Ali Asker
2006-04-23 20:12:00 UTC
WHY THE ARMENIANS WERE KILLED
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PUBLIC OPINION (New York) combined with THE LITERARY DIGEST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by Funk & Wagnalls Company (Adam W. Wagnals, Press.; Wilfred J.
Funk, Vice-Pres.; Robert J. Cuddiby, Treas.; William Neisel, Sec'y), 354-360
Forth Ave., New York
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Literary Digest for November 11, 1916 THE ARMENIANS, it appears, has
only himself to blame for all his woes. If he would stay conquered and have
no national aspirations and contribute his intelligence to the furtherance
of Turkish wealth and comfort, the Turk would not massacre him or send him
into exile. The massacres began almost as soon as the war started, and it
has taken two years for an explanation to be forthcoming. The position of
the Turkish Government has never been fully understood, says the Turkish
Foreign Minister, Halil Bey, in an interview with the Associated Press
representative, which comes from Vienna be way of Berlin and London. "The
Young Turks have always looked upon the Armenians as a valuable assert of
the Turkish Empire," says Halil Bey. "The fact is, we needed them," he
acknowledges, and for these reasons:
"The country's commerce was largely in their hands, and as farmers the
Armenians have a great value. We did not look upon them as valuable
chattels, however. We were willing to give them an equal share in the
Government, which we did, as is shown by the fact that before the outbreak
of the war we had a large number of Armenians in the Chamber of Deputies and
also several Senators and a Minister. Nearly all the Vice-Ministers were
Armenians, because we recognized the ability of the Armenians and were ready
to give them their political rights in the tenancy of a proportionate number
of public offices.
"After the revolution all went for time, and the Young Turks hoped they had
finally found a solution to the problem which had vexed the old regime in
Turkey for many years and had retarded the progress of the country. The
Balkan War, However, caused the Armenians again to take up their separatist
ideals. Committees formed an organization with the intention of securing for
the Armenians an autonomous Government."
The Turkish Minister would be "the last man to deny a people
self-government," but the case of the Armenians, he thinks, was not one for
autonomy:
"The Armenians spread throughout Asia Minor and southern Russia are merely a
majority in the districts usually designated as Armenian. Armenian autonomy,
therefore, would lead to the loss of the independence of the other Ottoman
races. Under these conditions even the Young Turks were opposed to the
Armenian plan, but in justice they wanted to give the Armenians a fuller
share in the Government, which was done, and even our worst traducers can
not deny that.
"When the war broke out we knew exactly what the Armenians were doing. More
bombs, rifles, ammunition, ad money had been brought into the country, and
their organization was made even more perfect. I was then President of the
Chamber of Deputies and was very fond of the Armenians members, as I had
always been a friend of that race. So I called the Armenian representatives
together and asked what they intended doing. At the end of the conversation
I told them I could sympathize with their ideals and had always done so as
long as they were not entirely separatist.
" 'Gentlemen.' I said. 'I fully understand your position and hope that you
understand ours. We have engaged in a war in which we may go down. That will
be your opportunity to make arrangements with the Entente, but bear in mind
that the Ottoman Government will apply the most severe measures if you act
against the Turks before you can meet the Entente Powers with clean hands,
which you can do by supporting us so far and no further than the law
demands. I think the Entente statesmen will see the correctness of such
conduct and will recognize your claim to autonomy. You can then take up the
work where we left off and to which I wish you every success, but bear in
mind that we are not gone yet, and that the slightest false move on your
part will bring trouble to all Armenians. Sit quiet and let us try this
issue. When you are sure we have lost, go over to the Entente and get from
them all you can.' "
Halil Bey represents the Ottoman Government as one on this point, "realizing
that the opportunity for the Armenians might come"; but despite this "the
Armenians rose when the Russians invaded Asia Minor, and the Turkish
Government took the measure which had been outlined to the Armenian leaders
beforehand." The Armenian organization, it is declared made it impossible to
confine the steps taken against them to a single locality in rebellion,
"because the organization was so perfect that only a sweeping measure at the
first hint of an uprising could meet the situation," Halil Bey continues:
"I will say that loss to the Ottoman Empire through the deportation of the
Armenians has been immense. The Armenian is able and industrious, and,
therefore, valuable in the economic scheme; but what could be done? We were
at war and obliged, therefore, to employ every means to make secure our own
position, which was betrayed so basely through our confidence."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A hard copy of this article or hundreds of others from the time of the
Armenian Genocide can be found in The Armenian Genocide: News Accounts From
The American Press: 1915-1922
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC OPINION (New York) combined with THE LITERARY DIGEST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by Funk & Wagnalls Company (Adam W. Wagnals, Press.; Wilfred J.
