THE ARMENIANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8302, 22 November 1915, Page 3

THE ARMENIANS.

. r - ..» : I A TURKISH CHAMPION. j GENEVA, October 21. i / The "Journal Geneve" publishes a letter from General Cher,if Pasha on the tragedy which is overtaking the Armenian people at the hands of the j members of the Committee of Union ! and Progress* General Cherif Pasha, from being a member of tho committee himself at the time when it appeared to stand for all that was liberal and progressive in Turkey, severed his conliectiom with it entirely in 1909, and he has not ceased since that date, in tho review " Mecheroutiette," which Iho founded in Paris, to expose the methods of the Young Turks. In his letter to the "Journal do Geneve" lie says that though the intentions of the ; committee were not revealed to the civilised world until they openly declared themselves for Germany, it is more than six years since tho paper, the "Mecheroutiette," warned France and Great Britain of the plot which was being hatched against them, ! against the Ottoman nationalities, and particularly against the Armenians. Services to Turkey. ! The Armenian people, declares Cherif Pasha, are of the utmost value to 1 Turkey, for they are particularly fitted ' to be the means of introducing civilisation into the country. They are familiar with the highest Turkish ideals, and assimilate European culture; with an avidity and success which has never been equalled'by'any. race. It was through the Armenians tliat printing was introduced into Turkey, as well ■as the dramatic art. The poets, men ■of letters, and able financiers which the race has produced- can hardly be numbered, and they have also dis tin- ! guished themselves as statesmen, for it was Odian, an Armenian, who oollaboratod with Midghat Pasha, in forming the Turkish "Constitution, while; Ephrem Khan, the Garibaldi of the East, was the hero of the Persian revolution which was prepared by another Armenian, Malcolm Khan. To be just, adds Cherif Pasha, it must be said that tho despotic regime in Turkey had no greater enemies than the. Armenians, who contributed in a great measure to the advent of tho constitutional regime. Leaders Astray. After having expressed his horror ai the crime which is being perpetrator 1 against the Armenian nation, _ Cherii Pasha goos on to deplore tlic mistaker attitude of some of tho. prominent At meiupus in constituting themselves the defenders of the TTnion and P^ogie^ Committee. Time after timo hi'l ti>.^ been warned by Cherif Pasha of th< falsity of the committee's professions