The herald., 1894-12-24
THE ARMENIAN INCIDENT.

to bs productive OF marked results. The
sympathies of the American people ere
undoub btedly with these victims OF Mos.
lem oppression. but We are 20 distant
from the scene Of the alleged atrocities
and the question 10 30 involved in Euro
pean diplomacy that the ordinary under.
standing cannot see it's way clear to .
solution of the problem. 1t seems to us.
at this distance, that il the Armenians
are to be sucoored they should first be
aided by their neigh bors. who are GER
tainly better informed concerning their
condition and needs than We are.
Various treaties have been signed by
several powers looking to the ameliora-
tion of affairs in Armenia. The treaty
Of San Stsfano was concluded between
Russia and Turkey ct the gates of Con-
stantinople, in the latter part Of 1877, ~
an immediate sequence OF the Russo
Turkish war.
The tone of Article XVI, Of the treaty.
indicates that Russia meant to restore
to Turkey the conquered territories in
Armenia. but not till Turkey had intro.
duoed the necessary administrative re-
forms in those regions. This treaty was
objected to by England, and the objec-
tion emphasized by the dispatch of .
naval force, under the command Of ADJ
miral Hornby, into the sea of Msrmora.
Thereupon, and at the demand Of Eng
land, the whole matter was referred to .
congress in Berlin, participated in by
England. France, Germany. Austria,
Italy and Turkey. As result Of their
deliberations treaty was concluded in
1878. the Article LXI of which was sup
posed to fill the demands and the needs
of the Armenisns under the guarantee
Of the signatory powers. But. while the
Berlin congress was celebrating upon
the questions put before it, England.
then the supposed beat friend OF op-
pressed Armenia. was negotiating with
the porto for better entente with Tur-
key. Az \ result, the AnRlo-Turkish
convention, otherwise known as the
Cyprus treaty, was concluded and
signed just about month prior to that
OF Berlin.
1t is generally known that from that
day to this not . shadow of reform has
been introduced into Armenia not even
one single letter OF the treaty obliga-
tions has been carried out, and the con-
dition Of the people has continued to
change from bad to worse. The contia-
ued atrocities, including the recent
Wholesale butcheries IN that country,
have attracted the attention and sym
pathy OF the civilized world.
a careful perusal Of the articles of the
various treaties shows that the powers OF
Europe indirectly, and England directly,
have full power in the matter, and can,
II sustained by the moral sense OF man.
kind, secure great and immediate re-.
forms.
The interference of the Christian
powers of Europe in favor of the Greeks,
who, after enduring ages of cruel op-
preston, had shaken off the Ottoman
yoke, affords q further illustration OF
the principles of international law au-
thorizing such an interference, not only
where the interests and safety of other
powers are Immediately affected
by the internal transactions of
particular state, "but where the gen
eral interests Of humanity are in
fringed by the excesses of q bar
barous and despotic government"
These principles are fully recognized in
the treaty for the pacification of Greece,
concluded at London on the 9th of July,
1927, between France, Great Britain and
Russia.
The preamble states that the British
and French governments having re.
ceved pressing request from the
Greeks to interpose their mediation with
the porte. and being, as we'll az the en-.
peror of Russia. animated by the evil OF
all kinds which might arise from the
continuance of such a state OF things,
had resolved to unite their efforts, and
to regulate the operations thereof by
means Of an arrangement which was
called for as much by humanity as by
the interest Of the repose OF Europe.
The Christian powers OF Europe were
justified by their course ito rescue O
whole nation, not merely from religious
but from the cruel alterna.
tive of being transported from their ma
tive land or exterminated by their
merciless oppressor."
Said Sir James Macintosh: What
evsr nation may lawfully defend for
itself it may defend for another people,
il called upon to inte rpose."
The approved usage of nations author
izes the proposal of one state OF its good
offices or mediation for the settlement
Of the intestine dissensions OF another
state. When such offer 10 accepted by
the contending parties. 1t becomes a
just title for the interference OF the
mediating power.
The position OF the United States in
the use of it's good Offices for the op.
pressed Of other nations has been shown
in three notable cases. They are as
follows:
Mr.. Forsyth. secretary of state OF
The United Staten, in q letter to
Mr.. Kurschedt, dated August 26,
1910, at the time OF the NAL
of Jews at Damascus, our
charge d. affaires at Cons tan tinople was
to interpose his good offices
On behalf OF the oppressed and perse-
AT rad vacn NJ ha Tau. A. n.a-