Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-03
WANT ALLIES
TO GO INTO
TURK-ARMENlA
Former Ambassador to Unit
ed States Says This is
General Opinion.

London. Nov. 26.-(Correspond-
ence Of The Associated Press.)-1n
the opinion Of viscount James Bryce,
former ambassador to the United
States, sit is extremely desirable that
every effort should be made to send In
a sufficient Allied force to occupy
what was Turkish Armenia and re-
establish onle sort of order there"
This view is expressed in a COM
munication to the Manchester
Guardian, coupled with a regret that
the conditions of the Turkish armi-
stice fail to provide for the immedi-
ate occupation by the Allies of the six
Armenian vilayets and also Of Cilicia
(modern province of Adana on the
Mediterranean. Lord Bryce says.
however:
II cannot think that this omission
was due to any doubt as to the neces-
eity, and indeed the solemn duty, of
delivering all the Armenian districts
utterly and forever from any vestige
Of Turkish rule" The British COY
eminent, he continues, has pledged it.
self, $50 frequently and clearly to this
d~eliverance, and, as we understand,
both President Wilson and the French
government have expressed them
selves so strongly in favor of such a
policy, that we cannot doubt the hon.
est purpose of the government"
TT need hardly be said," the state
ment goes on, that to leave the east
ern Christians of Armenia and Syria
under Turkish rule would excite the
warmest indignation all over the
country, and if possible still warmer
where the interest in Armenia has
been extremely great and <has been
evinced by the enormous contribu-
lions which have been made to the re-
lief Of the Armenian refugees.
Can anybody in this country be
found who thinks hat after the three
hideous massacres which the Turks
have perpetrated in Armenia since
1895, eliminating in the worst
massacre Of all in 1915, when $780, OO
Christians persisted. it would be posi-
BILE, for any Christian power, or in
deed any power of human feeling, to
leave the Turk free to begin oppres-
sions afresh, or to fail to show by
the anger n horror which his cruel
ties have excited? I need hardly add
that the presence of Turkish rule in
these regions, with their great
strategical importance, would be ma
terial to!Germany, if eve she saw her
chance, in realizing her schemes for
pushing her influence towards Persia
n Central Asia.
lone fails to see any reason why
the Turks, being absolutely at the
mercy Of the Allies, and having COM
mitted, with the tacit approval Of
Germany, the hugest single crime that
has been committed in the whole
course Of the war, should not have
been compelled to an absolutely un-
conditional surrender. Why should
any favorable conditions have been
granted to them who have shown
that, whether under Abdul Hamid or
under ruffians like Enver and Tailaat,
they are capable of the most revolt
ing crimes?"
Lord Bryce points out that the de-
mobilization of the Turkish army will
let loose a large number Of armed
who will scatter over the country and
will not attempt to provide.
Another thing to consider, he says,
is that Allied forces. if on the spot,
could rescue many Of the Christian
women seized by the Turks and car
ried off to be sold into slavery ,or to
become inmates of Turkish harems.
They might rescue too, he thinks,
numbers of the boys that were seized,
given to dervishes and carried off to
be brought up as Mussulmen.
Furthermore, one should remember,
he says, the great numbers Of
refugees that fed across the Russian
/. rontier from the northern Armenian