Detroit evening times., 1945-05-08
NEAR EAST
POLITICS
BY Roy
Richards

~ lne 1ef1nent OF near East
ern politics at the United
Nations conference, containing
the conflicting ambitions of a
hundred racial and religious
cross-strains. will steam anew
today with an unex mp d
Armenian appeal.
The Armenian National COM
mittee of New York, claiming
to be both intensely nationalistic
and anti-C m m unist, will
present paradoxically TO the con-
ference secretariat memoran-
dunn declaring that all Armenia
wishes to be transferred from
Turkish to Russian rule.
MEMBERS of the committee
A'A said today, their action is
designed solely TO save their
race from a Turkish program of
determination carried on in the
ancient southern provinces of
Kars, Sari kamish and Ardahan
since Turkey in 1920 conquered
the brief-lived Armenian repub-
lie set up as the world war
ended in 1918.
Among the areas never clearly
defined in the Near Eastern
territorial melange, north
Armenia remained largely under
Russian political influence and
administration.
The committees chairman,
DR.. A. Alichanian, claimed his
organization represents virtu-
ally all the Armenian groups OF
the United States, but elements
even more nationahstic in this
country are offering strong
criticism Of the move 10 deliver
the territory to Russia.
IN THE conference proceed
L ings the committee memo
randum threatens TO tauten the
strained situation already exist
ing between Russia and Turkey
in Russia's long quest for a
Mediterranean port. The treaty
OF amity between Russia and
Turkey was recently terminated
for revision.
And as the Armenian COM
mittee was putting its memo
randum into final form today, II
promised to become only a part
of general Near Eastern situa-
ton boiling up as major con-
troversy of the world meeting
as the many declarations Of
minor countries are reviewed IN
private commission meetings
and on the floor OF plenary
sessions.
The declaration by the three
large Jewish organizations that
world Jewry would demand
Palestine as national home
was assured Of a headon colh-
sion with a prior declaration Of
desired sovereignty by the Arab
league.
The movement OF the Jews for
an autonomous nation OF their
own is no more determined than
is the push OF all the Arabic
lands for a degree of cohesion
which, including Palestine. may
lead TO a United States OF the
Near East.
QUT embraced in the general
~ picture as contrary touch
is the enormous latent wealth.
mostly in oil. which some of the
great powers believe can be de-
veloped more TO their advantage
from the present divided status
OF the Arabic speaking lands
than from a united country.
The writers of the Armenian
appeal are prepared 10 submit
also an elaborate apology for
their desire 10 be taken into the
Soviet Union.
The half under complete Tur-
kish rulershlp. containing the
ancient and revered cultural
capital Of Ami. is being swiftly
depopulated OF Armenians by
deportations and other Turk
ravages, the committee asserts.
The members claim that when
Armenia was dominion OF
Russia for 200 years after the
reign OF Catherine the Great,
there was a degree of autonomy
and peace there which they
hope 10 enjoy agsin.
There is reason TO hope, they
say. that they may some day
win freedom from Russia and
resume the 4,400-year-old Ar
menian in depen dence that
existed before Catherine, but
nowhere do they see hope that
they can free themselves from
Turkey.
Opposing Armenian groups
Insist freedom can be achieved
more quickly by standing fast
now against the rule of either
Russia or Turkey.