CHAPTER   IX.

GLADSTONE ON THE ARMENIAN  MASSACRE
AND ON TURKISH MISRULE.

ON the eighty-fifth anniversary of Mr. W. E.
Gladstone's birth, December 29, 1894, ^
deputation of members of the National
Church of Armenia presented to his son, the Rev.
Stephen Gladstone, rector of Hawarden, a silver gilt
chalice for the use of the church,-in memory of the
ex-Premier's sympathy with and assistance to the
Armenian people. On that occasion Mr. Gladstone
made a long and eloquent speech, in the course of
which — after thanking the deputation for their
token of sympathy and their grateful references to
himself—he said :

^\ Well, Mr. Stevenson—I address myself now per¬
haps more particularly to you and to my own coun¬
trymen, to any of them who will take notice of the
deputation. I have said that in my opinion this
manifestation from the Armenian community,, in
England and in Paris was, on my part at least, quite
undeserved. I have done nothing for you in circuntr
stances of great difficulty, and that, let me assuire
you, has not been owing to indifference. I will explaii^
the cause in very few words. Rumors went abroadi,
growing more and more authenticated, which repro-