Armenian terrorist movement was being instigated by Russians

As you may know Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians accuse Turks and Republic of Turkey, for some dire events occurred during Ottoman Era, before birth of Republic of Turkey. They claim specifically Turks staged a genocide on Ottoman Armenians.

Despite Republic of Turkey has been established not only as a result of a liberation war against Western Imperialists but also a rebellion against Ottoman Empire, and so called genocide took place 8 years before the establishment of Republic of Turkey, they prefer to blame and demonize Turkey along with western friends (sic) and allies (sic) of Turkey.

Although western countries' history is full of genocides, ethnic cleansings staged on native people, whom the westerners went to liberate and bring freedoms and civilization (while gulping their natural resources at the same time), Republic of Turkey and Turks are specifically and intentionally being blamed of being monsters, barbarians and butchers for some civil war atrocities, which took place between various ethnic groups who lived together almost a thousand years, with one part of the atrocities being Armenians and other party being Kurds.

Today, half of Africa speaks french and other half speaks English and many nations (including Armenians) who lived under the dominion of Ottomans, FOR CENTURIES (min. 3 centuries) still speak their native languages!... Despite Republic of Armenia is ethnically and religiously pure country (actually cleansed within a decade after Tzar granted the land to them), with only church available is official state church, Republic of Turkey which is being blamed of staging genocide on Armenians 8 years before its actual establishment and Turks are discriminated against in every aspect of interaction with the Westerners, has more than 50.000 ethnic Armenians citizens of Republic of Turkey and more than 100.000 Armenians who are illegal aliens, working in Republic of Turkey!...

If you ever dare to question or defend the suspect (which, in this case, Republic of Turkey and Turks), you should be ready for your character being assassinated by Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians (you shall immediately be declared by Dashnaks and other Turkophobes, as being Turks, Turkish Agents, Georgians, self-hating (sic) Jews, denialists who received blood money from Turks for denying the first genocide (!) of the 20^th century) being physically assaulted (like Standford Shaw of U.C.L.A. whose house was firebombed, since he dared to disprove and disagree with the well established (!) genocide).

CAVEAT LEXTOR

I don't believe and have any hope that all evidence I presented, that it was not Turks but Kurds (for whom our beloved Western friends and allies (sic) are trying to establish a country by detaching a large portion of Turkey, so  under their puppet (and of course and as always despotic) regime they freely ship away the Middle-Eastern and in future Iranian oil without any problems) who killed and persecuted Armenians, shall ever appeal to our Western friends and allies (sic). But I want to warn you who take heed of all evidence and become a Turk, a Turkish agent, a Georgian, a self hating (sic) Jew, a Denialist who received blood money from Turks for denying the first genocide (sic) of 20^th century, anyway.

So the westerner who is reading this never dare to deny the genocide Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians are marketing to western Christians for conning them for donations, and become a Turk, a Turkish Agent, a Georgian, a self hating (sic) Jew, a denialist who received blood money from Turks for denying the self-proclaimed genocide, first your character will be assassinated (and they will call you a lot of names), you will be threatened (you will receive threat calls and letters, emails, just as happened to Late Reverend Samuel Wheems), you will be targeted by Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenian terrorists (your house will be firebombed, just as happened to Genocide Specialist Stanford Shaw), you will be beaten when encountered, and you will be subjected to every terrorizing trick the Dashnaks (i.e. Nazis) hide in their sleeves.

So YOU ARE WARNED.

Instead, I honestly say with no irony and pun, continue discriminating against Turks, when tried give us the maximum prison sentence, while being lenient to similar people, when searched, use cavity search while letting others to go, and call us names (like Barbarians, Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, Attilla, etc. despite with all people murdered aggregately by these, by no means compare to those killed by westerners in their genuine attempts of liberating, bringing democracy to, civilizing many resource-rich people), blame us of being Moslem Terrorists, despite it's your intelligence organizations that support Islamic Fundamentalists operating in our country and encouraging our people to be pigheaded.

Any way the following confidential correspondence was sent by A. H. Layard, a British Consular Officer, who must be a Turk, a Turkish agent, a Georgian, a self hating (sic) Jew or a denialist who dare to deny genocide claims of Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians) about 50 years before the so-called genocide stating that the intrigues engaged by Tsarist Russia for “stirring up discontent against the rule and authority of the Porte  (i.e. Sultan)”. The document clearly states that a Russian Armenian group, who were sent by Tsarist Russia to Istanbul, were pressurizing Armenian Patriarch his Beautitude, Narses, to support Russia whom they believe shall give a country of their own where they represent only 7 percent of the population!...

However, many Tsarist Russian archive documents indicates that it's not only Russia who intrigue to raise rebellion amongst Armenians, without heeding their security. So this is not a “I hate Russians” article.

Anyway read your self and let the truth be told.

No Discrimination

No. 76

Sir A. H. Layard to the Marquis of Salisbury.

No. 906. Confidential.

My Lord,	THERAPIA, July i4, 5878.
	(Received July 21.)

I AM informed, on good authority, that Russia is already commencing her usual intrigues among the Armenians of Asiatic Turkey. Russian agents are being sent into the provinces inhabited by them with the object of stirring up discontent against the rule and authority of the Porte. A Russian party is being formed in the capital amongst the Armenians, which already includes some leading and influential members of that community. The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople called upon me last week, and after describing the difficulties in which he was placed in consequence of the hostility of this party to him, on account of his anti-Russian opinions and feeling, he proceeded to read to me a short speech that he had prepared. He stated that as the Congress had done nothing for the Armenians, and had not even taken into consideration their case which had been submitted to it by their Representatives at Berlin, and as England had declined to assume a protectorate over them, he could no longer remain at the head of the Constantinople branch of his Church, and was about to resign his office. He had prevailed upon his people, he went on to say, not to listen to the overtures of Russia, but to remain faithful to the Sultan. It was through his advice and exertions that the Armenians had not risen during the late war. But now that the Congress had done nothing for them, and that the name of Armenia was not even to be mentioned in the Treaty of Peace, the Russian party accused him of having betrayed the Armenian cause, pointing out that the Slays and other Christian populations of Turkey, which had listened to Russia and had taken part with her in the war, were now rewarded by receiving their independence, or autonomous institutions. These arguments, the Patriarch ended by saying, had made so great an impression upon the Armenians, that they now denounced him as a traitor, and were “ready to stone him.” He had nothing left but to resign, as he felt himself most seriously compromised in the face of his nation.

I endeavoured to calm the Patriarch’s agitation by showing him that he would gain nothing by the step that he meditated, but would only introduce discord and disorder into his community, which was exactly what Russia wished. He would thus promote the success of those intrigues which he seemed to fear. I explained to him the terms of the Convention of the 4 June, with which he was not acquainted, and pointed out to him that the Porte had undertaken to come to an understanding with England for the protection and better government of the Christian and other subjects of the Sultan in Asiatic Turkey. The condition of the Armenians, I said, would be a special matter of interest to Her Majesty’s Government, as they formed the largest and most intelligent portion of the Christian population in Asia Minor. I warned him that by taking any precipitate and ill advised resolution he might frustrate the object that Her Majesty’s Government had in view, and might even bring great misfortunes upon the Armenian community.

He promised me, after some discussion, that he would not resign for the present, but he earnestly requested me to ask your Lordship, by telegraph, to have some mention made of Armenia in the Treaty to be concluded at Berlin. He believed, he said, that even a mere reference to their country might reconcile the Armenians to the indifference with which their representations appear to have been treated by the Congress.

I agreed to comply with the Patriarch’s urgent request, telling him, at the same time, that I could not hold out hopes that your Lordship could modify, in any way, the decisions to which the Congress had come as regards the Asiatic territories of the Sultan and their populations.

Since my interview with the Patriarch I have had occasion to speak with some of the principal Armenians of Constantinople on this subject, and they have fully confirmed to me the statements of his Eminence as to the efforts which Russia is now making to form a party amongst the Armenians, both in the capital and in the provinces, and as to the intrigues which she has already commenced for this purpose. They promised to persuade the Patriarch not to resign for the present, but to persevere in his policy of counteracting the efforts of Russia to establish an exclusive influence and control over the Armenian community. They looked with hopes, they said, to the engagement entered into with England by the Porte to introduce reforms into Asiatic Turkey for the better government and protection of the Christians, and felt persuaded that if these reforms were fully carried out, and the Armenians prospered and were contented in consequence of them, a large number of Armenians who had emigrated to Russia, and others who belonged to provinces taken from Turkey and Persia, would escape from an oppressive Government which was gradually destroying their nationality, and would settle in the Ottoman dominions, where they could enjoy liberal institutions. If, however, the state of affairs in Armenia was to continue as it had hitherto been, and security for life and property were not assured to the Armenians by the Porte, they would be either compelled to take refuge in Russian territory, or to prepare, under Russian direction, for a future struggle to free themselves from the Turkish rule. This language was held to me by some high functionaries at the Porte.

