The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-04-01
AMERICANS HOLD KEY
TO NEAR EAST PROBLEM
DR.. James l.. Barton, National Chair
man of Near East Relief, So De-
clared at Mass Meeting
in Burlington.

Burlington, April Speaking at
mass meeting for Near East relief il
Burlington city hall last night, DR.
James l.. Barton, national chairman o
Near East relief, described some of tn,
conditions in Turkey as follows:
The waters of Constantinople ar,
crowded as they have never been be
fore with the battleships of the allieC
| and associated powers, America having
at least eight of her warships among
| the rest. The streets of the city ar,
filed with British, French, Italian anC
Greek soldiers. The city is under the
martial law of the allies In spite OF
these facts, Turkish soldiers, under the
command of General Mustapha Kema
Pasha, are carrying out a series OF
massacres of Armenian Christians in
Cilicia and perpetrating unspeakable
atrocities upon women and children
which, for fendish cruelty, were never
surpassed by Abdul Hamid or Talaat.
The Turks set out five years ago to
end the vexed Armenian question by
destroying the Armenians. They We're
too absorbed in the war to complete
the job which now, in the lull of our
Senate's delay in ratifying the league
of nations, they, in comparative secur.
ity, proceed to finish.
France and England both having
restless Mohammedan subjects in col
onial possessions and Influenced by
holders of Turkish bonds and exploit
ers of Turkish resources, find it more
convenient to sacrifice the unprotected
remnant of the Christian races in Tur-
key, than to hazard their selfish inter
ests. The occupation of CONSTANT
nople is a harmless pastime for the
allies and will mean nothing if it leaves
the Turks in power over Christians.
1t is unthinkable that the allies are
planning to perpetuate the rule of the
Turk upon the borders of Europe and
over helpless and defenseless Christian
subjects even while he plans and ex-
ecutes massacre operations upon those
peoples whose protection and liberty
are assured by the treaty as "a sacred
trust of civilization Does the world
require any further evidence to prove
that the Turk is incapable of giving a
just government to non Moslem peo-
plies and that he is a murderer at heart,
ready to kill whenever opportunity Of
fersg
There can be no Turkish reforms.
The entire country must be taken over
by some superior power which will give
each outstanding nationality full pro-
lection and adequate scope for self
development. Unless this is done. we
must be prepared for the continuation
Of atrocities upon defenseless peoples.
The United States is the cviy coun-
Try that has the power to act a. the
solvent of affairs in the Near East |
Six months ago all Europe, and no one
more eagerly than England with con
by France, would have wei |
'omed the entrance of America as hold |
ng the key TO the situation All of |
he races OF Turkey, including the
Turks, turned 20 the United States as
he only nation with adequate re-
ources and possessing the confidence of
III.
England. France. Italy and Greece
ire distrusted by the races in Turkey |
Is having ulterior motives; neither do
hey trust each other. Mutual sus-
'icions made harmonious cooperation
Under these conditions
hey naturally turned to the United
states as the only solution to this com
'licated but vital situation.
We refuse to ratify the league Of /
lations, thus forcing England and 4
rance and Italy 10 undertake the final
ettlement with Turkey. which they I
re proceeding to do upon the basis Of
he old diplomacy. namely. trade. grab II
nd hold. with no consideration for
revious pledges. national hopes and
he demands Of justice and humanity
he unspeakable atrocities now taking
lace in Cilicis are the direct result Of
his policy and these are but the be-
inning Of what We may expect If that 4
olicy IL continued
ID may not be too late even now for
be United States TO enter and save
he Near East forever from the he'll
.hich has burned beneath for the last
eneration and which. for the last i've
ears. has been heated seven times
otter than ever before. The condi-
ons are more critical than most peo-
r. know. and action upon our part TO
r effective must not Be long DELAYED
nd must b. taken quite apart from
be treaty and the league
II i not impossible that the allies. ii
/ sll encouraged. would give the Unit
3 States q free hand 70 pacify and 4
aip free Armenia from her present 1
apeless conditiun. She i now in per
from Turks. koords aud Tartars. and
4