Funk, Vice-Pres.; Robert J. Cuddiby, Treas.; William Neisel, Sec'y), 354-360
Forth Ave., New York
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Literary Digest for November 11, 1916 THE ARMENIANS, it appears, has
only himself to blame for all his woes. If he would stay conquered and have
no national aspirations and contribute his intelligence to the furtherance
of Turkish wealth and comfort, the Turk would not massacre him or send him
into exile. The massacres began almost as soon as the war started, and it
has taken two years for an explanation to be forthcoming. The position of
the Turkish Government has never been fully understood, says the Turkish
Foreign Minister, Halil Bey, in an interview with the Associated Press
representative, which comes from Vienna be way of Berlin and London. "The
Young Turks have always looked upon the Armenians as a valuable assert of
the Turkish Empire," says Halil Bey. "The fact is, we needed them," he
acknowledges, and for these reasons:
"The country's commerce was largely in their hands, and as farmers the
Armenians have a great value. We did not look upon them as valuable
chattels, however. We were willing to give them an equal share in the
Government, which we did, as is shown by the fact that before the outbreak
of the war we had a large number of Armenians in the Chamber of Deputies and
also several Senators and a Minister. Nearly all the Vice-Ministers were
Armenians, because we recognized the ability of the Armenians and were ready
to give them their political rights in the tenancy of a proportionate number
of public offices.
"After the revolution all went for time, and the Young Turks hoped they had
finally found a solution to the problem which had vexed the old regime in
Turkey for many years and had retarded the progress of the country. The
Balkan War, However, caused the Armenians again to take up their separatist
ideals. Committees formed an organization with the intention of securing for
the Armenians an autonomous Government."
The Turkish Minister would be "the last man to deny a people
self-government," but the case of the Armenians, he thinks, was not one for
autonomy:
"The Armenians spread throughout Asia Minor and southern Russia are merely a
majority in the districts usually designated as Armenian. Armenian autonomy,
therefore, would lead to the loss of the independence of the other Ottoman
races. Under these conditions even the Young Turks were opposed to the
Armenian plan, but in justice they wanted to give the Armenians a fuller
share in the Government, which was done, and even our worst traducers can
not deny that.
"When the war broke out we knew exactly what the Armenians were doing. More
bombs, rifles, ammunition, ad money had been brought into the country, and
their organization was made even more perfect. I was then President of the
Chamber of Deputies and was very fond of the Armenians members, as I had
always been a friend of that race. So I called the Armenian representatives
together and asked what they intended doing. At the end of the conversation
I told them I could sympathize with their ideals and had always done so as
long as they were not entirely separatist.
" 'Gentlemen.' I said. 'I fully understand your position and hope that you
understand ours. We have engaged in a war in which we may go down. That will
be your opportunity to make arrangements with the Entente, but bear in mind
that the Ottoman Government will apply the most severe measures if you act
against the Turks before you can meet the Entente Powers with clean hands,
which you can do by supporting us so far and no further than the law
demands. I think the Entente statesmen will see the correctness of such
conduct and will recognize your claim to autonomy. You can then take up the
work where we left off and to which I wish you every success, but bear in
mind that we are not gone yet, and that the slightest false move on your
part will bring trouble to all Armenians. Sit quiet and let us try this
issue. When you are sure we have lost, go over to the Entente and get from
them all you can.' "
Halil Bey represents the Ottoman Government as one on this point, "realizing
that the opportunity for the Armenians might come"; but despite this "the
Armenians rose when the Russians invaded Asia Minor, and the Turkish
Government took the measure which had been outlined to the Armenian leaders
beforehand." The Armenian organization, it is declared made it impossible to
confine the steps taken against them to a single locality in rebellion,
"because the organization was so perfect that only a sweeping measure at the
first hint of an uprising could meet the situation," Halil Bey continues:
"I will say that loss to the Ottoman Empire through the deportation of the
Armenians has been immense. The Armenian is able and industrious, and,
therefore, valuable in the economic scheme; but what could be done? We were
at war and obliged, therefore, to employ every means to make secure our own
position, which was betrayed so basely through our confidence."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A hard copy of this article or hundreds of others from the time of the
Armenian Genocide can be found in The Armenian Genocide: News Accounts From
The American Press: 1915-1922