Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-09
Vussinu Double Dealing.

The latest kilograms regarding the AZ
menian question are to the effect that
Russia, while pretending to be acting
In concert with Great Britain and France
In demanding reforms In Armenia, is sus-
pected OF supporting the Sultan in his
refusal 10 agree 10 the reforms. No one
need be surprised II the suspicion proves
TO be well founded. The fact is that 1t
Is not 10 Russas interest that reforms
should be instituted in Armenia. Her de-
signs in Asia Minor are well known. and
the better the Christians in Armenia are
treated the less excuse she Will have for
attempting TO carry out those designs
Russia Is nearer the scene than either
Great Britain or France and should the
Sultan remain firm IN his refusal and
there be. as consequence, a renewal OF
the Armenian atrocities. the Car might
feel called upon to meet the emergency
by armed invasion Of the harried country
Russia could. in that event. still claim
that she was acting in conjunction with
the other two Powers. but after she has
gotten another grip on territory in that
quarter II may not be very easy 10 make
her let 90.
1t will probably be asked why Great
Britain, with her experience with Rus
sian double dealing. should have entered
into an agreement with Russia in respect
Of this matter. The answer is that she
could not well help herself All other
considerations aside-such as pressure at
home and abroad upon the government 10
make her Turkish prOtege agree to re-
forms in Armenla-she could not afford 10
allow Russia to undertake alone the task
Of "ameliorating the conditions Of the
Christians" That would have been prac-
tcally the result had she not become a
party to the commission; for France is
hardly worth considering in the move
ment. She would have been playing into
the hands of Russia without a chance 10
watch and checkmate her.
As proving, however, the moral obliga-
tion resting upon Great Britain TO interfere
in Armenia, as well as her dread Of Rus
sian designs in Asia Minor, 1t may be
interesting TO cite some facts connected
with the San Stefano and the Berlin trea,
ties which bear upon these questions. BY
the treaty Of San Stefano Russian troops
were 60 remain in Armenia until the re-
forms in respect OF the treatment Of III,
Christians in that country which Russia
stipulated should be granted were put
into execution. Great Britain saw in this
as she did in several other stipulations
Of the treaty Of San Stefano a menace
70 her power and prestige in the East,
and insisted upon and forced the assem-
bling OF the Berlin congress. At this
congress. which robbed Russia OF most
OF the spoils OF the Turco-Russian war,
the clause Of the San Stefano treaty under
which Russia was to keep troops in Ar
menla was stricken out, and in lieu there
Of the Sultan's promise Of reform was ac-
cepted.
The record OF the outrages perpetrated
upon the Armenian Christians since the
Berlin treaty was signed shows cOnclu-
sively that this promise was made to b,
broken. And while there is no excuse
for Russla's double dealing in the pres.
ont crisis. it must be admitted that she
has Great Britain at somewhat of a dis
advantage In the eyes Of the other Euro
pean Powers so far as any question OF
her right TO invade Armenia is concerned.