Events in Armenia in 1915 The Facts and the Responsibilities By Herbert Adams Gibbons, Ph.D. Author of “The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire,” “The New Map of Europe,” etc. G. P. Putnam’s Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press 1916 Copyright, 1916 BY G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS Second Impression The Knickerbocker Press, New York “And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis iv., 9. The Blackest Page of Modern History...

THE war that started on August 1, 1914, has gradually involved nations, large and small, not originally participants. Other nations, large and small, while still managing to maintain an official neutrality, have found themselves drawn into diplomatic controversies with both groups of belligerents. With the exception of South America, the continents of the world have sent contingents to fight in Europe. The destinies of Africa, Asia, and Australia are at stake, and the destinies of the western he

IN the summer of 1908, when the Young Turks compelled Abdul Hamid to re-establish the constitution he had granted, and almost immediately suppressed, at the beginning of his reign thirty years before, they had a good press throughout the civilized world. Writers of all nations lauded the Young Turks, and described in glowing terms the wonderful future of the Ottoman Empire under the régime of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The goodwill of Europe and America, and practical encouragement as we

In April, 1915, the Ottoman Government Began to Put into Execution throughout Turkey a Systematic and Carefully-prepared Plan to Exterminate the Armenian Race. In Six Months Nearly a Million Armenians have been Killed. The Number of the Victims and the Manner of their Destruction are without Parallel in Modern History. IN the autumn of 1914, the Turks began to mobilize Christians as well as Moslems for the army. For six months, in every part of Turkey, they called upon the Armenians for military

The Armenians, as a Race, have never been, and are not, a Menace to the Security of Turkey. They are Blameless of the Charge of Disloyalty, which has been the Excuse for their Massacre and Deportation. IN commenting upon the report of the American Committee, on Armenian Atrocities, Djelal Munif bey, the Turkish Consul-General in New York, declared: “However much to be deplored may be these harrowing events in the last analysis, we can but say the Armenians have only themselves to blame.” Djelal

The Preservation of the Armenian Element is Absolutely Indispensable to the Well-being and Prosperity of the Ottoman Empire. It has been Proved through Centuries that Christians and Moslems are Able to Live in Peace and Amity in Turkey, which is Equally the Country of Both. ONE hesitates, on general principles, to attempt to advise, or to admonish, as to its best interests, a nation at war. In a life and death struggle such as this war has become, it would be naturally supposed that a nation and

The German Government could have Prevented this Effort at Exterminating the Armenian Race, but has Chosen not to Do so. There is Grave Reason to Believe the German Government has Welcomed, if not Encouraged, the Disappearance of the Armenians from Asia Minor, for the Furtherance of German Political and Commercial Designs on the Ottoman Empire. A PATRIOTIC German woman wrote from Marash on June 4, 1915, to the Sonnenaufgang , organ of the Deutscher Hülfsbund für christliches Liebeswerk im Orient

AND now, in conclusion, let me pose frankly this question: Have neutral nations any responsibility in regard to the Armenians? For neutral nations in general, the answer depends upon whether the influence and action of a nation ought to be confined wholly to internal affairs. Those who give to their own conscience and to God the answer of Cain, say frankly: “No, we are not our brother’s keeper. We have all that we can do to look after ourselves.” If this type of mentality had controlled the coun

1. Report of American Committee on Armenian Atrocities. New York, October, 1915. The report contains thirty-five extracts from the testimony of eye-witnesses, covering the period April 27 to August 3, 1915, from all parts of Asia Minor. Twenty-five representative Americans (including Hon. Oscar S. Strauss, twice American Ambassador to Turkey, Cardinal James Gibbons, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and former President Charles W. Eliot of Harvard University), signed this report, which states that each bit