New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

were only further intensified. She
felt that her hands were free to in
dulge in bloody massacres. IL was
with a cynical eye that the Ottoman
government saw the leading nations
in Christendom abandon their little
brother in Asia to its fate.
Englands guilt was not exhausted
yet. In return for this free hand in
Armenia, Turkey was bound by
secret pact TO cede Cyprus TO Britain.
This shameful transaction will always
remain a blot on the history Of Eng
land, and makes il only further respon-
sible for the condition of Armenia to-
day. By eliminating Russia from Asia
Minor the British government and ma
tion robbed Armenia of her only friend
in the world.
Turkey then inaugurated those hor-
rible massacres which stunned the
world. In the forty years that elapsed
between the Berlin Treaty and the
beginning of the Great War about
100000 Armenians were slain by the
Turks. In 1866 alone, during the
Erzeroum slaughters, about 100000
Armenians were slain.
A large emigration occurred as
result of these massacres. Tens OF
Russia, America and other countries.
Wherever they settled they soon dis
tinguished themselves in every field
of endeavor. In Russia. England,
France and the United States the
Armenians proved themselves superior
to many another migrant race. Some
of the highest posts in the Slavic
Empire were occupied by Armenians.
The population of Armenia was BY
massacres reduced to fifty per cent Of
the total as early as in 1875. Since
then about million more Armenisnss
at conservative estimate, we're killed.
Many thousands Of Russian Armeni-
ans were slain in the revolutionary
year Of 1905 in massscres instignted by
the reactionary government OF tho
Car The horrible slaughters Of hun
dreds of thousands Of Turkish Arme-
mans during the present war constitute
one of the bloodiest chapters in the
worlds history. On the eve of the
Great War there were about two mill
ion Armenians in Turkey, about one
million in Russia and another million
in the rest Of the world. A. tho pres
ent moment no reliable statistics are
obtainable.
One thing is certain. the depopula-
tion Of country by such methods as
those employed by the Turks certainly
ought not TO interfere with the just
claims of the victim. Armenia belongs
to the Armenians, and they should
get her. The Kurds and the Turks,
each of which are in a minority as
compared with the Armenians, should
certainly receive justice, too. In an
autonomous, democratically governed
Armenia they would undoubtedly havs
IL. The Armenians are incomparsbiy
higher in civilization than their neigh
bors. Both the Turks and the Kurds
would be benefited by the rule OF
people whose only bond in the course
OF terrible trials was that Of culture
of Christianity
The new Russia, through several %
her spokesman, has already announced
her intention 20 restore Armenia
autonomy. In the frightful economic
circumstances in which that country
| finds herself il would unquestionably
be in her interests il the great demo
cracies OF the world, Russia, France,
Britain and America, were 20 establish
joint protectorate over her till she
was able TO get on her feet. This
remarkable vitality Of the Armenian
race is a guarantee that it would not
take long before Armenia became ono
OF the leading factors for civilization
in Asia Minor.