Italian general and senator Ricciotti Garibaldi (1847-1927) is the younger son of Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi. He has fought as a soldier next to his father several times. In 1870, he fought on the French side during the French-Prussian War.

From 1887 to 1890, he was a Member of the Parliament of Italy.

In 1897, he and Amilgar Cipriani fought against the Turks during the Greco-Turkish War as leader of Garibaldi’s 1,300 fighters.

During the 1912 Balkan War, he and his three sons continued the tradition of the Garibaldis, created a new 1,200-member detachment and fought for Greece.

Hayern Aysor presents its readers to Ricciotti Garibaldi’s words addressed to “Droshak” (1899, N3, p. 34).

WEAPONS IN HANDS

I believe it is absolutely useless to address the Peace Conference. That Conference is convened at the initiative of a Russian emperor who eliminates the least freedom that exists in his extensive empire at the moment of advocating peace (I would like to mention the example of Finland), that fact is evidence that there is a trap behind his proposal that will hurt the justice, freedom and independence of nations.

If the Armenians, like other nations under the yoke of Turkey’s atrocity, want to be free, then they need to demand that act of justice and humanity with weapons in hands.

Only that way will it be possible to make European diplomacy hear the voices of nations in misery.

In that case, my friends and I will be at the disposal of the Armenians in misery, the Armenians with which we sympathize.

Always believe in my sincere friendship.

Rome, 27 March 1899

Ricciotti Garibaldi

Source: BLACK BOOK (NOTABLE FOREIGNERS ON THE CRIMES OF TURKS AND THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE)