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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