F. 0. 424/72, pp. 160-161, No. 211

F. 0. 424/72, pp. 160-161, No. 211

More atrocities on Armenians by Russians and, of course, Kurds

If you know Dashnak Armenians' claims of genocide, they claim that Armenians were always being persecuted by Turks and they were always in continuous conflict with Turks. They were always being pressurized by and prevented from exercising their religious freedoms by Turks.

The following two correspondence between British consular functionaries, who, according to Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians, must be Turks, Turkish Agents, Georgians, self-hating (sic) Jews or denialists who received blood money about 50 years before the alleged genocide for denying it, were shedding some light on the relationships between Armenians and Turks and who were real oppressors of Armenians.

However, despite the Armenians, being the Millet-i Sıdıka (Loyal Nation) of Ottoman Empire, have been honored to be state mint managers, rich bankers, jewellers, even holding high rank and important positions in Ottoman State without having to convert to Islam, as devshirmes like other non-Moslem subjects of Sultan, having similar cultural background, traditions and mores with Turks, the Dashnak Armenians and genocide industry they created for swindling good Christians for ripping their money, opt to blame Turks and Republic of Turkey for dire events which took about a hundred years ago.

In the following correspondences, Armenians of Batoum sent a telegram for requesting protection from British consular functionaries, since Batoum was being invaded and being threatened by Russians and the Ottoman Armenians were again requesting protection from British consular functionaries from Kurdish excesses.

And since the same Armenians of Batoum fled to Ottoman Dominions for protection, they also must be Turks, Turkish Agents, Georgians, self-hating (sic) Jews, who dare to talk in contrary to official genocide claims of Dashnak Armenians!...

Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.

No More Discrimination.

No. 70

Vice-Consul Biliotti to the Marquis of Salisbury.

No. 55. Political.	TREBIZOND, Ma 7, 1878.
My Lord,	(Received May 28.)

HAVING received yesterday evening a telegram from the Armenian community at Livanah, I wired immediately to Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople as follows:

“I received the following telegram, dated Batoum, 6th instant, 6 P.M.,signed ‘Ohanes Piloyan, Delegate of the Christians of Livanah:’

"‘While living in peace with our Mussulman neighbours at Livanah, our beloved country, under Ottoman laws, a few days ago Russian soldiers, under the command of General Komaroff, unexpectedly invaded our town, against the law of nations and in spite of the presence of two Turkish battalions, which, owing to existing peace, offered no resistance.

“‘The Russian soldiers and their officers tread under foot the honour of our families; there being no longer any security for life, property, and honour, we are bewildered. If, in the name of Christianism, you want to interfere on our behalf, save us from Russian oppression. Having shut up our houses, abandoned our country, our landed and other property, we proceed with our children and wives to other parts of the Ottoman dominions. It being beyond doubt that similar acts cannot be tolerated by any nation, and in order to protect our honour against the conduct of the Russians, I beg you, in the name of the whole community (Armenian) of which I am the delegate, to bring these facts to the knowledge of your Government through Her Majesty’s Ambassador.’”

My colleagues of Austria and France have received this same telegram.

All the Armenians in the district of Livanah live at Artwin, which is the residence of the Governor, and in its immediate vicinity. The telegram refers, therefore, to that town, which is also often called Livanah, and not, as it might be supposed, to the village of the same name.

According to the Armenian Bishop of Trebizond, there are 8oo Roman Catholic Armenian, and 150 Gregorian, families.

This Prelate, to whom I applied for further information, knows nothing of the case in question, Artwin being an independent bishopric. He has, however, heard that General Komaroff had been hurt at the want of sympathy shown to the Russian cause by the Armenian Roman Catholic authorities on the occasion of a visit which he paid them a month and a-half ago at Artwin.

Ohanes Piloyan is stated by the Armenian bishop to be a most respectable man, and really the head of the Roman Catholic Armenian community in the district of Livanah. But as he has been residing since some time at Batoum, I cannot help thinking that his report on occurrences, of which he has not been an eye-witness, is rather exaggerated.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ALFRED BILIOTTI.

F.O. 424/70, p. 404, .No. 658

No. 71

Mr. Layard to the Marquis of Salisbury.

No. 603.	THERAPIA, May 11, 1878.
My Lord,	(Received May 25.)

I HAVE on many occasions called the attention of the Turkish Ministers to the expediency of conciliating the Armenian population of Asia Minor, and of protecting them against the Kurds. I have brought to their notice the reports that I have received, from official and other sources, of the ill-treatment to which the Armenians have been exposed from the local authorities, and have urged upon them the necessity of taking, without delay, such measures as are required to remove the causes of their just complaints. It is especially important that the Porte should, under present circumstances, do all in its power to prove to the Armenians that it is determined to secure to them in future just and equal government, and that Russia should thus be deprived of a pretext for interfering on their behalf, and of raising an “Armenian question” which may prove the source of fresh difficulties to Turkey, and afford Russia a further opportunity of extending her influence, and ultimately her rule, in the Asiatic dominions of the Sultan.

I have strongly advised the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to prevent a repetition of the depredation and excesses which have been of late committed by the Kurds upon the Armenians of the Pashalic of Erzeroom and Diarbekir, as described by Vice-Consul Bilotti and Mr. Rassam, whom I sent into Armenia for the express purpose of reporting to me on this subject. I have recommended that the present Governors of those Provinces, whose conduct is highly praised by Mr. Rassam and by the American Missionaries with whom I am in correspondence, should be provided with a sufficient military or police force to afford the protection which they are anxious, but unfortunately unable, to give to the Christians.

I have found Sadyk Pasha and his predecessor, Ahmed Vefyk Pasha, ready to listen to and to act upon my representations. I have the honour to inclose a report addressed to me by Mr. Sandison upon this subject. Your Lordship will perceive that the Prime Minister has now determined to send a special Commissioner, Ali Shefik Bey, to Armenia, for the purpose of examining into and redressing the grievances of the Armenians, and that the military authorities on the spot have been authorized to employ force for the repression of excesses committed by the Kurds, and for the punishment of their authors.

It appears to me very desirable that we should have a Consul or Vice-Consul at Diarbekir, or some other place on the borders of the country inhabited by the Kurds, who might keep the Embassy informed of what is passing in those regions. Her Majesty’s Ambassador could use his influence for improving the condition of the Armenians and for removing, by representations to the Porte, the grievances of which they may have to complain.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. O. 424/70, pp 360-361, .No. 587

Inclosure in No. 71

Mr. Sandison to Mr. Layard.

Sir,	THERAPIA, May JO, 1878.

IN accordance with your Excellency’s instructions, I have on several occasions called the Porte’s serious attention to the cruel position of the Armenians in the Vilayets of Erzeroum and Diarbekir, for which the Porte, I said, could offer no excuse, particularly at a moment when it could dispose of its military forces and other means to bring about a better state of things in those parts of the country.

I must do Safvet Pasha justice in saying that his Excellency has all along done everything in his power to carry out your Excellency’s recommendations on this occasion, and it may be all the more gratifying to be able to state that he has lately availed himself of the opportunity afforded him by Mr. Biliotti’s despatch of 2nd ultimo to lay the matter in a very strong light before the Council of Ministers.

A decision has accordingly been come to to send a special Commissioner (Ali Shefik Bey) into those provinces for the purpose of examining and redressing the grievances of the oppressed Armenian population.

Full powers have at the same time been given to the military authorities on the spot to employ force for the punishment and repression of the excesses committed by the Kurds, as well as for the future protection and security of the Christian population.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. SANDISON.

F. O. 424/70, p 361, No 587/1

And backstabbing rebellious, traitorous acts start!

Anybody who opposes the Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenian's version of Armenian Revolt which ended up in their deportation, and now being represented as a full blown genocide staged by Turks on them, for demonizing, discriminating against and prejudicing Turks in international environment, is either a Turk, a Turkish agent, a Georgian, a self-hating (?) Jew or a denialist, who prevent them from summarily executing Turks.

Of course when it comes to Dashnak Armenian's claims, which are being fanned by our Western friends and allies (sic), so they can act discriminatorily against Turks, rights to defend yourself, fair trial, etc. disappears into thin air.

Anyway the strangest thing is there are some Turks, Turkish agents, Georgians, self hating (sic) Jews and denialists who lived in 1870s, and dared to deny Dashnak Armenian's genocide claims or to talk in contrary to them.

And Consul Mr. Layard (who in many previous correspondence is very anti-Turk person) is one of these Turks, Turkish agents, Georgians, self-hating (sic) Jews and denialists who dared to deny the myth of innocent Armenians were being systematically slaughtered by Turks, out of blue without any reason.

