Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. Armenia in modern times
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
290
not concur in any forcible measures on the part of another
Power. After three months of massacres and atrocities the
same impassive statesman declared on January 16, 1896, that
nothing had occurred to shake his confidence in the good
intentions of the Sultan, adding that it would be desirable to
render easier his enormous task of carrying out the promised
reforms, by giving him more time. Austria acquiesced in
this, for fear of the situation in the East and out of regard to
her own interests. . . . Such is Europe ! According to the
Greek myth she allowed herself to be seduced by a bull. The
thought that one is a European is not always a proud one.
The Sultan could safely allow the massacres to continue,
asserting that all representations on the subject were shameless
lies ; if there had been bloodshed it was only in self-defence
against the attacks of the Armenians (who had no weapons).
In his desire to promote the welfare of his Armenian subjects
he asked England to aid him in calming and disciplining their
rebellious spirits. He was deeply hurt, and complained
bitterly through his ambassador in London when Gladstone
called him " the Red Sultan."
Before long another convenient event came to his aid. On
August 26, 1896, twenty-six young Caucasian Armenians
suddenly stormed and seized the Ottoman bank in Constanti
nople, which they threatened to blow up unless the Sultan
conceded their demands. They hoped that in this way they
could draw the attention of apathetic Europe to the martyrdom
of Armenia. But with the help of the Russian dragoman and
the promise of a safe conduct they were induced to give up
the building, and were allowed to leave unmolested. There
are indications that this raid on the bank happened with the
knowledge and acquiescence of " the palace." At any rate
" the palace " could now point to these childish revolution
aries as evidence that the Armenians were insurrectionists
who must be chastised openly under the eyes of the diploma
tists. Next day a well-organized attack on the Armenian
shops and houses was launched simultaneously in different
parts of the city under the leadership of Kurds and Lasis.
Rows of carts stood in readiness to remove the corpses. This
went on for two days. The soldiers only participated here
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
