Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/200

194 British government for the past fifty years that the condition of the Armenians was as deplorable as ever under the tyranny of Turks and Kurds, and the indifference of the English government to suppress these atrocities, which it was her duty to do, according to her treaties and promises. The terrible reports mentioned in these Blue Books were all written by the British consular agents residing in Armenia, and contain all the details of events. The Armenians, being unaware of this indifference on the part of the English government, have made repeated appeals to Christian England, and through her to Europe, for succor.

Especially, knowing that in this century Greece, Roumania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Servia and Bulgaria were liberated from the tyrant of ages, and Lebanon, Samos, Crete and Egypt had gained especial privileges, all through the aid of European powers, Armenia would and might naturally desire and implore of the same Powers for a reformed and just administration under their guarantee. Moreover, the Czar Nicholas of Russia has promised the Armenian nation to furnish her with some kind of provincial government under the care of the Russian throne.

The sixty-first article of the Berlin Treaty, signed by the six great Powers of Europe, reads as follows: "The Sublime Porte undertakes to carry out, without further delay, the improvements and reforms demanded by local requirements in the provinces inhabited by the Armenians, and to guarantee their security against the Circassians and Kurds. It will