Ottoman Government Sends Commissions to Inquire into Armenian Grievances

Ottoman Government Sends Commissions to Inquire into Armenian Grievances

Ottoman Government, which Dashnak (Nazi) Armenians claim to have staged a genocide on Armenians in 1915 and in relation with which Dashnak (Nazi) Armenians blame solely Turks and Republic of Turkey which was established in 1923, upon pressures of western powers due to incessant complaints of Armenian, decided to send commissions to Anatolia to inquire into complaints of Armenians. Commissions consisted of Armenians and Turkish officials of rank. Although denialist Sir Layard uses the word Armenia, he actually refers to eastern part of Anatolia which Armenians, despite being a few percent of the population, call it and western powers wish to be. Since Sir Layard pulls the names out of his noble ar*e, he uses Kurdistan for the same area in the next letter.

British consular functionaries pose their request to be included in such commission and Ottoman Government (which was called Porte back then) refuses such request since it will lead to the fact that the same privilege be requested by other foreign powers too. However, they silently green-light to unofficial attendance of British consular functionaries.

Sir Layard instruct another denialist Major Trotter to attend the commission unofficially.

Another aspect of these letters, despite in an attempt to demonize Turks, Dashnak (Nazi) Armenians claim that Turks (actually Ottomans) always persecuted them, they lived in misery, the letters clearly states the Armenian of the commission is high rank Armenians, a member of Council of State, which is the highest administrative court in the Ottoman Empire.

Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.

No More Discrimination

No. 152

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

No. 82.

Telegraphic.

CONSTANTINOPLE, February 3, 1879 (Received February 4.)

PORTE has determined to send two Commissions, each composed of a Turkish and Armenian official of rank to Armenia and Asia Minor, to inquire into, and report upon, the condition of the country and the grievances of the Christians, a step most urgently required.

It woult be very desirable that some one on our part should accompany each Commission. Porte would not consent officially, as other Powers might demand same, but would not, I have reason to believe, object, if the matter were kept quiet.

With your sanction I will instruct Major Trotter to accompany the Commission in Southern Kurdistan, and I would suggest that Lieutenant Chermside should be with the other. He is no longer wanted at Gallipoli, and he is very intelligent, and gets on well with the people of the country. I know of nobody else equally qualified.

Russian Ambassador had addressed a note to the Porte, asking what has been and will be done with regard to Armenia in pursuance of stipulation of the Treaty of Berlin.

F. O. 424/80, p.32, No. 67

No. 153

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

No. 124.

My Lord,

CONSTANTINOPLE, February 3, 1879. (Received February 17.)

THE Porte is about to send two Commissions into the Eastern parts of Asia Minor, and to Kurdistan, to inquire into the condition of the country, and into the grievances of the Christians.

Each Commission will be composed of a Turkish and Armenian functionary, who are to have equal rank. One, I understand, will visit the northern Armenian and Kurdish districts included in the Vilayets of Erzeroum and Van; the other, the southern, in the Provinces of Diarbekir and Aleppo.

I have asked Haireddin Pasha whether he has any objection to one of Her Majesty’s Consuls, or some other person specially appointed by me, accompanying both Commissions.

His Highness said that he would not have the slightest objection to it; indeed that he should very much approve of it, were it not that he was afraid of furnishing a pretext to other Powers to demand the same privilege. There would then be international Commissions accompanying the Turkish Commissioners, which might lead to very serious complications. Caratheodory Pasha, to whom I spoke on the subject, made the same observation. He added that the Russians were already preparing the way for getting up an Armenian question, which would, no doubt, be used in the same way as the Bulgarian question had been, as Prince Labanoff had addressed a note to the Porte asking to be informed of the measures it had taken, and intended to take, to carry out the stipulations of the Treaty of Berlin with respect to the Armenians.

I fully admitted the force of these objections, but I suggested that, without receiving any official recognition or sanction from the Turkish Government, an English officer might, as a single traveller, occasionally accompany the Turkish Commisioners. Although his Excellency did not actually assent, I was led to believe that no difficulty would be made to what I proposed. I shall, therefore, with your Lordship’s approval, instruct Major Trotter to find himself with the Commission which may visit the Province of Diarbekir, without, however, claiming any official connection with it, and avoiding as much as possible putting himself forward. There is no one in Northern Armenia whom I could employ on a similar mission. I would venture, therefore, to suggest that Lieutenant Chermside, whose presence is no longer required at Gallipoli, might be sent upon it. He is exceedingly intelligent, and has now had considerable experience of Turkey and its populations, besides having the merit of getting on exceedingly well with the Turks. I know no one better qualified for the task.

It appears to me of very great importance that, if the Commissions are seriously to undertake the work on which they are sent, and are to receive and redress the grievances of the Christian populations, they should be accompanied, as far as possible, by an English officer. Otherwise the Armenians will be afraid of making their complaint, and the truth will be kept from the commissions, however desirous their members may be of arriving at it.

The Armenian Patriarch sent to tell me that he should not withdraw his resignation, which the Porte has hitherto declined to accept, unless I would undertake that a British member should be added to the Commissions. This I refused to do, but I told his Beatitude that I would take steps to watch their proceedings through a British functionary, and this has satified him for the present.

One of the Commissions is composed of Akif Pasha and Nourian Effendi, an Armenian and a Member of the Council of State. I have not yet learnt the names of the two members of the other.

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.

F. 0. 424/80, p. 265 - 266, No. 317