The Washington times., 1922-09-02
CHURCHESUNITE
T0STOP KILLING
/. OF ARMEN|ANS
Ask United States to Prevent
Further Atrocities at
i Hands of Turks.

country are massing to save the Ar
fnenians from further persecution ut
the hands Of the Turks. The Fed.
eral Council Of Churches, the out.
standing general church body Of the
country many great communions
and scores OF thousands Of congrege-
tions are asking the Government Of
the United States to take the steps
20 prevent further atrocities! .r'
Action has been taken by the Of
ficial bodies of the northern Rap
list convention the Southern Bap-
tist convention, the general conven-
tion. OF the Church of the Brethren,
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Assembly, the National Council Of
Congregational Churches, the Gen
eral Assembly OF the Presbyterian
Church Sof the United States Of
America and the General Ministerial
Assembly Of the Church of God,
and other influential bodies.
- Doubt Need Of Force.
Church leaders as a whole do not
believe that II will be necessary for
this government to use force to put
an end to the persecution OF the
Armenians. Some OF them, however.
SIc III AdNOt any nSeiSb wa
save the remnant Of this people who
served as an ally OF the United
States during the war. Most be-
lieve that this country is SO power
full and influential at the present
moment that any action It might
take looking to the relief of the Ar
nienians would be promptly sup
ported by the other powers and that
Turkey would be forced to yield
without the use Of arms.
Practically every church body
that has met during the last three
months has taken action in the
matter. Most speak In no uncertain
terms. Though all demand action"
leaving the question Of details to
now.
The position Of the churches Is
summed up to a large extent In a
petition asking action in the mat
ter presented to President Harding
recently by the Commission on In
ternational Justice and Goodwill OF
the Federal Council Of Churches,
with which are affiliated thirty
great .communions.
After pointing out that the Ar
menians were our allies in the great
war, that America and the allies
pledged the Armenians q safe area
In which to live and that though re-
sponsibility for protecting them has
been referred to the League Of Ma
tons. America cannot escape her
responsibility upon the ground OF
nonmembership In the league"
The Federal Councils petition in
closing says:
Desire Pledges Be Kept.
What specifically the Govern.
ment Of the United States may
and should do Is not for us to
indicate. But we may appropriately
let you know that our churches
earnestly desire that America
should fulfill her pledges and obli.
cations and would. we are firmly
ministration in accepting definite
and protection Of that ancient
Christian people.
The United States and all the
Allied Nations should keep faith
with Armenia.
The worlds sympathy should
find expression in action"
The Northern Baptist Convention
after calling attention to the fact
that the United States was re.
ouested by the Allied nations at
the Conference Of Versailles to as
sumo a mandate for Armenia,
says:
1--WE hereby petition our Govern.
ment Immediately to adopt meas
ures to secure united action on
the part Of the United. States and
European governments looking to
the deliverance and security of i'm
perilied Christian people in the
Near East"
Southern Baptists Resolution.
The Southern Baptist Convention
IN its resolution call on the United
States to join with Great Britain,
France and Italy in putting an
end to the atrocities.
In its resolution the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. asks that
"the Government Of the United
States take whatever steps may be
necessary to stop the prosecutions
which threaten the complete an
Inhalation Of the Christians in the
Near East and to give them such
protection as will enable them to
re-establish their desolated homes
and support themselves in decency
and comfort"
The national COuncll OF Con-
gregational Churches in its action
said:
: "whereas in the present critical
situation the Intervention Of our
own and allied governments has be-
come necessary to avert a final dis
aster at the hands of the Nationalist
Turks, we appeal to the President
and implore him to use the good
offices Of the United States Govern
nert to the utmost for the protec-
ton Of these people"
The General Assembly Of the Pres
byterian Church in the United
States Of America asked the Gov
ernment ito take such steps as may
seem wise to make the Christian
peoples of the Near East secure In
the peaceful pursuits Of their lives
p and worship"
Call to Religious Press.
Among other church bodies which
have, taken action are the Seventh
Day Baptist Eastern Association,
the general convention Of the
Church of the Brethren, the Illinois.
Missouri Interdenominational School
or Missions, the Vermont Confer.
ence of the Methodist Episcopal
fra,urch NOrfh and the I1nitad Dvos