Despite, as the following correspondence clearly indicates, Armenians

“are, in their own country, a quiet, industrious, and frugal people, chiefly engaged in agriculture, and living in friendly relations with the Mahommedan Turkish population which, like themselves, suffers from the lawless violence of the Kurds. In Constantinople, and in the principal towns of Turkey, they become prosperous bankers and merchants. Some of them fill confidential posts at the Porte, and are entrusted with important political affairs. Others are the agents of wealthy Turkish families, and of high officials, and thus exercise very considerable influence.”

And despite Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians very well know the fact that they were highly revered by Ottoman State and in friendly relations with Turks, but just like Turks, were victims of violence of Kurds, they insist on placing blame on Turks, who were nothing but plebs and cannon fodders seldomly holding top executive positions within the Ottoman system, always neglected in terms of education, economy, administration, but only being remembered when Ottomans would go to a war.

The irony here is although (as clearly indicated by thousands of British Consular Documents) IT WAS KURDS WHO WERE RAPING ARMENIAN GIRLS AND BOYS (YES YOU READ IT CORRECTLY) AND CARRYING AWAY THEM FOR THEIR BASE PURPOSES, PLUNDERING AND ROBBING ARMENIAN VILLAGES, STAGING EVERY KIND OF LAWLESSNESS, Armenian Republic is one of our friendly (sic) neighbors, along with other friends and allies (sic), who harbors Kurdish Separatist Terrorists (namely PKK), which just like their ancestors did to Armenians about a hundred years ago, have been staging a terror campaign against Turks (killing about 30.000 civilians in cold blood) and attempting to create a race war (just like Dashnak Armenian terrorists did about a hundred years ago).

So in a nutshell, if the relations between Turks and Armenians were so pleasant, what went wrong and Ottomans decided to deport Armenians?

What went wrong is the greed of non-Turkish Armenian revolutionaries who, despite they are very small minority in everywhere they live, were desperately need a country of their own and started a dirty revolution involving staging attacks on civilian population (whose fathers and sons went to war) on behalf of Armenians, to precipitate reprisals by the Turks, so they can ensure intervention by Western powers.

This greed is supported by Western powers to their advantage, so they can attain their imperialist purposes.

Many Armenian notables were either accomplice in such rebellious acts, or threatened by Armenian revolutionaries (namely Dashnaks and Hunchaks) to comply with their demands.

In the following correspondence, Patriarch Narsis (Narses) of Istanbul, expresses his concerns about the irritation amongst the Armenians against himself, since he assumed a pro-Ottoman attitude, and turned down pro-Russian tendencies which were being pushed on by Dashnak and Hunchak Armenians who are not Turkish subjects but Russian subjects.

He, just like thousands of other documents, clearly states the major discontent and displeasure amongst Armenians were not due to Turks but Kurds.

However, apparently he gives in to exaggerated demands of Armenian terrorists, and despite they represent only seven percent of the population of Anatolia, he demanded almost half of Anatolia as Armenia and Mr Layard answers him in the provinces His Beautitude Narses mentioned, he

“had reason to believe, a very large majority of the population consisted of Mussulmans“.

Despite Dashnak Armenians, in an attempt to demonize, discriminate against and prejudice Turks, were pretending to be innocent people and out of blue Turks (which historically are actually Ottomans) were slaughtered them, His Beautitude Narses clearly threatens England, by saying if the Congress

“did not do so, and did not listen to the just demands of the Armenians, the country to which he had referred would rise, within a short time, against Turkish rule, and would annex itself to Russia.”

Of course I'm a Turk and anybody I say is worthless because I'm neither human, nor my existence means any value, but in many judicial systems such behavior is considered and prosecuted as TRIASON.

That's why His Beautitude Patriarch, Narses, clearly requests Mr. Layard
"to consider "their" conversation confidential, as he was afraid that he would compromise himself with the Turkish Government if what had passed between us came to be known."

However, Mr. Layard, who was a Turkish agent, a Georgian, a self hating (sic) Jew, a denialist, in disguise of a British Consul, clearly informs Earl of Derby that by mentioning about dangers of rising hopes of the Armenians and was aware of the revolutionary intrigues and warned about the serious consequences of such revolution, by saying

“I recount my conversation with the Patriarch to your Lordship, as it tends to confirm what I have ventured to submit in other despatches with respect to the danger of exciting the hopes and desires of other populations of the Turkish Empire by according to those of European Turkey autonomous institutions. An encouragement is thus given to intrigues and insurrections in all parts of the Sultan’s dominions, and to attempts to throw off his authority and that of his Government which must inevitably lead, sooner or later, to very serious results. If I am not misinformed such intrigues are now carried on very actively and extensively for this object. The movement amongst the Armenians is probably caused by these.”

Second document also by denialist in disguise, Mr. Layard, is a clear manifestation of how wealthy and powerful Armenians were intriguing such revolutionary ideas without heeding the wellbeing of poor and weaker regular Armenians in the game of obtaining a country of their own, despite being minority therein, setting up the first form of Apartheid. Despite he is one of the many influential Armenians benefiting from fruits of government, he was backstabbing the country where he was a citizen of.

The third one, just like previous two, is proof how Armenian notables (instigated by Russia) were intriguing for a revolution which shall be bloody for civilian population. I say bloody since the intrigue was involving first staging gruesome attacks on Turkish civilians (mostly families whose men were off to war), thereby triggering retaliations and ensuring both ethnic cleansing the region of the non-Armenian elements and assuring intervention by Western powers.

Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.

No More Discrimination

No. 64

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

No. 365. Confidential.	CONSTANTINOPLE, March 18, 1878.
My Lord,	(Received March 29.)

BY my despatch No. 364 of to-day I have transmitted a letter addressed to your Lordship by Archbishop Narsis, the Armenian patriarch of Constantinople. When his Eminence called upon me to request that I would forward this letter he took occasion to enter very fully into the position and grievances of the Armenian nation or community. Your Lordship will remember that last year his Eminence was anxious to persuade me that his people were not dissatisfied with the Turkish rule, and that they greatly preferred remaining under it to being transferred to that of Russia. He even declared their readiness to enroll themselves in the Turkish army, or to be formed into a local force for the defence of the Turkish territory. His Eminence admitted to me when I saw him yesterday that such had been the case. But he said that since the Russian successes, and especially since it had become known that Russia had stipulated in one of the Articles of the Preliminaries of Peace for administrative reforms for Armenia, the state of affairs had completely changed. The Armenians were now greatly irritated against him for having put Russia against them by giving his support to the Turkish Government, and “threatened to stone him.” The fact that a large number of their fellow countrymen had been transferred to Christian rule by the annexation of a part of Armenia to Russia, and that autonomous Government was about to be conceded to the Christian population of European Turkey, naturally led them to demand the same privileges. Their hatred of Mahommedan rule had been increased by the excesses committed by the Kurds upon the Armenian inhabitants of the Province of Van and of the district of Bayazid, for which he had in vain appealed to the Porte for redress. The Armenians were now determined to assert their rights, and to claim to be placed upon the same footing as their fellow-Christians elsewhere. If they could not obtain what they asked from the justice and through the intervention of Europe, they would appeal to Russia, and would not cease to agitate until they were annexed to her. Already, his Eminence said, a large portion of the Christian population of Armenia was preparing to emigrate to the territories ceded to Russia. He trusted, therefore, that the demands of the Armenians for an autonomous Christian Government would be taken into favourable consideration at the Congress, and that Europe would insist upon the formation of a self governing Armenian province.

His Excellency showed me the copy of a letter which he had addressed to Prince Bismarck, soliciting his Highness’s protection and good offices for the Armenians. He had sent it through Prince Reuss, who, as I have had occasion to inform your Lordship, has been in frequent communication of late with the heads of the Armenian community, with the object, I am assured, of detaching them from their allegiance to the Sultan, and of promoting the policy of Russia.

I asked the Patriarch what he understood by “Armenia,” and what part of Turkey in Asia he considered ought to be included in the autonomous province that he had in view. His Eminence replied that Armenia should contain the Pashalics of Van and Sivas, the greater part of that of Diarbekir, and the ancient kingdom of Cilicia (or the province on the northern boundary of Syria, and extending to the west from the Taurus range to the sea). I pointed out to his Eminence that what he asked was a very large slice indeed out of the territories remaining to the Sultan in Asia Minor, and that in the provinces he had mentioned, I had reason to believe, a very large majority of the population consisted of Mussulmans. He did not deny that such was the case; but he maintained that the Turks themselves were greatly dissatisfied with the rule of the Porte, and would willingly accept a Christian Government which would afford them protection for their lives and property.

