Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04
And ARMENIAN REFORMS

The news from Armenia is disquieting.
There is cry OF distress from Armenia
as there was a cry from
A Cry of Macedonia cry that was
heard finally. but at what q
Oistless. price of blood! The powers.
especially Russia, have invited Turkey
attention to the urgent necessity OF in
reforms in Armenia under the
control of European inspectors
Turkey objects that such control is
shocking to her national pride and a vio-
lation OF her rights of sovereignty And
yet Turkey was not SO sensitive on that
point in 1878, when in the presence of a
victorious Russian army she subscribed
without scruple to the treaty of Berlin.
article 81 of which prescribed reforms
under European control in Thrace, Mace
donia and Armenia.
Turkeys Noncompliance with treaty
stipulations engendered the atrocious
massacres in Armenia Of 1SSo-B when
Turkeys continued noncompliance with
the provisions of the treaty of Berlin
the war of the Balkans in
1912. and vet, Notwithstanding the
frightful cost of her violated pledges.
Turkey now dallies. and. hiding behind
some occult influence, again sets up
her dignity and sovereign rights as a
poor excuse for her inaction in Ar
menia-
Some wise Turks. truly patriotic and
prudent, would save Turkey from the
repetition of the massacres in, Armenia.
These point the government to the fact
that whilst 1t gags over European con-
troll of reforms in Armenia. II accepts
German military control at Constan-
tinople. a case of "straining at gnat
while swallowing a camel"
Y *
In view of the threatened danger of
massacres in Armenia and the consequent
danger to the existence
Conference even of Turkey an inter-
national conference was re-
"s "AAS' Gently convoked in Paris.
The delegates represented England. Ger
many, Austria Hungary, Sweden, Russia.
Italy and France, under the presidency
Of Cen Lacroix.
The conference would save Turkey Il
possible from herself, but IL there should
be news of another massacre OF Chris
tians in Armenia Turkey must bear tht
results of an outraged public opinion
more implacable perhaps than the con
ference of ambassadors at London.
Henceforth Armenia promises to be :
constantly recurring question, and 1t VII
therefore prove Interesting to refer 10
people whose origin is almost lost in tn
mists Of history.
The International conference at Paris
declared that Turkeys financial position
which caused her to seek aid from
of arms to oblige Turkey to execute the
promiSed reforms in Armenia.
These reforms. it was clearly stated. die
not menace Ottoman sovereignty, but as
sured protection and security to the en-,
tire population of Armenia, consisting Of
gypsies. The total number of Armenians
was perhaps 100000. But these were
widely spread. There were perhaps one
million in Armenia, while the rest were
distributed in Constantinople. Russia
Hungary, Italy, Africa, America and In
Bombay Madras and Calcutta.
. X x
These reforms. it was urged in the con-
vention, were likewise interesting to Turk
ish bondhoiders of whom
Turkish there were many in
France The Balkans wal
EAiaAces. would force Turkey te
augment her budget. already chronically
in deficit, and thus create new resources
which were impossible without admins
trative reforms and the establishment OF
order. Any Turkish loan created before
the adoption Of a project of reforms
would react against the interest of Otto
man bondholders and constitute a menace
to their security. No project of Ottoman
reform could be held as serious unless
placed under a European administrative
control.
The project Of administrative reforms ir
the six vilayets of Armenia recently
adopted by the ambassadors at Constan-
tinople is in conformity with the rights
and duties Of the powers as prescribed
by article sixty-one of the treaty of Der.
lin.
The convention expressed the wish that
the powers would not consent to- the
augmentation of Ottoman customs dues
nor the application of new taxes upor
strangers in Turkey until the sublime
porte shall have formally adhered to the
project of reforms proposed by the am
bassadors at Constantinople. The dele
gates expressed their intention to invite
their respective countries not to lend
their aid to any pretended reforms
which lacked the essential element Of
European control Anything less thar
that would invite disaster.
Russia's zeal for Armenian reforms
has been manifested since several years
Russia presented in the commencement,
Of the past summer complete program
The ambassadors of Constantinople re
ceived it first rather colby, especially
those of the triple alliance. Germany
however. changed her attitude, and II
the discussion that ensued the matter
was better considered. 1t ended in &
fact by transitional project which ir
slightly amending the Russian projec,
to take into account Turkish suscepti.
bilities provided all that was necessary
to the complete reform of Armenia.
The vilayets of Armenia were to be di
vided into two sections. each having at it:
head European inspector general named
by the porte. on the recommendation Of
the powers. These inspectors would have
executive powers with the right to dis
miss all functionaries and even to ap
point. excepting the most important
whose appointment was reserved for the
porte on the recommendation of the in
spectors general.
= *
1t was proposed to create two elective
assemblies composed of half Christian
half Mussulman men,
Pronosed bers. All the places in
-. the vilayets of Armenia
same plan. The powers would control the
working of this regime by the intermedi-
airy OF the ambassadors and also by their
consuls. better placed. in fact to learn of
the proper application Of the reform than
others.
The government at Constantinople re-
fused to accept this proposition and de-
clared that the executive powers of Eu-