In 2012, I had the privilege of touring eastern Turkey including its city of Bitlis from where my mother’s family had emigrated in 1905 because of Turkish persecution of Armenians. My grandfather was born in Bitlis, and I wanted to walk the streets he had walked as a child.
In 1915, Ottoman Turks began a systematic elimination of Armenians, and when U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Morgenthau protested to Talaat Pasha, one of the Empire’s three leaders, he said, “It is no use for you to argue…we have already disposed of three quarters of the Armenians; there are none at all left in Bitlis, Van, and Erzeroum.” Morgenthau then received a request from Talaat as recorded in his book, Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story, “I wish that you would get the American life insurance companies to send us a complete list of their Armenian policy holders. They are practically all dead now and have left no heirs to collect the money. It of course all escheats to the State. The Government is the beneficiary now. Will you do so?”
The Saroyans who arrived at Ellis Island driven by my great-grandmother Lucintak were among the lucky ones. Those relatives who remained disappeared amidst the blood that ran down the streets of Bitlis I walked on a hundred years later.
For the past century, geopolitical politics and heavy lobbying by the Turkish government has prevented efforts begun by Ambassador Morgenthau to have the U.S. recognize the elimination of more than 1.5 million Armenians. It is historic, therefore, that the House of Representatives approved a resolution on 10/29 commemorating the Armenian genocide. Yet it is puzzling that while 405 representatives—including GOP leadership members Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise, and Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes—all voted in favor of the resolution, our congressman, Rep. Andy Harris, was one of 11 toeing the Turkish line. Perhaps his next step will be to finally get the list of genocide victim policy holders to the Turkish government so that President Erdogan can begin collection.
Jeff McGuiness
St. Michaels, MD
Eva Smorzaniuk says
Thank you, Mr. McGuiness for this eloquent reminder of the ignorance and denial surrounding the Armenian genocide. All of the atrocities committed by the Turks may never come to light, let alone be judged. Isn’t it ironic that Dr. Harris is a first generation American, whose father emigrated from Hungary, and mother from Poland. Both his parents escaped the horrors of fascist/communist regimes to live in freedom in the USA. Clearly, Dr. Harris continues to be unable to “speak truth to power”.
William Burton says
The issues are far from as clear as you present. The Ottoman Turks insist that these Armenians were refugees to whom no allegiance was evident. This viewpoint you present is one of a clearcut genocide. It is not that clear. And it is not as straightforward as you claim. This has been a research interest of mine and I have spent time in Turkey investigating. I honestly do not know which side has presented the truth. However, this is not a simply explained situation.
Jeff McGuiness says
Response
Mr. Burton, I agree that few things in life are black and white. What is undisputed is that over 1.5 millions Armenians died in the traditional Armenian homeland, a place where they had lived for over 2,000 years. These Armenians were not refugees, they were killed where they had long lived. A month before I toured this area, some of my cousins visited Moush and found the house their family had lived in for 800 years before being forced to flee in the early 1900s. In nearby Bitlis where my family is from, 30% of its population was Armenian at the beginning of 1915, nearly zero by the end of the year. The Armenians of Bitlis were either killed in the town, driven into the desert to die, or in the case of young women, incorporated into Turkish or Kurdish families and harems. That, as you can imagine, makes it difficult for Armenians to give their side of the story. I hope, therefore, your research includes the book I referenced in my letter, a contemporaneous report on what happened to the Armenians written by the individual who was the U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during this horrific period. There are several other books written by nurses and doctors in Christian relief organizations in the area who witnessed these events firsthand that are helpful. For example, “An American physician in Turkey : a narrative of adventures in peace and in war” by Clarence Ussher (https://www.amazon.com/American-physician-Turkey-narrative-adventures-ebook/dp/B00H5WDA7Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Clarence+Ussher&qid=1573952440&s=books&sr=1-1) and books by Grace Knapp available from Amazon regarding her years in Van and Bitlis operating orphanages for Armenian children whose parents had died in previous massacres. Her books provide a front row seat to what went on in 1915.
David Lloyd says
I cannot believe that Harris would be this stupid and/or ignorant. Wow. Is he also likely to believe that the Holocaust never happened? The Armenians were targeted for total elimination just like the Jews. There is no reference to the situation that does not substantiate what the Turks did to the Armenians. Their participation in WW I atrocities is still so hard to believe considering their historical tolerance of subject countries in the Ottoman Empire. Yes they were tyrants and ruled their empire. But, in comparison with other “empires,’ they just weren’t as bad. The Armenian holocaust was an exception still not understood but in no way in doubt. Shame on you Mr. Harris!
PR Getson says
Harris’ record of other votes has been dismaying for years, but this one qualifies as disgusting. A total travesty for any elected US official.
But to suggest there is equivocation about which “side” presents the facts seems a rather remarkable POV. I too have studied this horrific period in history, the religious and political underpinnings, and the deep-seated distrust of the smaller, more educated, distrusted/rumor laden Christian minority in Armenia. Refugees? When? After the killings began those in the west of Turkey fled to survive and BECAME refugees! This account is without embellishment and stands as fully vetted: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/armenian-genocide. An easy read and because many Americans are only now re-learning about caliphates, perhaps critical reading.
Perhaps we should ask Mr. Harris, and others, exactly which parts they do not believe. Worse, would be to ask which they support.
David Lloyd says
Your reference to the http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/armenian-genocide was very helpful! Should, hopefully, convince any and all — including Congressman Harris! — that it was indeed genocide when 85% of Armenians were murdered, tortured and more from 1915 to 1920. My own research has not been as articulate as this reference. Thanks for sharing it — and let’s hope all read it and understand how awful it was.