Germany, Turkey, and Armenia: A Selection of Documentary Evidence Relating to the Armenian Atrocities from German and other SourcesAnonymous
History
Germany, Turkey, and Armenia: A Selection of Documentary Evidence Relating to the Armenian Atrocities from German and other Sources
Anonymous
Armenian question; World War, 1914-1918 -- Armenia
The German scholar's Memorandum contains some very interesting
evidence showing: (a) that the Armenian leaders, far from engaging
in an anti-Turkish conspiracy either before or during the war, were
entirely loyal to the Turkish Government, in fact so loyal that this
was made a cause of complaint by some of the Turkish opponents of the
Committee of Union and Progress; (b) that the policy finally adopted
with regard to the Armenians was originally opposed by some of the
members of the ruling party, but when so adopted was a deliberate
policy of extermination; (c) that the acts of resistance on the
part of the Armenians, which are relied upon as an excuse for their
treatment, were isolated acts due in each case to particularly grave
provocation; that, in every instance except that of Zeitoun, they
were later in date than the beginning of the deportations, and were
in fact provoked by the fear of suffering the fate which had already
overtaken neighbouring Armenian communities [see historical summary
in blue book]; (d) that some of the other excuses put forward are
so much at variance with the well-known facts that they could only
deceive persons unable or unwilling to ascertain the truth.
As regards the loyalty of the Turkish Armenians, it is shown by
extracts from leading papers, circulars sent out by the ecclesiastical
dignitaries and by the "Dashnakzagan" (the only influential party
organisation of the Armenians), as well as by several official
announcements of the Turkish Government or of its agents, issued
as late as August, 1915, that that loyalty was not only the policy
declared by the Armenian leaders and carried out by the bulk of the
population, but that it was also fully acknowledged by the authorities.
In a letter dated the 26th February, 1915, written by Enver Pasha to
the Armenian Bishop of Konia, the former says: "I avail myself of this
opportunity to tell you that the Armenian soldiers in the Ottoman Army
conscientiously perform their duties in the theatre of war, as I can
testify from personal observation. I beg of you to communicate to the
Armenian people, whose perfect devotion to the Ottoman Government is
well known, the expression of my satisfaction and gratitude." Several
other testimonies of a similar kind are quoted in the Memorandum.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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