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The Ottoman government,
against numerous rebellions that began after 1890 and promptly
following Armenian massacres which resulted in the murder
of tens of thousands of Turks, contented with informing most
important persons of Armenian congregation and Armenian deputies
that "Government will take the necessary precautions
if Armenians continue to stab in the back and assassinate
the Turks". However, it became a necessity to secure
behind the borders because the army was in war at various
fronts, the events did not stop but increased and assaults
towards defenseless Turkish women and children increased.
With this aim, on April 24,
1915 the Armenian Committees were closed and 2345 of their
directors were arrested due to the crime of carrying out activities
against the government. April 24, which is commemorated annually
as the "Anniversary of Armenian Massacre" by the
Armenians abroad is this date when the 2345 revolutionary
committee members were arrested and it has no relation with
deportation.
However, the Armenian revolutionary
committee members who propagandize even the unfounded events
by exaggeration, promptly made a move to propagandize these
mentioned arrests. As a matter of fact, Ecmiyazin Catholicos
Kevork sent the telegraph below to the President of USA:
"Dear President, according
to the last news we got from Turkish Armenia, the massacre
began there and an organized terror endangered the presence
of the Armenian people. At this critical moment, I am addressing
to the noble feelings of your Excellency and great American
Nation and in the name of humanity and Christianity belief
requesting you to promptly interfere by means of your great
Republic's diplomatic representatives and protect my people
in Turkey who are left to violence of the Turkish fanaticism.
Kevork, Archbishop and Catholicos
of all Armenians."
Pursuant to the telegraph of
Archbishop Kevork, Russia's Washington Ambassador got in contact
with USA and thus, April 24, which is the day when Armenian
committee members dealing with illegal works were arrested
was propagandized to world's public opinion as "the day
on which Turks massacred Armenians".
REFERENCE:
Gürün, Kamuran, Ermeni Dosyasi, TTK Basimevi, Ankara, 1983,
s.210-211
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