Speech #670145275

At a mass meeting of American citizens of Greek descent. recently held in New York City. the following resolutions were adopted: Whereas positive information from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and various prominent societies of Pontus Greeks in Constantinople and elsewhere. including eyewitnesses. proves definitely that the Nationalist Turks. under Mustapha Kemal Pasha. are carrying out a systematic extermination. coolly planned years ago. against the unarmed and loyal civil Greek Vopulation of the entire territory within their control. particularly in the Black Sea littoral. Whereas the Nationalists. in carrying out their persecution and extermination. have been arresting for months thousands of innocent. leading Greeks under various false accusations. and have thrown them into unhygienic jails. subjecting them to indescribable horrors of torture and torment. as a result of which many have died. then bringing the survivors to mock trial before the socalled " courts of independence." condemned to death 168 Greeks in Amasia early in September. and have actually hanged 151 of them. similarly 190 others were hanged in Ordou and others elsewhere. Whereas the Nationalists have already deported all the male Greeks from their homes. killing most of them on the way and forcing the survivors into inhospitable regions in the interior. such as tHarpot and Malatia and Erzerum. thus condemning them to die of starvation. exposure. and disease. Whereas after the deportation of men the Turks. under the protection of the law. have looted the Greek stores and houses. thus depriving the women and children of all means of livelihood and protection. and thereafter have doorped those women and children to destruction. sending them into the interior in the company of ferocious Turkish guards. who had absolute control and authority over them. thus subjecting them to every form of cruelty . Whereas millions of Americans. incluhing many thousands of Greek descent from the territories under the Kemalist terror. fought in the Great War. many making the last sacrifice for the ends our Government had In view. one of which was to secure protection. peace. and liberty for the Christians and other oppressed races in the Near East . Whereas the Kemalists are at present carrying on a wild propaganda alleging that all these reports of atrocities. massacres. and deportations are fabrications or exaggerations. Whereas the ruling Turk. by his continuous misrule. has forfeited. In the eyes of the civilized world. all right to selfgovernment. and much less can he be trusted any more with the keeping and protection of other races: Therefore be it Resolved. That in the name of common humanity and Christian compassion we earnestly and urgently request our Government in Washington to use its great influence and power that steps may be taken by the representatives of the great powersFirst. For the immediate cessation of all persecution and deportation of Greeks. Armenians. and other oppressed races by the Nationalist Turks. Second. For the immediate return of the surviving deportees to their homes before the winter sets in and for the restoration of their means of livelihood. Third. For the restriction and control by the forces of civilization of the political power of the Turk. so that permanent protection and rights of life. honor. and property be secured to the oppressed Greeks.