There are two items of news in regard to Armenia..
The
first is that the Porte has appointed Shakir Pasha to super- vise the carrying out of the promised reforms in Armenia. Shakir is a Turk, and was sent to Crete to restore order after the revocation of the Constitution. It is said that, though he acted strongly in restoring order, he showed fairness. He was also Turkish Ambassador at St. Petersburg, and while there, won the goodwill and respect of Russia. Nothing is yet known as to what is to be his exact status and powers, and on these everything depends. As we have pointed out elsewhere, it is essential that the official who is to hold power in Armenia should feel himself responsible not to the Porte, but to Europe. He must feel that his tenure of office is secure only as long as he acts impartially. The other item of news is that an Imperial 'rade has been issued, granting an amnesty to all the Armenian political prisoners, both at Constantinople and in the provinces, with the excep- tion of those arraigned for offences under the common law. A large number of prisoners have, it is stated, already been released, including those arrested at Van. If this is true, it is satisfactory ; but it is a topsy-turvy world, when we have to be thankful that the surviving victims of a massacre are not also kept in penal servitude, but are actually set free.
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