Frank Pallone: Events of 1915 were the systematic elimination of a
people

armradio.am
14.07.2007 13:42

The Armenian Assembly commended Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) for his remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives
in support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 106. Pallone
honored Henry Morgenthau, US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during
the start of the Armenian Genocide for providing first-hand
descriptions of the atrocities that were taking place. Pallone plans to
give a series of speeches to emphasize the importance of passing the
Armenian Genocide Resolution which is currently supported by a majority
of House members.

Mr. Pallone said in his speech: "The Armenian Genocide that was
orchestrated by the Ottoman
Empire from 1915 to 1918 is an irrefutable fact. Looking at the history
of this catastrophic event, it is impossible to deny that this was
genocide on all accounts. One way to hear witness to the truth is to
make reference to first hand accounts at the time the Armenian genocide
occurred."

"Henry Morgenthau served with dignity as US Ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire from 1913 to 1916. In the wake of surging nationalism in Turkey,
and alarmed at reports of the Armenian genocide, he repeatedly appealed
to the US government to intervene, without success. Morgenthau
addressed the genocide of the Armenians in a 1915 dispatch to the State
Department in which he warned that "a campaign of race extermination is
in progress."

"He then appealed to Ottoman rulers, also without result. Finally, he
publicized his opinions in his 1918 book of memoirs, Ambassador
Morgenthau’s Story, which documented his experiences while in Turkey,
including his vivid views of the Armenian genocide."

"Morgenthau wrote: "When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for
these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to the
whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with
me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact…I am
confident that the whole history of the human race contains no terrible
episode as this."

"In one of his addresses Morgenthau commented on the United States
efforts during the Armenian Genocide, "If America is to condone these
offenses, if she is going to permit to continue conditions that
threaten and permit their repetition, she is party to the crime. These
people must be freed from the agony and danger of such horrors. They
must not only be saved for the present but they must be given assurance
that they will be free in peace and that no harm can come to them."

"At great personal risk and sacrifice, Morgenthau chose to intervene on
behalf of the Armenians and even managed to help rescue an unknown
number of Armenians. Of course, in the end his efforts were
unsuccessful. Drained by his failure to avert this disaster, Morgenthau
returned to the United States in 1916 and for the remainder of World
War I dedicated himself to raising funds for the surviving Armenians.
He is considered a hero in Armenia and an American man of courage and
character."

"If America is going to live up to the standards we set for ourselves,
and continue to lead the world in affirming human rights everywhere, we
need to follow Morgenthau’s example. We must stand up and recognize the
tragic events that began in 1915 for what they were-the systematic
elimination of a people. By recognizing these actions as genocide we
can renew our commitment to prevent such atrocities from occurring
again."

"I wish to express my support for swift passage of H. Res. 106 which
reaffirms the Armenian Genocide. It now has a majority of the Members
of the House as cosponsors. As the first genocide of the 20th Century,
it is morally imperative that we remember this atrocity and
collectively demand reaffirmation of this crime against humanity."