, 1880-05-19

ySJgtfiJS E4tf s5JDJttl =
Moslem found among sjhaI Christian ul4ees
who are, also European. They Hndef!find
the Turks, they are accustomed ~ them
and are. scattered among them ; and their
requests are singularly mild. They DO
not ask for the expulsion ofthe Turks, OF
the independence Of Armenia but only
that Armenia shall be placed 10 the post
tion of the Lebanon, under European
projection --shall 10 fact, be made snch =
principalitv under the Sultan as Wallacbla
once was. They ask for their autonomy
only; under which they can b. come 2 quiet
and Industrious people, keeping the Kords
in order with a local militia, and Offering
shelter to thousands Of the poorer Turks,
with whom they alone among the Christians
subjects of the Porte are on amicabIe. terms.
They would manage their province easily
enough, would swarm back tot it by hundreds,
of thousands, and would offer to England,
as their prot ector. the aid of Q race which
10 Asia is as diff used, as cosmopolitan. and
as able as the Jews in Europe. For such
a people, under such a treaty pro-
lection, the Liberals. well aware that
if they are to bar Russia in Asia they must
have "a point d'appui, such as Armenia
would afford, would have exerted them
selves to the utmost at C~onstantinople.
They would have availed Themselves at the
Seraglio Of the Armenian readiness to
pay for their liberation. would have
united with Prince Bismarck. who 10 friendly to
the Armenians, and by this time would have
constituted Armenia a Principally. under
the Sultan. That, az it seems to ", would
have been a policy better worthy Of the Govern
ment than the one pursued. more inc0nyenlent
to Russia-if that is TO be an arpument-and
indefinitely more beneficial to "British inter.
ests." For the alternative, clear and unmista.
kable. is an outbreak in Armenia, for the avow.
ed purp Sc of becoming a Russian province
"Armenia is near TO Russia, and far from Eu-
rope. There are already half as many Arme-
mans in Russia as in Turkey. and Etohmisd-
zen, the holy city, is 10 Russia. The whole
country might be occupied by Russian troop',
and England could do nothing directly to pre-.
vent it. Armenians occupy high positions 10
the Russian ivil and military services and are
reported to be very loyal to the Emperor.
The Armenian population In Turkey has long
been to some extent under Russian influence,
pHd although the great majority would prefer
the protection of England. there il an active
Russian party III Opposlllon 10 the TatliaIcn.
Tens of thousands have fled from Turkish mis-
rule TO find peace undsr the protection OF Rus
STA. Such is the situation at present. What
will it be, if England refuses to secure auto
pomy to Armenia7 The whole Armenian ma
tion must then come under the influence Ut
Russia. and look to her as its only hope"
These are the opinions of " An Eastern States
man" friendly to Turkey, of Sir Henry La
yard, and, in great measure, OF Lord Salisbury.
before he had fallen before the influence Of she
present Premier, who may, as a correspondent
suggests. have planned out q great A'isiic
empire, but who is careless whether wishin
that empire there are Christian Asiatics or not.
A CURIOUS CASE OF MEMO
RV POWER