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Armenian Refugees (Lord Mayor's) Fund
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President:
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THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.
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Vice-Presidents:
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ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
ARCHBISHOP OF YORK.
CARDINAL BOURNE.
TEH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.
LORD CROMER.
VISCOUNT BRYCE, O.M.
LORD CURZON.
Rt. Hon. Sir JOSEPH COMPTON-RICKETT. M.P. |
Rt. Hon. GEORGE W. E. RUSSELL.
BISHOP OF LONDON.
THE LORD BISHOP OF HEREFORD.
THE LORD BISHOP OF ELY.
Rt. Rev. Dr. AMIGO, R.C. BISHOP OF SOUTHWARK.
Sir. T. FOWELL BUXTON, Bart.
Sir JAMES RECKIT, Bart.
Sir WILLIAM RAMSEY. |
Sir EDWIN PEARS.
LADY FREDERICK CAVENDISH.
Mrs. ALEXANDER WHYTE.
The Rev. Dr. CLIFFORD
GEORGE CADBURY, Esq.
ARNOLD ROWNTREE, Esq. M.P.
Prof. RENDEL HARRIS.
BASIL ORPIN, Esq.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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Chairman: ANEURIN WILLIAMS, Esq., M.P.
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Members:
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T. P. O'CONNOR, Esq., M.P.
Mrs. MADELINE COLE. |
NOEL BUXTON, Esq., M.P.
Miss HICKSON.
Lieut. Col. G.M. GREGORY, V.D. |
Miss EMILY ROBINSON.
E. WRIGHT BROOKS, Esq.
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Hon. Secretary: Rev. HAROLD BUXTON.
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Office of the Fund : 96, VICTORIA STREET,
WESTMINSTER, S.W. Telephone 2103 Victoria.
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Bankers (to whom Cheques should be paid) : BARCLAY &
Co., Ltd., 95, VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.
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| DEAR SIR (OR MADAM), |
| During the last six months, while
war has raged in Europe, massacre has come near to exterminating the
Armenian inhabitants of Asia Minor. Methodically the Turkish Authorities
have proceeded to kill or drive out a whole race - men, women and
children. Half a million, perhaps more, have been done to death, and
about another half million have fled to Russia and other lands. |
| On Wednesday, October 6th, in the
House of Lords, the Marquess of Crewe, speaking for the Government,
confirmed these facts in words which we print below. It is difficult,
if not impossible, to help those who still remain within the Turkish
borders, some bravely defending themselves in the mountains. What
can be done at the moment is to save the lives of refugees in Russia
and elsewhere who are dying in hundreds from hardship, want and disease.
For this object the Lord Mayor has opened the above Fund. |
| Last winter, about 100,000 Belgian
refugees landed on these shores. Even for a rich country like England
it was deemed a considerable tax to organize relief and hospitality
for such a number. Since May of this year, 250,000 Armenians have
poured into the Russian Caucasus from Turkey. How to feed, clothe
and house such a number is a problem beyond the power of the Armenians
resident in the Caucasus. The Russian authorities have their hands
already overfull but they are providing such sanitary precautions
against dysentery, cholera and other sicknesses as are urgent. They
cannot do more. |
| We therefore send you this appeal
in the confident hope that the desperate condition of these unfortunate
people will move you to give them all the help in your power. |
| In view of the great urgency of the
case we have already telegraphed to H.M. Consul General in Moscow
several thousand pounds. All subscriptions sent to us will be forwarded
in full, the necessary expenses being provided otherwise. |
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On behalf of the Committee,
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CHARLES JOHNSON, Lord Mayor, President.
BRYCE, Vice-President.
ANEURIN WILLIAMS, Chairman of Committee.
HAROLD BUXTON, Hon. Secretary. |
| In the House of Lords, the Marquess
of Crewe said, in reply to Earl Cromer:- |
| "His
Majesty's Consul at Batum, quoting from the Tiflis Press, describes
the appalling horrors which have taken place at Sassoon, where the
population were absolutely exterminated, only a few being able to
escape. The whole country was completely ravaged. A certain number
of well-known inhabitants succeeded in escaping to the mountains,
but the slaughter of those who could not so escape was universal.
Then there has been a great influx of Armenian, Chaldean, and other
refugees into Urumiah and the Caucasian provinces. A vast number of
refugees have arrived at Etchmiadzin and at other points of the Government
of Erivan. They came chiefly from the mountain districts of Melazgerd
and from Van. The Consul states that about 160,000 of these have passed
through Igdir and Etchmiadzin. He gives a most horrible description
of their condition, ravaged by disease, many of them starving. They
have been dying at the rate of at least 100 a day. Nothing could be
said in too high praise of the efforts which have been made to cope
locally with this hideous condition of things, but very much larger
supplies of medical comforts and of foodstuffs are needed if the condition
of the refugees is to be materially relieved. Then at Elenovka and
Ahti there are about 9,000 refugees who are no better placed than
the others. It is said in one report that unless relief be forthcoming
it is feared that half of them will probably die. There is also a
miserable account of the refugees in Urumiah - I have not got the
exact number but they are very numerous. The Russian Consul there
is doing what he can to assist them. |
| These are the appalling facts, and
I heartily concur in what fell from the noble earl opposite when he
stated that dreadful excesses such as these are not less revolting
to Moslem subjects of his Majesty in India and to enlightened Musullman
opinion everywhere than they are to ourselves. They are, of course,
in no way authorised by the precepts of Islam, and they will not be
condoned by the judgment of Islam. I also agree that these stories
might well go to the heart of any European people or section of people
who are disposed to join their fortunes with Turkey." |
| Lord Bryce added to this official statement many dreadful details. |
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