The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-25
By EX-ATTACHE.

Armenian problem. such as II T. D.
Lynch, IN his standard work. Armenia
and by many eminent ATmenians. and I
have before ne an interview published in
the Moscow press. and reprinted in the
Official Gazette. Of Tiiis, IN which one Of
the most influential members Of the Ar
menian community az ConstanunOpIe.
while staying at Moscow, asserts that
most Of the stories OF so-cailed Armenian
Outrages were manufactured out Of the
whole CLOTH" and that in the relatively
few instances where massacres had act
ually taken place, they had been "deliber-
ately provoked by INSCRIPTIONS agitators''
OF mis- own race. 8Ir. Lynch. in Ar
menia" expresses the firm conviction.
based on careful investigation on the
spot, that the massacres Of 1895 were not
the outcome OF a spontaneous rising Of
the MOslems against the Christians, but
provoked from without by Armenian rev.
olutionaries. OF course. the Armeniaus
are not popular in Turkey. Like the
Jews. they are too successful in every
business they undertake not % excite
the jealousy of their Moslem neighbors.
And then, too. following as they 90 the
professions Of bankers, money-lenders,
traders, and loan-mOngers. they have
most Of their less thrifty MOslem neigh
bcrs and felow-citizens in their debt. But
they are extremely well treated, unless
there is some deliberate act Of provoca-
ton. as, for instance. on the occasion
OF the Armenian Outrages at CONSTANT
nopie some ten years ago. which origi-
mated In a disOrderly and riOtOus ArmeE-
ian demonstration al the sublime porte,
leading 10 sanguinary conflict between
the Armenian rioters and the troops sent
10 restore order. whereupon the turbulent
Sofas or Moslem students took hand in
the game. But the trouble would never
have taken place had It not been deIiber-
ately provoked by the demonstration at
the sublime porte, carefully organized by
the revolutionary Armenian societies, ap-
parent!y for the express purpose Of in
stigating massacre. 70 excite the sym
PATTY Of the civilized world in behalf Of
the Aremenians against the Turks.
It is only abroad that one hears Of Turk
fish orueIties and the oppression Of the
Armenians. and those OF the latter who
complain Of the prosecutions Of the Turk
ish government mostly all reside either il
Western Europe or in the United States.
The Armenians enjoy many advantages
at the hands Of the Sultan. Thus. where
as every able-bodied Turk is compelled
to serve a certain number OF years in
the army, his family during that time
being deprived Of his assistance and sup
port. the Armenian Is freed from military
service on the payment OF an annual tax
amounting to little over a dollar, and
which IS only exacted during the years
which he would have had 10 serve with
the colors did he profess the Nohamme-
dan faith. With this exception the taxes
which the Armenians pay are identical
with those demanded from the Turk, and
IL anything they are treated by the au-
thOrities with a greater degree Of con-
sideration than the latter. partly owing
70 their superior wealth. partly 10 the In
hueuce exercised by their fellOw-cOuntTy-
men in Office at COnstantinople. and part
ly, too. because missionaries, .cOnsuls. and
ambassadors are known to be on the look
out for anything which could be con-
strued into religious and race prejudice
on the part Of the Turks against the
Christian subjects OF the Sultan in gen
erai. and in particular. against the Ar
menians. Converse with any leading Ar
menial financier or great hacker at Con-
stantinople with any Armenian prcprie-
tor OF q mandatory. or with any Ar
menian government Official. and ask him
whether he would wish for restoration
Of the kingdom OF Armenia, as II existed
a thousand years ago, and be prepared 10
sacrifice TO that object the position. the
prestige. and the interests which ne now
enjoys at STEAMBOAT While he might the
orize on the national sentiment Of Ar
= L.
70 put any project Of that kind into execu-
ton as the Rothschilds. the Schiffs. the
Guggenheims. the Strausses. and other
eminent HEBREW princes of finance would
be willing 20 abandon their homes and
interests in Western Europe and in
America in order 10 spend the remainder
Of their days In what was once the king
dom Of Judea.
The national aspirations OF the sensi-
bic Armenians. like those Of the Hebpews
Of the same class, are, where they exist,
purely theoretical Whereas the Bull
garians prior 10 their independence -oc-
cupied a compact territory, where they
were three times as numerous as the
Turks. the Armenians are a scattered
race. Indeed, the congress Of Berlin in
1873. after g careful investigation Of the
question. declared itself powerless on this
account TO define the limits Of Turkish
Armenia. and unable in consequence
thereof to form any project for Arme-
Man autonomy. In the Ottoman PROV
inces comprised In the ancient kingdom
Of Armenia, there are three Turks 70
every Armenian. while in the remainder
Of Asia Minor the Turks outnumber them
by ten to one All told, there are about
450G000 Armenians in the world. Of
whom at least 10000 are subject 70 the
rule of the Gar. 10000 in Turkey.
25Oo00 in Persia, and as many in India
There is a large colony Of them in
France, mainly in Paris and at Mar
seilles; also at Venice. in London and in
various parts Of England. 4 considerable
number Of them are 10 be found in Bos-
ton and in New York. and there are
many thousands OF them scattered In the
Philippines and other AsiatiC aTChipela-
goes. Wherever they embark in business
they prosper and thrive. and become use
ful and respected members Of the coH7mu-
nifty 1t is only the relatively small law.
less, shiftless. political adventurer and
carpet-bag element that bring into dis
repute this ancient and historic race,
which has furnished so many eminent
statesmen TO Turkey, 20 Persia, to Egypt
in the person Of Nubar Pasha, and 10
Russia in the late Gen. Loris Melikoff,
dictator OF the empire in 1850.
Where Armenia has suffered is IN
doubtedly from having been used so fire.
quently by Russia as pawn in her
political game. and as an instrument for
her designs 10 reach the shores Of the
Mediterranean, II not via the Dardsz
nelles and Constantinople, at any rate