not found in Department files.↩