Haah
The invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 is actually preceded by another symbolic event of historical import in the epic memory of Pan-African Nationalism known as the Battle of Adowa� (1896).� This latter event was the armed rejection of imperial Italy�s initial encroachment on Ethiopia.� Italy�s actions, at that time, were reflective of the 1884-85 Berlin Conference, the so-called, �Scramble for Africa� conference.�The conference produced documented commitment to the cooperative pursuit of Africa�s exploitation.� A particular document titled, General Act of the Berlin Conference was addressed to:
1. The Empress of India;
2. The emperors of Germany, Austria, the Russias, the Ottomans;
3. The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
4. The kings of Prussia, Bohemia, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway;
5. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg; and
6. The presidents of the United States of America, and the French Republic (Annex to Protocol No. 10:� General Act of the Berlin Conference 1973, 288).
While this conference focused primarily on the �free navigation on the two chief rivers of Africa flowing into the Atlantic Ocean �� �(288) it also addressed the criteria of settling the African coast. Part of a document issued from that conference provides a glaring example of the latter:
Chapter 6.� Declaration relative to the essential Conditions to be observed in order that new Occupations on the Coasts of the African Continent may be held to be effective.
ARTICLE 34 Any Power which henceforth takes possession of a tract of land on the coasts of the African continent outside of its present possessions, or which being hitherto without such possessions, shall acquire them, as well as the Power which assumes a protectorate there, shall accompany the respective act with a notification thereof,
1. The Empress of India;
2. The emperors of Germany, Austria, the Russias, the Ottomans;
3. The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
4. The kings of Prussia, Bohemia, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway;
5. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg; and
6. The presidents of the United States of America, and the French Republic (Annex to Protocol No. 10:� General Act of the Berlin Conference 1973, 288).
While this conference focused primarily on the �free navigation on the two chief rivers of Africa flowing into the Atlantic Ocean �� �(288) it also addressed the criteria of settling the African coast. Part of a document issued from that conference provides a glaring example of the latter:
Chapter 6.� Declaration relative to the essential Conditions to be observed in order that new Occupations on the Coasts of the African Continent may be held to be effective.
ARTICLE 34 Any Power which henceforth takes possession of a tract of land on the coasts of the African continent outside of its present possessions, or which being hitherto without such possessions, shall acquire them, as well as the Power which assumes a protectorate there, shall accompany the respective act with a notification thereof,