Connecticut western news., 1921-02-10
RESOLUTION REGARDING NEAR EAST RELIEF Adopted by State Legis- lature Last
 Week

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 Connecticut's sympathy for the Armenian orphans and refugees as expressed in a resolution unanimous ly adopted last week by the State Legislature, was conveyed to Pre- mium O. 0hanjanian, minister for foreign affairs of the Armenian Re- public, and formerly prime minister, in letter forwarded to him today by State Director E. H. McDoncugh cf the Near East Relief. The letter also carried the information that Connecticut has adopted 2,000 of the 100000 orphans and refugees whs were destitute at the beginning of the year, and that the Near East Relief organization in this state is directing it's efforts toward increas- ing the number of Connecticut adOptiOns to 5000 before the end of June.
 The following is a copy of the resolution adopted by the Legisla- ture:-
 Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut has had brought to its attention the serious condition now existing in Armenia and other Near Eastern countries, which menaces the peace of the world; therefore, be 1t
 Resolved: That we urge upon our Government the necessity of imme- diate affirmative action in bringing to an end the suffering and wrong that still continue within the border of these Eastern countries, and that we express our deep and earnest sympathy for the unfortunate people of Armenia, and that we be- lieve that our Government, consis- tent with it's constitution and prin- ciples, should render every possible and proper aid to them in their efforts to establish and maintain a government of their own, and that we heartily approve the work which has been and is being conducted by the Near East Relief Committee in relieving these suffering peoples.
 The Near East Relief organization in Connecticut will not participate in the intensive campaign for funds to be conducted in Hartford next week by the European Relief Committee, nor in any of the drives being con- ducted by the latter organization in the state, it was announced at State Headquarters of the Near East Re- lief.
 The state director, upon being asked what plans the Near East Re- lief was making for next weeks campaign, said she was glad of an opportunity to answer the question, as it gave her an opportunity to cor rect a general misunderstanding that the European Relief Committee was intended to cover the needs of the refugees and orphans in Armenia, Syria and the Near East, which is not the fact.
 "The Near East Relief is an estab- lished relief organization incorpor- ated by special act of Congress, in 1919, on the same national basis as the American Red Cross", said State Director McDonough. "It carries on it's. broad humanitarian work in an area where neither the Red Cross nor the Hoover committee are oper- ating, and the slightest let-up in the money-raising activities of the Near East Relief organization in America at this time would deprive that part of the world, where over 100000 Christians are in frightful straits at this moment, of vitally-needed succor and would put thousands cf lives in jeopardy for want of food and clothing"
 The Near East Relief has a long job in its hands. It began almost six years ago to give comfort and aid in the wake of the brutal Turk and while great headway has been made, as indicated by the establish ment of 229 orphanages to date, with hospitals and clinics treating thou sands of cases daiyl, there has been so little improvement in the unsettled political conditions in Armenia, that our organization is reconciled to the fact that it has yet long task. The performance of this duty requires continuous solicitation for funds and our experience has taught us that for the peculiar character of our work, the best policy is to avoid in- tensive campaigns. Instead, we have a we'll established organization of volunteers reaching into every section of the state, whose success in keeping the needs of our relief work constantly before the public has enabled Connecticut to shoulder her part of the burden, and has reassured us that "the land of steady habits" will not abandon this humanitarian work until the suffering has been ended.