(research December 2009)
A 3 page Foreign Office File, held in the UK National Archives at Kew and closed under the Archives Act for 50 years until 1966, testifies to contemporary humanitarian anguish on the status of Armenian refugees in 1915, and British Government failure to intervene (FO N157 T/239). The (Liberal) Marquess of Crewe, when Secretary of State for India, pleaded to fellow Liberal Reginald McKenna, as Chancellor of Exchequer, for help. Crewe wrote:
'Lord Bryce has
written to the Prime Minister about the state of affairs at re Armenians at
Tiflis, where Armenian refugees are collecting in great numbers, and in the neighbourhood of which town
there are said to be several hundred thousands absolutely destitute and
perishing from want and disease. Lord Bryce says that attempts are being made
to obtain subscriptions in England, but he suggests that no charity can cope
with the situation, and that his Majesty's Government might think fit to make a
contribution for the support of these refugees.
From the reports
that we have received from our Consul at Batoum, I think that Lord Bryce's
account is probably not exaggerated, and I should like to have your views as to
whether the Government could properly make a contribution, say of Forty
thousand pounds, for relief work. If you think there is any use in pursuing
this question further I would make preliminary enquiries from the Russian
Government.'
Files then simply notes that 'The Chancellor has told Lord Crewe that he cannot agree to this proposal.'
(Viscount Bryce spoke on the Armenian atrocities in Parliament in 1915 and in 1916 with Arnold Toynbee compiled The Blue Book, documenting the massacres).
Recent Comments