WHY ARMENIA SHOULD BE KEPT SAFE. [To THE EDITOR Or
THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have nowhere ceen any suggestion that the existence of a free and strong Armenia is a necessity to the safety of England's position in Egypt, in Mesopotamia, in Arabia, and
in India. Yet the more one considers the question, the more obvious it becomes. There are already indications that the Afohanintedan element in Anatolia is stronger since the war. And if that country becomes revivified and re-enriched by irrigation and by trade, situated as it is at the hub of the world, while retaining as it will its age-long principle of rule by murder, then it will prove a new menace to all surrounding States, not excepting Russia, Prance, Italy, or Greece, whereas u strong and friendly Armenia at the foot of Ararat, with if possible, ports on both the Mediterranean and Black Seas, would be a perpetual check to Moslem activity against any civilized State. I calculate that had we spent on Armenia one- tenth of the millions spent in vain on a half-hearted Russia such a help to Armenia would already have been recognized as a good national investment.
The Allies have permitted conquered Germany to retain suet parts of its formerly annexed territories as after years of transplanting of Dane and Pole it has so Germanized as to contain a bare majority of German voters. But when Christian and Moslem come into conflict in Anatolia, the Allies appear to be allowing the Moslem to annex all Christian terri- tory, only provided the Moslem takes the trouble first to wipe out the Christian population by massacre. I wish I could see some way by which we might avoid most serious evil con- sequences to ourselves as a necessary result of our permitting our friends to be murdered on our doorstep unavenged. We have never yet undertaken the management of any country without making it pay its way and become financially in- dependent. Yet here is a people already friendly, capable of the highest civilization, and who have excelled in every walk in life, whom we are failing to preserve alive. Surely if -Germany can pay for a hostile army of occupation, forced upon her to prevent her becoming too strong, Armenia should be able ultimately to pay the entire cost of whatever army of friendly occupation she may need to enable her to regain her strength. Such an army of occupation would lessen the need for troops in Mesopotamia and in Egypt.—I am, Sir, &e., A.
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