New-York tribune., 1918-04-15
Teutons Responsible for
Murders by Turks, the
Oppressed People Say
Forced Caucasian
Army to Withdraw
Berlin Alone Can Prevent
Crimes by Turkish Troops,
Appeal Declares

LONDON, April 14.-Russia has fol-
lowed her protest in Germany against
the Turkish operations in the Caucasus,
which have resulted in wholesale mur-
ders of the Armenian population, by
forwarding a similar protest by the Az
menian National Council, addressed to
the German Ministry Of Foreign At
fairs and the president Of the Reichs-
tag. This protest, received from the
Russian wireless system and given out
by the British Admiralty through the
Wireless Press, reads:
"The Armenian National Council, as
the supreme body for the expression of
the will of the Armenian people, is ad-
dressing you in connection with the
tragic state Of things in Armenia. Ar
menia is flooded with blood, and, only
recently saved from centuries of
slavery, is again condemned TO fresh
suferings. Following upon the with
drawal Of the Russian troops, Turkish
troops have already invaded the unde
Tended country, and are not only kill
ing every Turkish Armenian, but also
every Russian in Armenia.
Turks Disregard Treaty
AIN spite of the terms of the peace
treaty, which recognizes the right Of
self determination for these Caucasian.
regions, the Turkish army is advanc-
ing toward Kars and Ardahan. Destroy
ing the country and killing the Chris
tian population. The responsibility
for the future destiny of the Armcn-
ians lies entirely with Germany, be-
cause it was Germany's insistencc
that resulted in the withdrawal of the
Russian troops from the Armenian re-
gions, and at the moment it rests with
cesses of the Turkish troops increased
by revengefulness and anger
at is hard to believe that civilized
state like Germany. which has the
means for preventing the excesses of
her ally, will permit the Brest-Litovsk
treaty to be used by the German peo-
pie who have been involved in way
against their own will as a means for
the creation of incalculable sufferings.
The National Council firmly believes
that you will undertake the necessary
measures which depend solely upon
you to influence the Turkish author-
ties with view to saving the Armcn-
ian people from fresh horrors"
Protest to Berlin
The protest to Berlin referring to
the Turkish operations read:
"The offensive Of the Turkish troops
and detachments on the Caucasian
front has been followed by the murder
of the whole Armenian population. The
peaceful population of women and chill
dren have been killed without mercy
and their property has been plundered d
and burned. The peace treaty which
we were forced to sign at Brest-Litovsk
left the determination of the future
destiny of the people of the provinces
of Ardahan, kars and Batum to them
selves. The events which have taken
place in these provinces testify that
the old policy of the annihilation of
the Armenian people is still to be ap-
piled.
"On the Turkish front the advantage
IN the war was on the side of Russia
aud Russia was forced to give up Arda-
han, Kars and Batum only because Ger
many was the ally of Turkey. The re-
sponsbility for all the horrors whicF
the Armenian population is now suf-
fering in those regions already occu-
pied by the Turkish troops lies, there
fore, with the German government
which directly helped Turkey to secure
these regions.
"The Peoples Commissariat for For
eign Affairs protests against such
abuse of the right of self -determina-
ton of the population of these prov
inces and expresses the hope and in
sists on the necessity of Immediate and
energetic intervention on the part OF
Germany in the Caucasus, with a view
to stopping further murders and the
annihlation of the peaceful population,
such as has taken place in Ardahan."