Situation in Erzurum after Russian Troops retreated.

The following correspondence from Vice-Consul Biliotti to Marquis of Salisbury, gives intelligence about the current situation in Erzurum after Russian Troops retreated. Oddly enough it does not state the atrocities which Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians claim that Turks incessantly perpetrated on Armenians, which (again they claim to have) culminated into a genocide in 1915.

Of course intelligence report indicates the usual threat of Kurds which are menace not only to Armenians but Moslems (i.e. Turks) (Mussulman as they say) too.

Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.

No. 87

Vice-Consul Biliotti to the Marquis of Salisbury,

My Lord,

TREBIZOND, September 13, 1878. (Received September 25.)

ON the information furnished by M. Gilbert, the French Consul at Erzeroum, who left that town on the 5 instant, I have forwarded this day to Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople the following telegram:

“French Consul arrived from Erzeroum reports that Russian troops were concentrated in town, whose evacuation was to begin on the 9 and end in a few days.”

The Russian troops quartered north of Erzeroum had arrived in that town before M. Gilbert’s departure. He was informed on the road by a Russian officer that news of the surrender of Batoum having reached the Commander-in-chief on Friday, orders had been given for the evacuation of the place to begin on the following Monday, the 9. It was expected that it would be ended in about ten days.

One-third of the Russian forces are to proceed to Kars, another third to remain at Soghanli, and the rest to be quartered along the new frontier.

Ismail Pasha, with whom M. Gilbert communicated at Baiburt, informed him that, being unwilling to treat personally with the Russians, he would delegate one of his Generals to take possession of Erzeroum.

Such of the Armenians who have compromised themselves by their conduct towards the Turks were expected to follow the Russians, who do not seem to encourage them to emigrate.

M. Gilbert does not entertain great fear for the safety of the Christians residing in towns, but he thinks that those living in the country may have to suffer at the hands of the Mussulmans, not, however, from a general persecution. Depredations from Kurds are the most serious danger, and all depends on the energy that the Turkish authorities will display.

M. Gilbert reports that after the withdrawal of the Russians from the districts north of Erzeroum, the rumour having spread that Christians had been massacred, two Russian battalions were sent back to protect the inhabitants. However, the Russian officer in command, whom M. Gilbert met returning to Erzeroum, informed him that no massacres had taken place, but that the Turks had threatened to compel the Armenians to divide with them the money which they had gained during the Russian occupation.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ALFRED BILIOTTI.

Turkey No. 53 (1878), p. 193, No. 204