Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-10

country of ours have gone thousands
Of dollars for relief WORK ana still
more thousands must go in the fu-
ture.
But money alone will not save any
nation, least of all Armenia which
is hemmed in and overwhelmed by
foes relentless and savage. She
must have help of another kind, help
that will free her from the constant
menace of obliteration as a nation.
She has lived and kept the spark Of
nationality burning for centuries
under persecution. but the time has
come when she should no longer be
forced to submit to the rule of the
Turk. What will we do about it?
Armenia proper has been for CEN
turtles little more than an historical
expression. 1t was conquered and
has been dominated by the Seljuk
Turks from the middle of the 18th
century. The Russian and Persian
portions of old Armenia are of less
size and importance, but the spirit
of the people is just as anxious to
assert itself as in Turkish Armenia
1t has been this national spirit that
has been the chief reason for the re-
curing massacres.
In the world war the Turks under
their German masters sought to fully
exterminate the Armenians and do
away with the necessity of subduing
them at intervals and also to blot out
the Christian religion from the Turk
ish domain. (The larger part Of the
Armenians are Christians. their king
Tiridates III having made Christian
ity the national religion in the third
century, The awful crimes per-
petrated on this unhappy people
have shaken the world and the blood
Of the victims cries aloud for future
protection to their children
Armenia is too small and little
advanced in world affairs, and too
much surrounded with dangers and
enemies to be allowed to think of
elf.government, hence she must be
cared for and protected by some
pawer which is able and willing to
do it. Under the league of nations
she will be made mandatory to be
governed for the league. A survey
Of the countries available to under
take the task reduces the list to just
one-the United States. No Euro
pean country is in a position to fur
Their complicate its entanglements
by provoking the jealousies of it's
neighbors in the near east; no
Asiatic country is stable enough to
govern outlying provinces: no joint
arrangement gives any promise of
success. The United States, if she
undertakes the responsibility, will
certainly not be suspected of any
aggressive action and will therefore
arouse no jealousy. She alone can
go into Asia Minor and solve the
problem If it can BE- solved at all:
No more worthy opportunity for
unselfish service to the world can
ever be offered. 1t is all a question
Of whether we are willing to give
ourselves the chance to redeem the
Armenians as we have redeemed
the Cubans and F'ilipinos from. their
oppressors. We were willing to do
it in 1898. and we have demonstrated
that we could do it. Why shall we
shrink now? We do not wish to be
convicted before the world as a ma
ton too self-centered to reach out
and help those who need us. those
whom no one else can help. Our
history is too proud and too rich to
allow US to do it.
We must face the facts, however,
and the responsibilities that such a
step will bring. Armenian territory
overlaps three nations who will
naturally resent outside control.