To a remark that I made to the Patriarch that I did not think it probable that the Congress would entertain so vast a project as that which he had placed before me, his Eminence replied that if it did not do so, and did not listen to the just demands of the Armenians, the country to which he had referred would rise, within a short time, against Turkish rule, and would annex itself to Russia. He further observed that amongst the Generals and high functionaries employed by Russia in Georgia and Armenia were many Armenians, some of whom had greatly distinguished themselves during the war; that they were in close relations with their brethren in Turkey, and that whatever his own personal views might be— and he was a simple priest, and had no mundane ambition—his people were determined no longer to submit to Mahommedan rule, and he could not oppose himself to their wishes.

I recount my conversation with the Patriarch to your Lordship, as it tends to confirm what I have ventured to submit in other despatches with respect to the danger of exciting the hopes and desires of other populations of the Turkish Empire by according to those of European Turkey autonomous institutions. An encouragement is thus given to intrigues and insurrections in all parts of the Sultan’s dominions, and to attempts to throw off his authority and that of his Government which must inevitably lead, sooner or later, to very serious results. If I am not misinformed such intrigues are now carried on very actively and extensively for this object. The movement amongst the Armenians is probably caused by these. It is not improbable that we shall, ere long, hear of similar movements amongst the Mussulman as well as Christian populations of other parts of Asiatic Turkey, including Syria. They may take the form in Africa of a demand for complete independence of the Porte. The falling to pieces and dismemberment of the Turkish Empire may be in the eyes of some a desirable event, but England ought at least to be prepared for the consequences. That an autonomous State, such as the “Armenia” of the Patriarch, could long preserve even its semi-independence, no one acquainted with the populations which inhabit the provinces it is proposed by sanguine Armenians to include within its boundaries, could for one moment believe. Autonomy must end in annexation to Russia, an event which the Patriarch evidently seemed to contemplate. How far would it suit the interests of England that Russia should extend her dominion over so large an additional portion of Asia Minor and up to the very borders of Syria? That she will ultimately do so appears to me one of the results of her annexation of Eastern Armenia as far south as Bayazid.

The Patriarch requested me to consider our conversation confidential, as he was afraid that he would compromise himself with the Turkish Government if what had passed between us came to be known.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. O. 424/68, pp. 346-348, .No 639

No. 65

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

No. 383. Confidential.	CONSTANTINOPLE, March 20, 1878.
My Lord,	(Received March 29.)

AN Armenian, who fills a high post at the Porte, called upon me yesterday, and told me very confidentially that he, and some of his countrymen who were leading members of the Armenian community, were engaged in framing a constitution, or “réglement organique,” for the new Armenian “autonomous province,” which they intended to submit to the Congress, and which they expected England would support. He said that the Armenians were determined, now that self-government was about to be given to the Christian communities in Europe, to demand the same privilege for themselves in Asia. He saw no difficulty in constructing an Armenian State; but he admitted that there might be some objection to including Cilicia within it, although that province undoubtedly once belonged to the Kingdom of Armenia. He added that if the Congress refused to listen to the just demands of the Armenians, they were resolved to agitate until they could obtain what they required, and if they could not succeed without foreign aid, they would place themselves completely in the hands of Russia, and even prefer annexation to her to remaining under Turkish rule. He ended by asking me whether I would transmit the “Reglement,” which he and his friends were preparing, to Her Majesty’s Government, and recommend it to them for presentation to the Congress.

I did not give much encouragement to my visitor’s scheme for the restoration of the ancient Kingdom of Tigranes, nor did I commit myself to a promise to submit to your Lordship’s favourable consideration a constitution for it.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. O. 424/68, pp 354, JIb. 644

No. 66

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

No. 401 Confidential.

My Lord,

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 25, 1878. (Received April 5.)

I HAVE the honour to inclose, herewith, copy of a memorandum, given to me by a trustworthy person, relating to the views of some of the leading Armenians of Constantinople, as to a future constitution of the Province of Armenia, which they hope to obtain by the help of England. It agrees in the main with the statement made to me by the Armenian Patriarch, as reported to your Lordship in my despatch No. 364 of the 18th March, with the exception that it does not appear to contemplate the annexation of Silicia to the proposed “autonomous” State. It admits that Monseigneur Narses, the present Gregorian Armenian Patriarch, has been in communication with the Russian head-quarters at San Stefano, and that an agent has been sent by some of the Armenians here to St. Petersburgh. I understand that Khorem Nar Bey, the ex-Patriarch, and another dignitary of the Church, have been entrusted with this mission. It is also stated in the memorandum that it is the intention of the persons who are getting up the movement in favour of Armenian “autonomy,” to send a deputation to the members of the coming Congress to advocate their cause.

The inclosed document deserves your Lordship’s attention, as it shows the nature arid object of the agitation which has commenced for the purpose of extending to the Turkish dominions in Asia “autonomous” institutions similar to those which are about to be introduced into Turkey in Europe. It may be the commencement of a movement which may lead to serious results, affecting our interests in the East. It is stated in the memorandum that after the Crimean War England thought of securing to Armenia a”certain autonomy;” I have no recollection of such having been the case. Had it been so, considering the interest I have always felt in Armenia, and the Armenians, I should probably have been aware of it. In those days the doctrine of autonomy was not in vogue. That England desired to procure good government, and proper protection, for the Armenians, as for all other communities, Christian and Mahommedan, under Turkish rule, is no doubt true; but this is a very different thing from attempting the formation of a semi-independent province, which must, sooner or later, separate from the Turkish Empire, and can only become a dependency of Russia.

The Armenians are worthy of the sympathy, consideration, and help of England. Something might, no doubt, be done at the Congress to ensure for them, and especially for those who inhabit the Eastern provinces of Asia Minor, good and just government for the future, and, above all, protection from the Kurdish tribes, to whose excesses and outrages they have been constantly exposed. They are, in their own country, a quiet, industrious, and frugal people, chiefly engaged in agriculture, and living in friendly relations with the Mahommedan Turkish population which, like themselves, suffers from the lawless violence of the Kurds. In Constantinople, and in the principal towns of Turkey, they become prosperous bankers and merchants. Some of them fill confidential posts at the Porte, and are entrusted with important political affairs. Others are the agents of wealthy Turkish families, and of high officials, and thus exercise very considerable influence. Out of Turkey, as in India, they have been successful in commerce, and enjoy, I believe, a good reputation for intelligence and integrity. In Russia large numbers of them are engaged in trade, and some, probably natives of districts in her possession, have risen, as it has been seen during the war, to high commands in the army, General Melikoff and two other generals being, I am informed, of Armenian origin.

Of all the Christian communities subject to Turkish rule, the Armenian has been most disposed to live peaceably with her Mahommedan fellow-subjects, and even to amalgamate with them. The Armenians of Constantinople, speaking the Turkish language, are brought, more than the Greeks, into intimate relations with the Turks. It is greatly to the interest of the Porte to encourage the Armenians, and to treat them with justice and liberality, so as to satisfy them, and to prevent their turning to Russia for help and protection. England might contribute materially to this end. To give autonomy to a province which is at present quite incapable of self-government, would probably lead to more harm than good, and to results which would be far from favourable to British interests.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. 0. 424/69, pp. 54-55 No 107

Inclosure in No. 66

Memorandum.

M. T. TERKHAN, ex-Interpréte et Secrétaire de l’Agence Diplarnatique de Serbie, et Membre du Conseil National Arménien, est venu m’entretenir des aspirations de Ia majorite de Ia nation Arrnénienne en presence de Ia situation qui lui est faite par les derniers événements. Cette démarche était faite avec la connaissance du Patriarche Arménien, qui avait également exprimé son désir d’expliquer et de confirmer personnellement, dans une entrevue toute confidentielle avec le Représentant de la Reine, les faits dont l’exposé suit, sous la promesse que toutefois le compte-rendu de cet entretien éventuel ne figurerait pas dans le “Blue Book.”

Les Arméniens et leur Patriarche tiennent a constater avant tout qu’ils ne veulent en aucune facon de la protection Russe que amènerait indubitablement leur absorption par la Russie et ainsi La perte de leur nationalité.

La visite de Monseigneur Narsés a San Stephano et l’envoi d’un delegue a St. Petersbourg n’ont été que des mesures de prudence. Ii s’agissait surtout de ne pas abandonner les Arméniens, des Kurdes et des Circassiens. Le Grand Duc avait promis de prendre en consideration la requête, et en effet un Article du Traité mentionne des réformes en Arménie mais sous la surveillance d’un Commissaire Russe.

Cette derniCre partie de l’Article en question est loin de plaire aux Arméniens indépendants, qui voit dans cette ingérance d’un Commissaire Russe dans les affaires administratives de leur pays une porte ouverte a une agitation future a l’egal de celle qui a précédé les événements de la Bulgarie dans cette province, et ne devarit tourner qu’au profit des soi-disant protecteurs.

