Sylvia Pankhurst: the first Guest of the Ethiopian Herald
Sylvia Pankhurst was long time devoted friend of Ethiopia, Editor of the New Times and Ethiopia News, and famous as a leader in the Suffragatte movement in Britain. She was cordially welcomed as she arrived here in Addis Ababa, in her first leg to the country that she has so strongly championed for the 8 years during and after the Italian war of aggression.
Her interview published in the front page of 2 November, 1944 Edition was actually conducted by New Times and Ethiopia News, a newspaper which she established as part of her fight against fascist aggression. While the interview revolved around many issues that she actively involved in, she has also made the following remarks in response to the question raised about her interest in Ethiopia.
“I had always been opposed to fascism from the very first. I had a number of Italian friend’s in Italy who were killed because they were anti fascists. I warned the people in England against it. In Ethiopia’s case I felt that it was a terrible thing and I did what I could to work other people up to do something about it. When I saw that Italy by the use of poison gas had practically won for the time being, I knew that the world public would forget all about Ethiopia unless the subject was kept before them.
The paper was started with very little money, and we did not know whether we would be able to put out a second issue or not. The first issue came out on May 5th 1936, the same day the Italians marched in to Addis Ababa. Our desire was to keep flying the flag of justice for Ethiopia and if possible to get news of what was happening inside the country. We were very fortunate to get news mainly through Jibuti. We also received news from the Sudan and Kenya.”
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 4 JULY 2023
