Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The 1915 massacre of the Armenians by reactionary Ottoman Government foreshadowed a horrifying trend of genocide that would characterize much of the twentieth century. Yet not so much is known about the Armenian massacres of the 1890s and how they set the stage for the events of 1915. This compilation of articles, published in the U.S. periodicals between 1895 and 1899, reflects the deep concern of the American public for the Armenian people, and also offers a fascinating window onto the world politics of the time-especially on the challenges of coordinating international action once news of the massacres began to emerge.
Throughout these thirty-five reprinted articles, written by American diplomats, missionaries, journalists, religious and public figures, and scientists, the plight of the Armenian people unfolds. Not only do readers learn of the Armenian struggle for equality and, ultimately, independence from the Ottoman Empire, but they also discover rich evidence about the Armenians themselves, their Church, instabilities within the Empire, and charitable efforts spearheaded by American Christian missionaries. The language and tone of these articles from over a century ago do reflect U.S. and European attitudes of the time, which were influenced by the perception of the Empire's Sultan Abdul Hammid II as the ultimate anti-Christian, pan-Islamic Ottoman ruler. But the overall humanitarian impulses of these writers are evident, and we see the beginnings of an Armenian-U.S. relationship that would strengthen over the course of the twentieth century.
Synopsis
Examines Britain's response to the Armenian Crisis of the 1890s through primary research into public opinion and government policy.
Britain's proactive policy on the Armenian Question and the standpoints of the British public and political and civic organizations on the massacres of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire in 1894-1896 were widely reflected in the contemporary British press and other media accounts. This volume, which contains more than fifty articles published in major British periodicals in the 1890s, including Contemporary Review, Nineteenth Century, Fortnightly Review, Blackwood's Magazine, and Spectator, presents a snapshot of British public opinion during the height of the Armenian Crisis of the 1890s, as well as detailed factual evidence of anti-Armenian policies carried out by the Sultan's government in the Ottoman Empire and the response of the Great Powers--including Britain--to the massacres.
The Armenian Massacres, 1894-1896 deliberately omits day-to-day reports from British newspapers covering the events and instead includes analytical reviews and opinions by leading British public figures, travelers, scientists, political, religious, and civic activists, journalists, and members of Parliament that were published in periodicals of differing political and social affiliations. Reprinted more than a century after their original publication, the articles are characteristic of the public attitudes in late nineteenth century Britain, including positions and perceptions of the period that are absolutely different from the principles and values applied to modern international affairs. Therefore, the articles should be considered in their historical context, which explains the negative and even insulting remarks about Muslims or Turks present in some of the articles. At the same time, this edition includes several articles that do not reflect the general positions and trends prevalent in British society, presenting different viewpoints to reflect the historical realities of the late nineteenth century in a comprehensive, objective, and impartial manner for scholars of British and Armenian history. As a result, this book is an extremely valuable resource for scholars of Armenian and European history.