Kfvieu of Rerietrs, 1/6J06. 



Topics of the Month. 



467 



LXXX[V.— THE ARMENIANS: A FORLORN HOPE. 



THE 



A genial, typical American mbsionarv 

 Dr. Robarts, who for a quarter of a centur)' has 

 been labouring among the Armenians in the Pro- 

 vince of Vau, called upon me last month. He is 

 going back to Vau, and he wants to take one or two 

 useful articles with him. 



■' We are developing manufactures in these parts," 

 he said, '" and I would be right glad if any of your 

 friends would help me to the apparatus cheap that 

 I need to set them going." 



■'And what may it be you are wanting?" I asked. 



■' We have been training up a whole crowd of 

 orphans," he said. " We have been teaching them 

 mechanics and weavins, and now we want to set 



REV. DR. ROBARTS. 



the Rev. good tor them might nevertheless be quite good 



Maokertich I. 

 Catholicos :ind Supreme Patriarch of all the Armenians, 



them to work. We have water-power running to 

 waste, and we want a turbine, for one thing, to use 

 the waterfalls." 



•' We don't keep turbines at Mowbray House. I'm 

 sorry," I said ; " but I will appeal to any of my 

 readers who mav have one to spare to pack it up and 

 send it on." 



■'Then," said Dr. Robarts, "when \ou are asking 

 you might just inquire whether any of the mill- 

 owners in the North may happen to have sent any 

 machinery to the scrap heap, for weaving and such 

 like, because what would not be anv longer anv 



enough for us. It would be a real godsend if we 

 could get some simple machinery at which we could 

 set our lads to work. If anyone would communi- 

 cate with me (my address is c/o the " Friends of 

 Armenia," 47 Victoria-street, S.W.), I shall be only 

 too glad to give him all particulars." 



"Then you believe in the Armenians?" I said. 

 '■ You've not lost faith in them yet ?'' 



" No, and never shall," said Dr. Robarts. '■ They 

 have their faults. Even Americans are not perfect. 

 Bat the Armenians have great virtues. Yes, and the 

 chief proof is that they have the virtue that enables 

 them to survive. For hundreds of years they have 

 been crushed between the upper and nether mill- 

 stones, but thev are neither crushed nor broken. 

 They are indestructible as adamant." 



" Has their persecution ceased ?" 



■• Not at all. It has changed its form — that is all. 

 The Turks have substituted retail for wholesale, 

 finding that the latter attracted too much attention. 

 But the business is carried on in the same old way 

 with the same object — which the Turk can never 

 attain. The Armenian suffers, but sun'ives." 



■' What can be done for them?" 



" Educate them, and they are keen for education ; 

 teach them the Gospel, and they receive it eagerly 

 and die for it gladly ; keep them to industrial train- 

 ing : and then, if it be possible, let the Powers fulfil 

 their promises, and compel the Turks to refrain 

 from oppression." 



■■ But Russia is paralysed, and Germanv is the 

 .Sultanas ally." 



'■ If Russia were to become a free country, as was 

 hoped when the Duma was proclaimed, the Arme 

 nians would have no objection to be delivered by 

 Russia. So long, how-ever, as Russia is despotic, 

 the extension of her authority over Asia Minor would 

 be resented by the Armenians almost as much as 

 by the Turks." 



" Well," I said, " so much for Russia ; what about 

 Germany ?" 



" Ah !" said Dr. Robarts, ' I wonder. If Germany 

 really meditates doing anything in Asia Minor, she 

 will have to do it through the Armenians. They are 

 the onlv labouring men who are available in the 

 country. The Turks and Kurds will not make 

 tunnels or build bridges or pile up embankments. 

 The .\rmenians will. Hence it is with me a forlorn 

 hope, but still a hope, that if that Anatolian Bagdad 

 railway scheme is ever pushed in earnest, it may 

 bring salvation to the Armenians.'' 



It is a new idea, but, after all, I cannot deny that 

 there may be something in it. If so, that is another 

 reason for endeavouring to take away the bitter taste 

 of A'geciras by giving Germany some concessions in 

 .Asia Minor. 



