The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-03
REPUBLIC FOR Us
OR DEATH, SAYS
ARMENIAN CHIEF
Khatitian Declares Republic
Would Be Prosperous With
Aid of America, But Says
Turkish Rule Is Death.

Turkish Rule Is Death.
ERIVAN, CAPITAL ARMENIAN RE-
| PUBLIC, Dec, 3.-The prime minister of !
| the republic, NJ Khatitian, has received |
the correspondent of the Associated |
| Press and talked freely concerning the |
| proposal of United States mandate |
| for Armenia,
IF we manage to live through the |
| winter and receive the recognition of |
the allies, together with the help of |
| America" said the prime minister, |
| then other Armenians scattered the |
world over will come to us and we shall |
| make our republic a prosperous one.
1T is now being proposed, | hear, |
| to rule US together with the Turks We
prefer death to rule under the Turks. In
| the past we lived together as master
and slave. Now we want the right to
| live alone, away from the Turks. We
| want the peace conference to set aside
q section of territory for us and then
the Turks will leave us It is matter
of life and death for us right along.
The only solution possible is to define
our frontiers and if the United States,
| with whom we place our case and in
whom we alone trust will help us NOR
ally and materially for 20 years we
VIII pay back moneys expended with
the wealth of our land. If such help
is not given, then we must wander over
the earth like slaves, without home"
Premier Khatitian, who appears 10 be
the ruling force in Armenia, was for
merly mayor of Tiflis for period of 10
years, serving as a Russian official,
He is physician by profession, Short,
bald black eyed, with close trimmed
beard, he looks as much Russian as
Armenian, and differs in appearance
from the familiar Turkish Armenian
type. He inspires confidence in his
statements by a reserved, firm man
ner while not a commanding figure
either physically or intellectually, he
seems to do the best he can for his
thread by which it hangs to life.
That Blanket Mandate.
Regarding the question if Armenia
! submit to be ruled under a blanket
mandate, as part of Asia Minor he said:
Whatever America decides is best
for US we will follow out. We are sat
lsfied America has only our interests
at heart However, we believe our
! frontiers should be determined now, no
; matter when we are set free to walk
alone as an independent state. If Amer
leans will consent to rule us, to estab-
fish order in our country, to take over
the administration of affairs, we shall
be satisfied, We love in this world but
three things-freedom, work and edu-
: cation When we are given the chance
to earn these we will show America
what we are capable Of We are now
] tottering little government, we realize
. that we are weak, that the fire we have
gone through has crippled us nightly.
j that the citizens here are worn out or
j are not our best material, but with time
] shall improve,
at must be recognized that both in
Turkey and in Russia, A4menians have
always furnished largo class Of inteli-
! gent public officials, bankers, traders
I and farmers, and those of US who are
left, from massacres, together with our
] educated people now in Egypt, France
: England, Bulgaria, will form a good
1 nucleus for a prosperous state. l have
I here a long list of names of those Ar
3 menians in America representing a half
! billion dollars capital, who have de-
clared their intention of returning to
/ live here when circumstances will per-
, nit"
Asked whether if the United States
took mandate to Armenia, meaning
. | thereby practically a military protec-
torate the Armenians would not soon
be tired Of their rulers who would be
quite different from missionaries, Pre-
mier khatitian said:
There is big colony of our people
( in America who meet all classes, and
there are none Of them who do not en-
( tertain deep affection for America and
regard her as mother. | saw last win
( ter 300 dead per day on the streets of
this city, and # America had not helped
( feed our hungry there would have been
5 a half million Armenians dead of starv-
! alton. After such relations 1t is our
5 dream to have Americans here, and If
! they don't come it will be our end"
5 Asked if reconstructed Russia would
) not demand back any territory the
; peace conference might set aside to
} form an Armenian state, he said
! Distinctions Made.
distinctions must be made between
Georgia, Azerbaiian and Armenia. Old
Russia wanted an Armenia reaching to
the Mediterranean sea so they might
( have the outlet thew couldn't get except
by possession of Constantinople New
Russia might not wish to Cypress a
s state so different in poplation, also she
might not have an interest in trou-
s bling us, whereas she would need the
| Caucasus because of the railway to
s Batoum and also the oil riches of Baku,
which have their outlet at Batoum to
5 the world markets. Besides, we have
assurances from Denkine that we will
5 not be disturbed"
Regarding the league of nations the
premier said that surrounded by Rus
( SLAMS British in Persia and the Turks,
s the league would be partial protection
< but that if America guaranteed the eX-
s istence of Armenia no neighbor would
dare distrub her, 'lf America will take
s the mandate for Is or 20 wears, we are
( sure the republic will live; surely a
s race that has kept itself alive for 500
{ years under Turk rule is worthy of
5 help" said Mr.. Khatitian.
Turning to immediate affairs, he con-
5 tinued "There is no Bolshevism among
us because of our patriotism. Under
} our greatest trials our soldiers. serving
in the Russian army. were not affected
The general lawessness now prevalent
; throughout the Caucasus may be over
, within year, and If Denikine reaches
Moscow it will die out of itself The
, Bolshevild may yield this winter as they
; will be short both of food and fuel Den
, ikine's occupation of Moscow, however,
J is not the final solution Of Russia's diff
Z ficultes since he will follow the policy
: of the old empire, and thereby create a
( new revolution. Here among us, 1t Is
: astonishing to note that despite starva-
( ton we have neither Bolshevism, MUIR
Z der nor violence.
( Our people will need relief until next
Z summer only IL matters are adjusted
< so they can return to their homes and
< begin working the fields in April. We
< can grow enough because we have two
< harvests."
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