New-York tribune., 1918-12-05
Bryce Urges Allies
To Send Force to
Save Armenians
Solemn Duty and Necessity
Exist of Rescuing From
the Turks Christian
Women Sold as Slaves

LONDON. Nov. % Correspondence
of The Associated Press).-ln the
opinion of Viscount James Bryce, the
former Ambassador to the United
States, "it is extremely desirable
that every effort should be made to
send in sufficient Allied force to oc-
cupy what was Turkish Armenia and
reestablish some sort of order there
This view il expressed in a com
munication 80 the "Manchester Guard
IAN" coupled with a regret that the
conditions Of fhe Turkish armistice
failed to provide for the immediate oc-
cupation oy the Allies of the six
Armenian yilayots, and also of Cilicia
,moGcrn province OF Adana on the
Meditcrranean) Lord Bryce says,
however:
Il cannot think that this omission
was due to any doubt as to the neces
delivering all the Armenian districts
utterly and forever from any vestige
Of Turkish rule" The British gov
ernment, he continues, has pledged it
self so frequently and clearly to this
dcllverance, ard, as we understand,
both President Wilson and the French
government have expressed themselves
so strongly in favor Of such a policy,
that we cannot doubt the honest pur-
pose of The government"
at 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 coun-
try, and il possible still warmer in
dignation in the United States, where
the interest in Armenia has been cX-
tremely great and has oeen evinced by
the enormous contributions which have
been made to the relief Of the Armen-
ian refugees.
Almost Million Massacred
Can anybody in this country be
found who thinks that after the three
hldeous mascacres the Turks have per-
pctrated in Armenia since 1895, cul-
mlnatlng in the worst massacre of all
IN 1915, when 100000 Christians per-
ished, it would be possible for any
OF human feeling, TO leave the Turk
lree to begin expressions afresh, or to
lall to show by turning the Turk out
of the country the anger and horror
which his cruelties have excited? |
need hardly add that the presence Of
Turkish rule in these regions. with
their great strategica Importance,
would be material to Germany, if ever
she saw her chance, in realizing her
schemes for pushing her influence tow
ard Persia and Central Asia
"One fails to see any reason why the
Turks, being absolutely at the mercy
of the Allies, and having committed
with the tacit approval Of Germany, the
hugest single crime that has been com
mitted in the whole course of the war
should not have been compelled to an
absolutely unconditional surrender
Why should any favorable conditions
have been granted to them who have
shown that, whether under Abdul Ha-
mid or under rufians like Enver and
lalaat, they are capable of the most
revolving crimes ?"
Lord Bryce points out that the demo.
bllization of the Turkish army will lei
loose large number of armed mer
accustomed to acts Of violence, who
viii scatter over the country, and fol-
whom the Turkish government will not
attempt to provide.
Women Sold Into Harems
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 carried
OIL to be sold into slavery or to be.
come inmates of Turkish harems
4tSy 'ii Is ~ 'SoSUSt wv, ilC lIiillhS mum
bers of the boys that were seized
given to dervishes and carried off tc
be brought up as Mussulmans.
. Furthermore, one should remember
he says, the great numbers of refugee.
that fled across the Russian frontier
from the Northern Armenian provinces
and who have not ventured to return
owing to the fear of encounterins
rowing bands of demobilized Turkish
soldiers. Only the presence of Alice
troops would induce them to retur,
TO their homes.
"For all these reasons" he sums UP
"it seems urgent in the interests O
humanity that these territories shoul
be reduced to some sort of order a
the earliest possible moment 1t i
useless to expect any of these thing
will be done by the Turkish govern
ment."