L’histoire des faits passes ces derniers temps est un enseignement pour les Arméniens qui ne tiennent nullement a servir a leur detriment d’instrument aux projets Russes.

La communauté Arménienne songe a envoyer une deputation près des membres du futur Congres, auxquels elle remettra un Memorandum pour que le sort des Chrétiens d’Arménie, tout aussi dignes d’intérêt que leurs autres coreligionnaires de Turquie, soit aussi traité dans le Congrés.

Ce Memorandum, tout en ne se prononçant pas contre Ia Russie, rappellera aux délegués Anglais au Congrés, outre l’opportunité de l’amélioration de Ia condition des Arméniens, la nécessité politique de proteger et garantir les intérêts Britanniques aux sources de l’Euphrate en y créant une autonomie Arménienne, ou tout au moms un Gouvernement comme celui du Liban, garanti par toutes les Puissances.

L’Angleterre a constamment manifesté ses apprehensions sur la possibilité d’une influence étrangère sur le chemin des Indes. Or, l’Arménie se trouvant dominer cette route, l’Angleterre doit tenir essentiellement a l’élimination de tout protectorat Russe dans ce pays.

En aspirant a une autonomie, ou tout au moms a une réforme radicale de l’administration de leur pays, les Arméniens ont la conscience d’être plus aptes a gouverner conformément aux lois de la civilisation et du progrès que les Turcs.

On pourrait, dans toutes les localités oü us constituent la majorité des habitants, confier l’administration municipale a des Arméniens.

Ii est evident qu’ils préféreraient être constitués en un Etat neutralisé et garanti, qui, tput restreint qu’il serait, pourrait s’étendre de la Mer Noire a Ia Méditerranée et être une digue aux progrès de la Russie vers le sud comme la Roumanie aurait pu l’être si elle eut été neutralisée en temps opportun.

Ii est notoire qu’après la guerre de Crimée 1’Angleterre songea a doter 1’Arménie d’une certaine autonomie.

La France qui, alors, esperait ramener les Arméniens au Catholicisme et faire d’eux les auxiliaires de sa politique en Turquie, s’était opposée a ces tendances de l’Angleterre.

Un point qu’il est important de constater, car il sera un des facteurs les plus puissants dans cette union Anglo-Arménienne, c’est la presque identité des rites Anglicans et Arméniens; leurs Articles de Foi ne présentent aucune difference sérieuse qui puisse faire apprehender l’impossibilité d’un rapprochement des deux religions, car l’appareil pompeux du rite Arménien, une fois éliminé, les doctrines restent sans points opposes qui ne puissent être résolus.

Jusqu’à cejour, le clergé et la Porte avaient le plus grand intérêt a empêcher la fusion des deux Eglises, mais le premier, devant Ia perspective de devenir dans un avenir plus ou moms éloigné le vassal de l’Orthodoxie Russe, doit aujourd’hui préférer le ralliement a une Eglise telle que celle d’Angleterre, dont elle n’a a craindre aucun empiètement, tout en restant en communauté de foi, d’esprit, et d’intérêts avec elle.

Pour faciliter l’oeuvre, l’Angleterre trouvera un vaste champ pour exploiter dans la misère des populations, l’abandon de l’agriculture resultant de l’incertitude des lendemains, en portant remède a ces maux par la creation d’écoles, d’établissements et le bien-être des peuples qui ne les ontjamais connus depuis des siêcles, et ainsi serviront de bases inébranlables a l’influence Anglaise.

En somme, les Arméniens espèrent voir doter leur pays de toutes les conquêtes de l’art et de l’industrie sous le protectorat Anglais. Jusque-la le Patriarche Arménien se verra force de composer avec la Russie, mais bien a contre coeur, redoutant son protectorat, qui, comme il est dit plus haut, déguiserait sans aucun doute des projets arnbitieux a la réalisation desquels elle emploiera les Armeniens en s’en servant comme instruments d’agitation.

Sans aucun doute qu’il existe un parti inclinant vers Ia Russie parmi les Arméniens. Ii se compose des fonctionnaires au service de la Porte, dont us partagent Ia politique Russophile, de ceux qui ont été gagnés secrétement a cette politique, et de certaines basses classes; mais la partie intelligente, éclairée de la nation est tout-à-fait opposée a ces tendances et préférerait encore rester sous Ia domination Turque que de se voir livrée a Ia Russie, qui en entreprendrait la russification, au contraIre de l’Angleterre, qui a toujours eu le respect des nationalités.

Les Arméniens croient que la creation d’un régime autonomique donnerait satisfaction a leurs intéréts légitimes comme a ceux de l’Occident, que l’extension de Ia puissance Russe parait devoir menacer ou léser aussi bien en Asic qu’en Roumélle. D’abord Ia Russie ne pourrait plus avoir les mêmes pretentions que par le passé, du jour oü die se trouvera en presence, sur la ligne frontière d’une population Chrétienne paisible, adonnée a l’industrie et au commerce, au lieu de ces hordes sauvages, l’approche de l’humanité dont la conduite barbarejustiflait l’ingerence de la Russie dans les affaires intérieures de Ia Turquie.

L’Angleterre se sentirait moms menacée quand elle verrait les positions des sources de I’Euphrate occupées par une population dévouée, ne pouvant de Iongtemps nourrir aucun projet ambitieux.

Ce ne serait méme pas un prejudice pour les Musulmans de ces localités, ou Chrétiens et Musulmans fraterniseraient bien vite si on substituait a ce régime inepte, qui pése a peu près autant sur les uns que sur ies autres, le respect des droits et une administration plus régulière.

Voici les limites de la partie de l’Arménie qui pourrait être sournise au regime autonome: La ligne de demarcation commencerait.à un point du littoral de Ia Mer Noire,

près Ia bouche du Khalys, entre Samsoun et Kerassonde, de là remontant Ia vallée de Chalkairla,jusqu’a Gumudu Hané, se diriger au sud et atteindre l’Euphrate a Eguine; puis en suivant le cours de Ce fleuvejusqu’a Biredjek se diriger vers l’est entre Afu et Harru, laissant au nord Ia province de Diarbekir, et passant enfin par Merdine longer Ia crete des Monts Djoudid, et s’arrêter aux confins du Royaume de Perse.

F. 0. 424/69, p. 55-56, No. 107/1

Continuing to determine who are real oppressors /murderers of Ottoman Armenians

According to Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians, about a hundred years ago, Turks staged a genocide in Eastern and Southern East Anatolia, to purge Armenians, causing a death toll of 1.5 million Armenians.

Despite when they were asked of whereabouts of mass graves, concentration camps, etc. which are telltale signs of a genocide, they could not show any, they are insisting on the claim that Turks barbarously murdered their ancestors.

Despite so-called genocide took place in 1915, they prefer blaming Republic of Turkey, which was founded in 1923 not only as a result of a liberation war against imperialist west but also as a revolt against Ottoman Sultanate.

This is just like blaming USA for Opium Wars or Invasion of India, things that were actually done by Britain.

Despite Armenians were at the very heart of Ottoman Society, they were our doctors, tailors, jewelerers, state mint managers, they were only millet (nation) who were granted to be in the state service without being converting to Islam, as a devshirme, and even rose to the ranks of pashas, had their own official public rank of amiralik (emiratehood), suddenly bloodthirsty Turks were started massacring (sic.) Armenians.

Or were actually Armenians and Turks on quite good terms and Turks were providing every possible protection they may afford under war conditions to Armenians?

Were Armenians really be murdered in an attempt to eradicate them? If they were, by whom?

Of course anybody who opposes Dashnak Armenians' claims is automatically a Turkish agent, a self hating (sic.) Jew/ Georgian or a denialist who received blood money from Turks, or any other name they may invent to call.

In this fashion, they are trying to preclude exercise of self-defense in a trial, which is one of the most fundamental rights, even made available to the greatest butchers of the history.

While Armenian revolt took place, Ottoman Empire was semi-colony of Britain and several British consulates were all around the country. Since Britain was trying to secure her interests, they were closely observing the entire country and producing reports about the events taking place.

And strangely enough, either these British consular officers are Turkish agents, or self-hating Jews or denialists who received blood money from Turks, they failed to observe such alleged massacres staged by Turks on Armenian population but rather did observe the excesses were being staged by lawless Kurds, as they call it.

Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.

No More Discrimination.

No. 34

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

My Lord,

THERAPIA, July 24, 1877.

(Received August 1.)

THE Armenian Patriarch called upon me this morning to speak to me with reference to the condition of his community in the Pashalic of Van, and to the
excesses which had been committed upon Armenian villages by the Kurds.

