, 1880-05-26
but also grain for seed must be sent,
otherwise the famine will reappear' with
still preatar Spvaritv nnvt vaar

still greater severity next year.
The Government seems now to be- awak.
emng from its torpor and apathy, and
begins to perceive that the existence of the
famine can no longer be officially denied.
Inc ArmenlanS are actively organising
relief, the local European Press have
taken up the matter warmly, money is
flowing i'll from Western Europe, and even
the Emperor of Russia has sent subscr;n.
ton of 10, 000f. In these circumstances the
Porte feels that it must do something. but
IT we Judge from it's first acts we must con-
clude that it would nave lone better to
remain inactive. It's first acts have been
measures OF repression. Yesterday it sup
pressed the LeUant Herald for an article
III Which the dangers of the situation were
clearly and forcibly pointed out lin calm,
moderate language, and to-day I learn
from a trustworthy source that it intends
to dissolve the Armenian relief committees
on the ground that the organization is o
status an StGtu, which might be used for
revolutionary purposes, and which in any
case cannot be tolerated in asswell governed
country The assumption that Turkey is
a well governed country is an amusing
illustration of the mendacious. arrogant.
self-Satisied spirit which animates the pre-.
sent Cabinet. To supply the place of the
Armenian relief Committee an Imperial
Commission has been formed at the Porte.
under the presidency of Kiamil Pasha, the
Under-Secretary for the Interior. To the
majority of the English public this name
VIII probable inspire anything but conf.
dence;hiamll Pasha, lately Governor Gener.
al of Alleppo, has been described in official
dispatches and in the Press as belonging
to the worst class of Turkish officials.
justice compels me to state that he is in
reality very different from what he has
been represented. He may have commit.
ted errors of judgement with regard to the
affairs of Zeitoun, and NAV perbaps not
have acted with sufficient severity towards
som of his ~subordinates, but he is an
honest, upright man, and an able admins
traitor, quite incapable of committing the
atrocities which have been attributed to
him. AS President of the Famine Commits.
sion he will certainly do all in his power
to wipe out the stain ~unjustly cast upon
his reputation but there is little hope Of
the Commission being allowed to do it's
work well. A striking proof of this was
given at its first meeting. One of the tor.
eign members explained that in the present
impoverished condition of all classes in the
Empire 1T was vain to hope for sufficient
funds at home, and that consequently an
appeal should be made to foreign countries.
This view was adopted by the Commission,
and it was decided that steps should
be taken to bring before the European
public the frightful sufferings of the .popu-
latiOn i'll the famished districts. On hear.
ing OF this decision the Prime Minister,
Said Pasha, was very indignant, and i'm
mediately took steps to prevent it's being
put into execution. 1t was bad enough,
he thought to lave famine and consequent
arrears of taxes throughout a great part ,of
the Empire, but it was very much worse
Europe should know of it for icertain ill.
disposed foreign Governments might make
it a pretext for insisting on the immediate
formation of the international financial
commission spoken of in the protocol of
the Treaty of Berlin. Thousands of poor
wretches may die of starvation in conse-
quence of the attempt to conceal the truth,
but what is the life of a few thousand pea
SAINTS in comparison with the political
interests of the Sultan's government?
If we do not receive liberal assistance
from abroad many unfortunate people,
Christians and Mussulmans, must die of
starvation, for the native population is
so impoverished that it has little to spare
for charity. AS a rule the great dignita-
ries show an Incredible amount of indiffer.
ence. There are, it is true, exceptions,
such as Mahmoud Nedim Pasha, who has
subscribed G100 in cash and the half ofhis
arrears o~fsalary land Kiamil Pasha, who has
-