Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-02
CONDITIONS IN NEAR EAST
ARE TERRIBLE, A RELIEF
WORKER TELLS KIWANIANS

William I. Reed of Portland, Near
East relief director for the State. out
| lined the situation that exists in the
| Near East today and the work his or
| ganization is endeavoring to perform
| to lessen some of the suffering of the
| Christians of that section who are un-
dergoing persecut by the Turks, at
the meeting of ~Augusta Kiwanis
Club held last evening at the Girls
| Community Club. Nj. Reed was we'll
| acquainted with conditions in the
| Near East and handled his subject in a
very effective manner. showing the
club that unless conditions change the
Christians will be wiped out of that
rich country and the Turkish rule will
be supreme.
At the business meeting following
the supper served by the girls of the
Chimney Corner, President Henry L.
Dunnack brought up the question of
delegation from this club to attend the
district meeting to be held in Lynn
next spring. He declared that Port
land kiwanianS. sponsors for the local
. club, were endeavoring to secure the
next district meeting for their city and
he felt it the duty of the Augusta club
to attend in force to assist them in
this project. A committee. named the
Lynn committee, consisting of Dr. w.
II. Harris, Ralph G. Weber. Fred
Boston, DR.. w. G.. Thomas and Coloncy
John A. Hadley. was selected to secure
as large a representation as possible
to attend.
The situation in the Near East to-
day, declared Mr.. Reed. can be dcScrIb-
cd by that old army term passing the
buck" for every nation is refusing to
accept it's Responsibilities in that re-
hn ~ n
their neghbors. This country is the
home of the Armenans. who in the
DAYS before Christ numbered about two
millions. This nation out of all those
inhabiting that section of the world
adopted Christianity and grew to num-
Der about fifty millions. only to be cut
down during these later years by the
mcrciless prosecutions of the turks 10
between two and three millions. Nhiic
these people have never been abb to
hold their territory, still they nave
done more for the world than the world
generally knows. Armenia is worthy
nation. for they have served, and thfs
service has tended to keep alive that
great national spirit that has chafac-
teriZcd that race.
But the Turks wanted their territory
and nov they have it. They wanted it
because it was valuable land. so val
liable that no other nation has been
willing to let the other take 1t and
so they have left it in the hands of the
Turks. The Armenians have been I'M
able to stand persecution any longer
end they have been forced to flee for
their lives. Those who reached other
countries in safety had risen high in
their chosen professions and have done
much for humanity. They were our
allies in the great World War and they
were promised protection for their
women and children. but these prom
ises later were forgotten so that in
1915 alons 10000 were slain and hun
dreds Of thousands carried away.
Then another reason for the perse-
cutions was that the Turks wanted the
Armenian women for their harcms be-
cause they wanted to build their race
up to it's highest efficiency. These
Armenian women had held their chastl-
ty for all the years. but when their
men were killed or driven away they
were taken to become mothers OF tpe
children of their oppressors. This has
been going on and is allowed to go on
. at present.
After the World War the outrages
of the Turks were halted for awhile.
but when they saw that America was
not EOlnS 10 lIlcIlcic tHcS Stdl ttu
| again. The French and Italians were
asked to leave the country, which they
| did, and now they hold valuable Oil
and railroad concessions while the
Turks were left to do as they wished
with the country. And American army
uniforms have been worn by those who
have committed the latest outrages on
! these Christian people.
THE fire is not out in the East" de-
clared the speaker. 1T is just banked
and the conflagration will break out
again. Whether America will be in the
| fight I do not know. Simonds declared
| that he has found all the makings for
another 80 years war in Europe.
| Things are far from settled and this
! is no time to talk of peace until we
know these outrages being committed
in the Near East will not be visited on
| Americas shores"