Amongst other things, he stated to me that he had inquired from the Armenian Bishop of Erzeroum whether the reports as to the ill-treatment of the head of the Armenian church at Utchkilissah by the Russians were true. The answer that he had received was, that they had been entirely confirmed. The Archimandrite of that place, who exercised archiepiscopal functions, had been “garotted” and carried off by the Russians, because he had refused to call upon the Armenians to rise against the Sultan; the Armenian monastery had been burnt, and a valuable collection of Armenian ecclesiastical MSS. belonging to it removed or destroyed. The Patriarch added that these outrages had more than ever indisposed the Armenians to join and sympathize with Russia, and it was for the Porte to take advantage of the feelings which they had caused amongst the Armenians, by giving them protection against the Kurds and others who might, out of fanaticism, be disposed to molest them.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

Turkey No 1 (1878), p. 101, No 143

No. 36

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

My Lord,

THERAPIA, August 6, 1877.

(Received August 15.)

I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of the instructions which I have given to Mr. Rassam for his direction in the performance of the mission entrusted to him, and which, I trust, will meet with your Lordship’s approval.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

Turkey No. 1 (1878), p. 137 No. 197

Inclosure in No. 36

Mr. Layard to Mr. Rassam.

Sir,	THERAPIA, August 6, 1877.

YOU will proceed by the steamer leaving Constantinople on Wednesday next to Alexandretta and from there to Diarbekir. The object of your mission is to ascertain the condition of the Christian tribes and communities in Kurdistan, and to report to me fully upon it, for the information of Her Majesty’s Government.

There is reason to believe that the Nestorians in the mountain districts of Turkish Kurdistan are again threatened by the Kurds, and that unless some measures be taken for their protection, they will be exposed to invasion and to its lamentable consequences. The Porte has, on my representations, sent
instructions on this subject to the Vali of Diarbekir. You will ascertain whether his Excellency has done anything in the matter, and whether the threatened danger has been avoided. If you should find it necessary to proceed to the Nestorian valleys to make enquiries on the spot, you are authorized to do so and to take any steps which you properly can for the protection of their inhabitants, in communication with the Turkish authorities, with whom you will endeavour to maintain a good understanding. Your intimate acquaitance and influence with the heads of the Nestorian community will enable you to advise and direct them, and to contribute to the establishment of friendly relations between them and their Mussulman rulers.

It would appear that Kurdish tribes belonging to Persia as well as to Turkey have recently committed great excesses in the Pashalik of Van, especially upon the Armenian population. You may be able to learn at Diarbekir how far the reports that have reached me as to the great destruction of Christian life and property by these marauders are well founded; but if you think it necessary, you may visit Van, Bitlis, Moush, and other places to obtain full information. You have been furnished with letters to the Armenian Bishops and notables by their Patriarchal representative at
Constantinople, which will enable you to ascertain upon trustworthy authority what has really taken place. You will report to me fully on the subject, as well as upon the conduct of those whose duty it was to protect the populations from the outrages to which they appear to have been exposed.

After you have fulfilled your mission in Kurdistan you will proceed to Mosul, where you are to resume the Assyrian excavations for the Trustees of the British Museum. When there you will inquire and report to me on the condition of the Jacobite or Syrian Christians, and you will let me know whether the Firman issued by the Porte for the restoration to them of their churches has been put into execution, and what other measures may be required for the protection of this ancient sect.

You will bring to the notice of the Turkish authorities the grievances and wrongs from which the Christian communities, into whose condition it will be your duty to inquire, may suffer, and you will endeavour to obtain for them proper protection and redress. You will, however, be specially careful in performing your mission not to excite the suspicions or jealousy of those authorities, or to furnish any legitimate cause of complaint to them against you. You will endeavour to make them understand that it is in the interests of Turkey herself that the various Christian populations under the Sultan’s rule should be justly governed, and should receive the fullest protection for their lives and property.
Such is the humane and enlightened wish expressed to me by the Sultan himself. In calling the attention of the Turkish Government in a friendly and impartial spirit to the wrongs and complaints of His Majesty’s Christian subjects, Her Majesty’s Government is giving a proof of its earnest desire for the welfare of Turkey.

I transmit to you an Imperial Firman and four Vizirial letters, in which you are warmly recommended to the authorities, and which will enable you, I trust, to discharge your mission to the satisfaction of Her Majesty’s Government.

In conclusion I have to impress upon you strongly the importance of obtaining, as far as possible, trustworthy information, and to avoid accepting as such those exaggerated and frequently unfounded rumours which invariably prevail when excesses such as those into which you are about to inquire have been committed, or great alarms and panics exist. Your knowledge of the country and people will, no doubt, enable you to distinguish between what is true and what is not.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

Turkey. No. 1 (1878) p. 137-138, No. 197/1

No. 37

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

My Lord,

THERAPIA, August 8, 1877.

(Received August 15.)

I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from Her Majesty’s Consul at Erzeroum respecting the state of Bitlis.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

Turkey No. 1 (1878), p. 149, No. 204

Inclosure i in No. 37

Consul Zohrab to Mr. Layard.

Sir,	ERZEROOM, July 28, 1877.

I HAVE the honour to inclose an extract from a letter received here from an American missionary, dated Bitlis, 11th July, in which an improved state of affairs is reported as existing in that town consequent on strict orders from Constantinople to the Lieutenant-Governor of Moosh, in whose jurisdiction Bitlis lies, to visit that town and re-establish order.

The account given by my correspondent of the rascality of the Koords bears out but too well what I have often stated in my reports, that they are of no use to the Government for war purposes.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. ZOHRAB.

Turkey No 1 (1878), p. 149 No. 204/1

Inclosure 2 in No. 37

Extract of a Letter from an American
Missionary at Bitlis.

July 11, 1877

YOU may have seen months ago in print a statement that a Koordish Sheikh was going to furnish the Turkish Goverment with 20,000 men. That was a ruse. That Sheikh lives some eleven hours south-east from here, and we have seen him parading by our windows with his straggling unarmed followers. I am told, as a fact, that he went to Van with a few hundred men, and offered their services to the Government; the latter furnished them with 8oo rifles, and the Shiekh, instead of going to the front to fight, retreated with his booty, secured from the Government, to his own home, plundering the Christian villages as he went.

The representations by our Christians of the oppression from the Koords has had the effect of securing an order from Constantinople to the Moosh Mutessarif Pasha to come here. He arrived here yesterday. A marked change is apparent. While we heard the report of a hundred or more guns, giving the alarm of approaching plunderers, the night before he came last night we did not hear one. I have just returned from making him a friendly call, during which he assured me that he should put a stop to the plundering of the four Koordish tribes by which we have been infested.

I found the markets and shops open, and as busy as a swarm of bees. For five weeks they have been closed.

We now hope for more quiet times.

Turkey No 1 (1878), p. 150, No. 204/2

No. 38

Consul Zohrab to the Earl of Derby.

(Extract.)

ERZEROOM August 21, 1877.

(Received September 12.)

I HAVE received further details of the late massacre of Christians by Kurds at Bayazid. A Protestant Armenian residing at Van, who was for several years attached to this Consulate, writes to me under date July 30, as follows: “From friends of mine who have recently returned from Bayazid I have positive statements that 480 persons were murdered, and that 340 boys, girls, and young women were carried away captive for their base purposes. These were not all from the city, but in art from the surrounding region.”

The number of victims here given is, I believe, accurate, as it coincides with the results given me by Captain McCalmont, and also by an Armenian who was in Bayazid during the massacre.

It appears that several Turks of Bayazid took into their houses many Christians, and protected them from the fury of the Kurds. This was done in return for the Christians having taken under their protection the property of the Mussulmans who, on the approach of the Russians, feared they would be robbed and maltreated. Some of these Mussulmans, I am told fell victims to their humanity; but the more influential ones were able to overawe the Kurds, and these, four or five days after the massacre, escorted the Christians to Faik Pasha’s camp, where they were well received and cared for. From the camp the Christians went to Makoo, in Persia, where the Persian authorities gave them shelter.

Subscriptions are being made here for the sufferers at Makoo.

Turkey No. 1 (1878), p. 287, No. 318

No. 40

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

My Lord,

THERAPIA, August 27, 1877.

(Received September 6.)

MONSEIGNEUR HASSOUN, the Patriarch of the Catholic Armenian community, called upon me two days ago; and in the course of conversation mentioned the kind treatment which the Catholics in Armenia had received from Mukhtar Pasha, and the protection that his Excellency had afforded them against the Koords. His Holiness expressed himself very grateful to Mukhtar Pasha and the Porte for what they had done for his flock, adding that the time would come when he would be able to show his gratitude in a manner which might be serviceable to the Turkish Government.

