The Indianapolis journal., 1896-02-11
JAMES BRYCE ON ARMENIA.
He Explains What England Can II
for ITS Relief.

for It's Relief.
London Daily News.
Mr.. Bryce. speaking at Aberdeen on JAM
q, said:
There is a still more painful subject on
which must speak freely 20 you. For many
years in succession have described to you
the sufferings of the Armenian Christians.
have pointed out England.s responsiibilitiess s
and have repeated to you the predictions OF
persons who knew the East thoroughly, tnat
before long some massacre would ensue,
sufficient TO endanger the peace OF the
whole East and to compel the Intervention
of the European powers. These predictions
have been only too completely fulfilled. The
massacre of Sassoun, an unprovoked mas
sacre, and part of deliberate scheme for
the determination of the Christian popula-
tion, was perpetrated upon community OF
simple mountaineers, the flower or what re-
mained of the Armenian race. Lord Rose
bery's government spoke to the Sultan in
the very strongest terms, pressing the need
for prompt and sweeping reforms, and for
the punishment of the guilty, and they en-
deavored to get Russia and France to join
them. The Turks, of course. resisted, never
expressing the slightest regret or remorse
for the siaugnter' while Eussla ana franc, rrance
ing to adopt what we thought even the ir-
reducible minimum of reforms.
We were still arguing with them and
pressing the Sultan when we quilted office
last June. The time had not then arrived
for proceeding to coerce the Turks-though
ii was plain that 1t must soon have ar
to exhaust the resources OF remonstrance
and warning, and If possible to carry Rus
sia and France along with Us. When
Parliament opened last August. Lord Sails
bury addressed to the Turks grave words,
which were taken by the country as
pledge that England would do everything
ern Christians. He repeated this pledge in
still stronger and clearer terms in his
Guildhsll speech; BY that time fresh SHIN mas Is,
ever since. They have been secretly planned
or publicly organized by the Turkish gov
ernment, and either permitted or actually
carried out by Turkish troops-tens of thou
Sandstone accounts seem to put the num-
ber above 150O00-of Christians have been
slain. Probably as many more have been
made homeless. and are dying OF famine.
Some have sought 10 escape death by re-
nouncing their religion. Last week we
heard of a massacre at Orfah in which
two thousand were killed. At this moment
the hardy mountaneers OF Zeitun In
danger of similar fate unless-so the
leaders to the mercy of the Turks With
the experience they have of Turkish mercy,
and the recollection of the slaughter at
Sassoun, when the men, women and chill
dren who surrendered were massacred in
cold blood, how can they be expected 10
give up their arms? We may hear any
day of Zeitun massacre surprising those
Of the last few months.
And while these things go on, Britain
does nothing Sir M. Hicks-Beach says we
have no special responsibility, forgetting
the Anglo-Turkish convention, forgetting
that it was England that set aside the
treaty of San Stefano. by. which Russia
menians, and Britain that substi-
tuted for that treaty the treaty
of Berlin, in whose sixty-first article
Mr.. Arthur Balfour. while deploring the
position, offers no consolation except that
the concert of Europe has been main
tained." Six powers, any one of which
could, by moving a few ironclads. bring the
Turk to his knees and stop mis- massacres.
worse than those which desolated Armenia
in the twelfth century in those later
days when The Turk. now so feeble. except
for massacre, was the terror Of all Chris
tendon. The concert OF Europe Is main
tanned, Six strong men stand by while
ruffian tortures and dispatches the victim
they have pledged themselves TO protect.
And it is owing TO Britain more than 10
any other power that the Turkish govern
ment has lived on to do its hideous work,
for IL was Britain that saved that govern
ment in the DAYS of the Crimean war.
Britain that In 1873 deprived the Armenians
of the protection which Russia had then
promised.
So now Britain Is bound. above all the 9TH
er powers, 10 come to the rescue OF these
victims of ferocity and fanaticlsm. You may
ask whether. for the sake OF this rescue.
we ought to run the risk OF a European
war. Certainly no such risk ought 10 be. or
need be. incurred L speak under the disad-
tions have passed since June. But every
thing seems to indicate that Russia and
France are reluctant TO support so drastic
a scheme Of reform as our government
deems needed. and reluctant also to resort
10 that coercion by which alone the
ceptance and practical application OF any
our course TO be? To ask Russia and
France whether they will resist the applica-
ton TO the Turks of British coercion. wheth-
er. in fact. they will consider such applica-
tion to be casus belii. That they will re-
fuse 10 allow US TO apply coercion can
scarcely be expected. II they do refuse that
is TO say. IL they will neither help US TO
stop the massacres nor suffer US TO stop
them alone. they viii make themselves
sponsible for the present horrors. and our
hands will henceforth be clean II they do
not refuse. there are several ways and