The Washington herald., 1918-10-26

we can easily revenge ourselves on
any revolutionists."
After ALL" i said. suppose what
you say is true, why not punish the
guilty, Why sacrifice a whole race
for the alleged crimes OF individuals -
Your point is all right during peace
times" replied Enver. We can then
use Platonic means TO quiet Arme-
mans and Greeks. but in time of war
we cannot investigate and negotiate.
We must act promptly and with ie-
termination. / also think that the
Armenians are making a mistake in
depending upon the Russians. The
Russians really would rather see
them killed than alive. They are as
great a danger to the Russians as
they are TO Us. IL they should TO- m
an independent government in Turkey,
The Armenians in Russia would at
tempt TO form an independent gov
ernment there.
Accused Armenian
The Armenians have also been
guilty OF massacres; in the entire
district around Van only 5000 Tu.ks
escaped, all the rest were murdC-cg
by the Armenians and kuros. / at
tempted 10 protect the noncomoatAats
at the Caucasus; ! gave orders that
they should not be injured but !
found that the situation was beyond
my control There are about N,op
ArmenIans in Constantinople sno
they will not be molested except those
who are Dashnsguists and those who
are plotting against the Turks. HOW
ever, ] think you can ease your niifd
on the whole subject as there will be
no more nassacres OF Armenian.
1 did not take seriously Enver'
concluding statement. At the time
that he was speaking, massacres ana
deportations were taking place all
over the Armenian provinces ano
they went on almost without inter
ruption for several months.
AS soon as the reports reached the
United States the question OF rehei
became a pressing one. In the latter
mart OF July, ] heard that there were
500 Armenians from Zeitoun ano
SuItsnie who were receiving no food
whatever. I spoke about them to En-
yer. who positively declared that
they should receive proper food. he
did not receive fsvorsbly any sug-
gestjon that American representa-
tives should go 10 that part OF the
country and assist and care for the
exiles.
For any American to do this" he
said would encourage all Armenisns
and make further trouble. There are
q .Ooo. 900 people in Turkey and 1000"
Arnenisns, and we do not propose 10
have COO disturb the peace Of the
rest OF the population. The great
trouble with the Armenisns is that
they are separatists They are deter
mined TO have a kingdom OF their
own. and they have allowed them
selves to be fooled by the Russians
Because they have relied upon the
friendship OF the Russians, they have
helped them in tins war. We are de-
termined that they shall behave Jus'
as Turks do.
200 Made Reyoiution.
You must remember that when We
started this revolution in Turkey
there were only 200 Of us. With these
few followers we were able 70 de-
ceive the Sultan and the public, who
thought we were immensely more
numerous and powerful than We were
We really prevailed upon him and
the public through our sheer audac'
itv and in this way established th'
constitution II is our own expert
ence with revolutions which makes
US fear the Armenisns- II 200 Turks
could overturn the government. ther
few hundred bright. educated Ar
menians could do the same thing
We have. therefore. deliberately
adopted the plan Of scattering then
so that they can do us no harm. As
told you once before, | warned the
Armenian patriarch that II the Ar
menians attacked us while We wert
engaged in a foreign war. that We
Turks would hit back and that We
would hit back indiscriminstely."
Enver always resented any sugges-
ton that American missionaries OF
other friends should go TO help ol
comfort them.
They show altogether too much
sympathy for them" he said oveI
and over again.
l had suggested that particular
Americans should go TO Tarsus and
Marsovan.
IL they should 20 there. am
afraid that the local people in those
cities would become angry and they
would be inclined 10 start some dis
turbance which might create an in
cident 1t is better for the Armenians
themselves, therefore. that the Amer
lean missionaries should keep away
from them"
But you are running the country
economical Ily." I said at another time
making the same point that had
made to Talaat. And he answered il
in almost the same words. thus show
ing that the subject had been COM
pletely csnvassed by the ruling pow
ers.
Cared Only to Win
Economic considera tions are OF nc
importance at this time. The only
important thing is TO win. That's the
only thing We have on our mind. II
We win. everything will Be- all right;
II we lose. everything will be all
wrong anyhow. Our situation is des-
perate. admit IT, and We are fGhtinI
as desperate men fight. We are not
going to let the Armenisns attack us
in the rear"
The question of relief to the starv-
ing Armenians became every week q
p,ora 1raSSipg opa b,t Epyar xffU fp .