I was struck by what Monseigneur Hassoun told me; and I thought it but fair to Mukhtar Pasha, and to the regular troops under his orders, who have been indiscriminately accused of the outrages committed by the Koords, that I should report his Holiness’ words to your Lordship. I accordingly requested the Patriarch to put what he had said to me in writing. This he at once expressed his readiness to do, and he has sent me the inclosed statement.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

Turkey No. 1 (1878), p. 265, No. 297

Inclosure in No. 40

Quotations from Letter of Armenian
Bishop to Monseigneur Hassoun.

MONSEIGNEUR STEFAN MELKISEDEK, Evéque, Arménien Cat holique d’Erzeroum, après avoir exposé dans ses lettres des 14, 17, et 21 Juillet (v. s.), 1877, adressées a sa Révérence Monseigneur Hassoun comme quoi les Kurdes, aprés la retraite des Russes des provinces Arméniennes, avaient pillé et incendié plusieurs villages Chrétiens de ce district, parmi lesquels se trouvaient aussi quelques villages habités par des Arméniens Catholiques, ajoute a dire qu’il doit rendre justice aux troupes réguliéres Ottomanes et a la vigilance surtout de son Excellence Ahmet Moukhtar Pacha et Ismail Pacha; ii écrit que partout oü les troupes régulieres Ottomanes se sont presentées, le désordre a cessé, et les actes de barbarie des Kurdes ont été réprimés; il ajoute a dire aussi que, grace aux ordres donnés par les susdits généraux et fidèlement exécutés par les officiers subalternes, une bonne partie des objets, effets, animaux, &c., que les Kurdes avaient enlevés aux.villages surtout de Molla-Suleyman et Eritzon, habités par les Arméniens Catholiques,
ont été retrouvés et restitués a leurs propriétaires et que les recherches continuaient très-activement pour le recouvrement des autres objets et effets enlevés par les Kurdes, et que cette attitude des autorités réguliéres avait produit un excellent effet. II declare en particulier que si l’energie d’Ismail Pacha n’avait pas réprimé en temps utile l’audace des Kurdes, ceux-ci
auraient fini par exterminer les Chrétiens des provinces de Bayazid Ct d’Alachgherd.

Le méme Eveque, dans sa susdite lettre du 21 Juillet dernier (v. s. ), écrit que les Mufti d’Erzeroum et d’autres notabilités Musulmanes étant revenues a
Erzeroum aprèS avoir poursuivi l’ennemijusqu’à Bayazid, avaient remarqué que tous les Arméniens Catholiques étaient demeurés fidèles et fermement attaches aux ordres du Gouvernement, et qu’aucun d’eux n’avait quitté le territoire Ottoman.

C’est pourquoi le dit Mufti, et les notabilités Musulmanes, adressaient des vifs remercirnents au susdit Evêque pour l’inaltérable dévoüment des Catholiques au Trône de Sa Majeste le Sultan, soit en Arménie soit dans toutes les autres provinces de la Turquie, et a haute voix us se déclaraient
riationalement obliges au Saint Père pour ses sympathies manifestées en faveur de la cause Ottomane, et pour les prescriptions adressées a plusieurs reprises aux Catholiques de 1’ Empire Ottoman de ne pas se départir des obligations de soumission a I’autorité du Sultan.

(Translation.)

MONSEIGNEUR STEFAN MELCHESIDEK, Bishop, Armenian Catho lic ofErzerourn, having set forth in his letters of the I 4 17th, and 21St ofJuly (o. s. ), 1877, addressed to his Reverence Monseigneur Hassoun how that the Kurds, after the retreat of the Russians from the Armenian Provinces, had pillaged and burned several Christian villages in this district, among which were also some villages inhabited by some Armenian Catholics, states in addition that he ought to render justice to the regular Ottoman troops, and above all to the vigilance of his Excellency Ahmet Moukhtar Pasha and Ismail Pasha; he writes that everywhere where the regular Ottoman troops presented themselves disorders ceased, and the acts of barbarity on the part of the Kurds were repressed; he also adds that, thanks to the orders given by the above-named Generals, and which have been faithfully executed by the subaltern officers, a large proportion of objects, effects, animals, &c., that the Kurds had carried from the villages, especially of Molla-Suleyman and Eritzon, inhabited by Armenian Catholics, were recovered and restored to their proprietors, and that very active, search was being made for the recovery of the other objects and effects taken away by the Kurds, the attitude of the regular authorities in this respect having had an excellent effect. He declares, in particular, that had not the energy of Ismail Pasha repressed the boldness of the Kurds in time, they would have ended by exterminating the Christians in the Provinces of Bayazid and Alachgherd.

The same Bishop, in his above-named letter of the 21 stJuly last (o. s. ), writes that the Mufti of Erzeroum, and other Mussulman notabilities, on their return to Erzeroum, after pursuing the enemy as far as Bayazid, had remarked that all the Armenian Catholics had remained faithful and firmly attached to the orders of the Government, and that not one of them had quitted the Ottoman territory.

For this reason the said Mufti and the Mussulman notabilities addressed their hearty thanks to the said Bishop for the steadfast attachment of the Catholics to the Throne of His Majesty the Sultan, alike in Armenia and all other provinces of Turkey, and they loudly proclaim their obligations as a nation to the Holy Father for the sympathy he has manifested on behalf of the
Ottoman cause, and for the injunctions issued on several occasions to the Catholics of the Ottoman Empire not to fail in their obligations of submission to the authority of the Sultan.

Turkey No. 1 (1878), p. 265-266, No. 297/1

No. 41

Consul Abbott to the Earl of Derby.

No. 21

My Lord,

TABREEZ, October 5, 1877.

(Received November 15.)

I HAVE the honour to report to your Lordship that my Turkish colleague, Behdjet Effendi, has communicated to me a telegram addressed to him by the Ottoman Chargé d’Affaires at Tehran, stating that the Persian Ambassador at Constantinople had informed the Porte that the Azerbijan authorities had recovered the whole of the property plundered some months ago by Persian Kurds from the Ottoman district of Albakh, and had restored the same to the Turkish Armenians who were the victims of those depredations. In the same telegram, the Chargé d’Affaires inquires of Behdjet Effendi how far he can corroborate the Persian Ambassador’s statement in this respect.

Before answering this communication, my colleague was desirous to ascertain whether the information received by me on this point tallied with the reports which had reached him, to the effect that a very small portion of such plunder had been restored to its owners.

To this I replied in the affirmative, and added that I further regretted to say that the Persian Kurds who had plundered the property in question, brought the bulk of it afterwards to Persian territory and sold it there by public auction; and that I had reported these facts to the proper quarters.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WILLIAM G. ABBOTT.

F. 0. 424/62. p. 79, No. 129

No.43

Mr. Layard to the Earl of Derby.

No. 1341

My Lord,

THERAPIA, November 14, 1877.

(Received November 23)

I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of an interesting report from Mr. Rassam. The state to which the country he has visited has been reduced in consequence of the Russian invasion, the robberies and murders committed by the savage and lawless Kurds, whom the Turkish authorities have no longer the means to restrain, the devastated fields and ruined villages, is truly deplorable. I have received a private letter from Mr. Rassam, dated the 22nd, also from Van. He had been doing his best to induce the authorities to take some measures to put an end to the anarchy which is reigning on all sides and to protect the peaceable and defenceless inhabitants, Christians and Mussulmans, from the excesses of the Kurds. The Governors of Van and Diarbekir are desirous of doing so, and Mr. Rassam writes highly of their good intention; but they seem powerless to act, all the regular military force having been sent to the seat of war.

Mr. Rassam was about to leave Van for the Kurdish mountains and Nestorian districts.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. O. 424/62, . 142, No. 245

Inclosure in No. 43

Mr. Rassam to Mr. Layard

Sir,	VAN, October 15, 1877.

I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that I arrived here from Diarbekir on the 6th instant, after having visited the districts of Suart, Bitlis, and Moosh. Through the whole of my journey I heard the same general  complaint made by the different Christian communities of the oppression and maladministration of the local authorities, and the unchecked lawlessness of the Kurds.

After making some allowance for the exaggerated reports regarding the sufferings of the Christian population in the vilayets of Diarbekir and Van, it cannot be denied that a good deal of misery has been caused in these parts from want of proper protection to life and property. The apathy and weakness of the local authorities, and the corruption of the collectors of taxes in the districts, have been the main cause of the present troubles.

It seems that the Kurds, especially that part of them of the nomadic  tribes, have never been properly brought under subjection, and, as a matter of course, as soon as they found they could exact what they liked with impunity from those Christians who are in their power, they did so without caring about the consequences. From all I have heard and seen, all the highland Kurdish tribes, from Diabekir to Solaimania, are more or less unmanageable. They not only refuse to pay any taxes, or conform to the law of conscription, but they plunder and kill at their pleasure, and anyone who dares to deny them anything, he is sure to lose his life and property. I must, however, not omit to mention that, in many instances which came to my notice during my travels, Mahommedans suffered as well as Christians from the ravages of the Kurds.
The Rushkootan, Sheikh Dodan, the Sasoun and Mootku tribes, who inhabit the mountains between Diarbekir and Moosh, spare neither Christian nor Mahommedan; and while I was in the Pashalic of Diarbekir, no less than three Mahommedan Chiefs were murdered by these robbers for the sake of their property.

