“The Armenian Question” by Mim Kemal Öke, a well-known Turkish scholar, was published in 2001 is very comprehensive (300 pages) and explains many points, which should be already known by those doing some reading on the subject.
Contrary to the negative and antagonist propaganda made by diaspora Armenians against Turks and Turkey, we now have some leads regarding those Turkish Armenians, who were and are truthfully loyal and friends with Turks, now for some 900 years. Subject chapter Chapter XI-The Armenian Question-Kemal Oke adds new lights to the cause, with headlines, such as:
A. Confession of Katchaznouni, taken from book of Ahmet Emin Yalman, a Turklsh journalist of those days!
B. The story of the “Karabetyan Society” foundation, by Armenians who remained loyal to their country throughout wars! We knew of many Turkish Armenians who fought and died serving the Turkish Army. Now, we learn that this society was in close cooperation with Turkish “Karakol” Society, and were active in smuggling arms, ammunition and money to Kemalists, who were fighting a war of independence. Apparently this Society prepared a printed memorandum or brochure in relation to the Lausanne Conference on Nov.22, 1922 which was written by Migirdic Agop. This brochure elaborates on imperialist provocations, 1915 deportations, acts of revolutionaries and the right of “self-defense”. This is another confession of how Turkish Armenians were pulled into hostile actions (mainly by Hunchakist and Dashnakists from Russia) against their mother land. It is worthwhile to also remember that Mustafa Kemal’s mission when sent as “Inspector” to Samsun, in May 1919, the possible attempt to sink his boat “Bandirma” was informed by the general manager of the Ottoman Bank, who was an Armenian and was later to become a member of the Turkish Parliament. One of the important reasons was the British complaint that there were atrocities around the city of Sivas against Armenians, which means that by May 1919 many Armenians had returned to their deserted villages. Mustafa Kemal’s reply, was that there was no troubles at all, and that they were all busy with their professions in peace.
C. Another story of the “1915 victim” Torkum Istapanyan, gives altogether a different picture, versus one sided images built by the alliance of “Turkish antagonism”.
D. We have some more clarification that with the Armistice of 30.10.1918, all relocated Armenians could return to their own villages and that special measures were taken for comfort of women and children during trip. We also learn that the Turkish gendarmes threw out Muslim refugees and orphans, who had taken shelter in the vacated Armenian deportees houses, and had no place to go! Apart from the extensive U.S. relief activities there were other societies and that a special “Armenian Refugee and Aid Society” continued uninterruptedly, thanks to permission of Mustafa Kemal. (Those who enter and read above report will be astonished that there is not a single word of atrocities and that the relief activities were not interfered at any stage, any time, by any party. Will also learn that 1.414.000 were alive at the end of 1921)
E. There is also an excerpt of the British Labor Party member Lt. Col. T. Williams’ speech with the following remarkable sentence: “If you will stop interfering with the Armenian, he can get perfectly well with the Turk”!
Conclusion: IS IT NOT TRUE and WHY SOME OF US LIVE AND LOVE IN HARMONY, DESPITE OUR HUMANE MISTAKES?
Was Williams making a prophecy about the “Turkish Armenians web site”?
Chapter XI-The Armenian Question-Kemal Oke
Sukru S. Aya