A few days before I passed through the disturbed districts under the power of the Rushkootan tribe, no less than forty-five peaceful Kurds were killed in cold blood by these rebels on account of a petty dispute about a gun! The fear of these lawless tribes was such that a number of Christian villagers were deserting their homes and taking refuge in a more secure locality. Even some of the peaceful Mahommedan peasants assured me that, between the exactions of the local authorities, and the inroads of the mountain Kurdish tribes, they were quite ruined, and they declared that, unless their Government took proper steps to remedy the evil, they would be compelled to fly the country.

For the last eight or ten months both the Governors-General of Diarbekir and Van have had no proper troops to enable them to put down Kurdish excesses. They had merely to depend upon the assistance of the local police, who, in many instances, proved of great impediment rather than help. They themselves are very often at the bottom of the robberies committed, and indirectly encourage thefts and burglary. I have been told by a number of Mahommedans, whether Turks, Kurds, or Arabs, that both the zaptiehs and Circassians were known to plunder on the highway when they found an opportunity to do so without being found out; and as these local police are allowed to press baggage horses and mules for carrying provisions to the seat of war, they very often use this privilege to their advantage. Both the foot and mounted police are so badly paid, that it is quite impossible for them to live on what they legitimately get; the consequence is, as soon as they find an opportunity, they try to reimburse themselves by extortion and dishonesty. It is quite impossible that this unhappy state of affairs can be remedied without a proper administration of the local police, especially with regard to their pay and allowances. Naturally, the weakest must suffer when there is no proper protection to life and property and as the Christians in these parts are quite helpless, the greatest weight of the oppression falls upon them.

Doubtless the peaceful inhabitants in the Pashalics of Diarbekir and Van are in a deplorable condition, both as regards the provisions and other perquisites they have to supply to the garrisons of Kars and Bayazid, and also as to the rapine and murder committed by the ruthless and fanatical Kurds. If
matters go on much longer as they have been going on for the last few months there is no knowing what further calamities might yet befall the Christians of this country, who are hemmed in by savage Kurds and other fanatical Moslems.

This iniquitous war has spread woe and desolation in many a peaceful village, and if the Kurdish blood-thirstedness is not put a stop to at once, and the peasants are not better protected, the prospect of the poor Christians, and even the peaceful Mahommedans, while the war lasts, is far from cheering.

Both Abder-Rahman Pasha, the Governor-General of Diarbekir, and Hasan Pasha, the Governor-General of Van, have assured me that nothing would be wanting on their part to ameliorate the condition of all the Christian communities in their Pashalics; and as both have now a few companies of regular troops under their command it is to be hoped that they would be able to restore order and tranquility in their provinces before winter.

From all the inquiries I have made I find that the state of serfdom in the Kurdistan mountains has never been quite abolished, but, on the contrary, in some of the inaccessible mountain fastnesses Christian villages with their inhabitants have even lately been bartered for and sold by their Beys and Aghas, as if they had been their own slaves, and any man who dares to change his habitation to another village during this tenure would be sure to meet with his death. I was told by some Kurdish Chiefs that this old feudal law is practised even on Moslem villages whose inhabitants happen to be of the peasant class.

In the lowlands, especially in the plains of Bitlis and Moosh, the Christians complain of the constant arbitrary demands of their Mahommedan neighbours, who are continually exacting from them what they require of provisions and other perquisites, and if their orders are not complied with they will either punish them themselves by incendiary or robbery, or incite some Kurdish brigands to do the needful for them.

It seems that the Tanzumat and local Councils have done more harm in this country, where life and property are of no value than any mal-administration of the local authorities. The Tanzumat is not of the least use to the peaceful inhabitants, but it has proved a great shelter to the wrong-doers under which they escape just punishment; and as for the local Councils they are totally useless, and both Mahommedans and Christians admit that the members of these tribunals sit either as a nonentity or to make use of their influence for mischief and to enrich themselves by bribery.
I have been assured by both Mahommedans and Christians, and even by those who are connected with the public service, that a good deal of the Kurdish wickedness is encouraged by some members of these Councils, and whenever the authorities want to send a force to coerce a certain rebellious tribe some friendly member of the Medjlis sends a warning to them to run away or to prepare themselves for resistance. It is very extraordinary that this is the common opinion in every town, and it is not a little shared by the local authorities themselves.

The general complaint of the high local authorities is that they have no power left them to punish criminals summarily, and as it often happens that a murderer or robber when brought to trial gets acquitted by means of false
evidence or through the threat df vengence by his accomplice.

On several occasions when Christians complained to me regarding the miscarriage of justice in their individual cases, and I found that the Christian members of their local Councils were a party to the decision given, those very members told me without the least shame that they were induced to set their hands and seals to the verdict or warrant given either through fear or for private consideration.

With this unhappy state of affairs, your Excellency can well judge how difficult it is to learn the truth of any grievance reported. On many occasions when I represented to the different authorities, both in this Pashalic and that of Diarbekir, some of the wrongs which were brought to my notice, they were not only denied, but 1 was assured that the Christians were to blame. Seeing that I have not come here to hold a court of inquiry and to find out on examination the facts of every individual complaint, it is quite impossible for me to say whose account is to be relied on most. There is no doubt that some of the Christians do exaggerate, and in some instances fabricate, stories to create sympathy; nevertheless, it cannot be doubted that the Christians in general are very badly treated by their more rude Moslem fellow-countrymen, especially, to the shame of former rulers, in the towns of Diarbekir, Suart, Bitlis, Moosh, and Van. They are constantly abused, maltreated, and beaten, and their religion execrated without their being able to obtain any proper redress.
Generally speaking, the Christians are afraid to complain, especially now when Mohammedan fanaticism is at its height; but when any individual has the pluck to go and complain to the authorities, he fails to obtain justice, either through the want of Mahommedan witnesses or through the inacceptance of Christian evidence.

I feel confident, however, that both Abder Rahman Pasha of Diarbekir, and Hasan Pasha of Van, will do their utmost to put down these abuses; but as they have honestly told me themselves, they have to be very cautious in suppressing with a strong hand this long-established evil when their country is engaged in the gigantic war with Russia. They are afraid lest by trying to be very severe they might increase the hatred of the Islam, and bring about greater misfortunes on the Christians, than what they now complain of.

Doubtless your Excellency has heard of the destruction by the fanatical Kurds of four Armenian districts in this Pashalic after the Russian troops evacuated them, viz., Alashguirt, Kara-Kilissa, Diadeen, and Bayazid. I am told that in the last-mentioned province, especially in Bayazid, the most awful atrocities were committed by the hordes of Kurds, who went to the jehad from the Jelow, Rawandaz, Solaimania, and other Kurdish districts. It is said that in some instances they spared neither man, woman, nor child and those of the women and children whom they did not kill they carried away as slaves to their different homes. On returning to their country these Kurds are said to have carried with them between 250 and 300 Armenian women and children, but as yet I have not found any clue to their whereabouts to demand them from the authorities. It may be that the wily Kurds, knowing that the Turkish authorities would not allow them to retain those unfortunate captives, have dispersed them amongst the Kurdish villages where no Christian can find them out. I shall try to find out in passing through that part of Kurdistan which lies between this and Mossul, whether any Christian captives do really exist amongst the tribes there; and as I intend to visit Ramandooz and Solaimania before I return home, I shall find out for myself whether in that part of Kurdistan any kidnapped women or children do really exist.

As a matter of course all the Kurds who went to the Jehad considered it to be their sacred duty to plunder and maltreat all the Christians that happened to be in their way, not caring whether they were the subjects of their Sultan ornot; and in these ravages the churches and monasteries suffered the most. The ruthless Kurds killed many an unfortunate Christian without any cause or reason, and violated women and girls when they had them in their power.

I am sorry to learn that the authorities are not on good terms with Mar Shamoun, because I am told, that for some time past he refused to come, as he usually did on former occasions, to pay his respects to the new Governor-General. Hassan Pasha, the Vali, informed me that the Nestorians, under Mar Shamoun, have riot paid their proper taxes for a long time, and now, especially, they have refused to pay anything at all. How far this is correct I shall not be able to find out until I pay Mar Shamoun my intended visit after I leave this place at the end of this week or the beginning of the next.

I have, &c.

(Signed) H. RASSAM.

F. 0.424/62, pp. 142-145, .No. 245/1