As many of you are aware (and bombarded by Turcophobe propaganda which is not only allowed but also actively supported by our Western friends (sic), allies (sic) and partners (sic) in their countries which were either stolen from natives of the territories after thoroughly exterminating them (in case of Americas, Australia) or being prospered by the virtue of riches stolen /extorted from poor nations through colonizing them and/or installing puppet governments therein (in case of Europeans), yet we are MONSTERS who staged genocide on this or that people(!!!!). How fair it is!...), despite there is no previous atrocities and hatred between Turks and Armenians, and Armenians being not only safe and sound in Ottoman territories but also became rich merchants, architects, even government functionaries even without having to convert to Islam and Turks and Armenians lived side by side for almost a millennium, according to Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians, Turks, out of blue, started a genocide campaign in 1915 and exterminated 1.5 million Armenian civilians in cold blood.
Strangest of all, despite Ottoman Empire was being called as a Turkish nation, since Ottomans always neglected ethnic Turks and never tried to educate them or train them to have this or that trade and art only remembered ethnic Turks when there is a war, the government officials were mostly devshirmes (i.e. converts) because most of the Turks were even unable to read and write at that time, no good for anything other than soldiery.
Even the name Turkey was coined by British so they make fun of dwindling Ottoman empire, by depicting a turkey (bird) was being slaughtered by western powers in the cartoons they publish on their daily papers. Despite the name of the region was Anatolia and political name of the territories was Memalik-i Osmaniye (i.e. Ottoman Territories), western powers were using several names for the same area, either Turkey, if something adverse shall be stated, or Kurdistan or Armenia if it was inure to their benefit to refer to area in question to as Kurdistan or Armenia, despite the Armenians were nothing but a few percent of the total population and Kurds were (and mostly still are) tribalistic nomads who are living on robbing other people.
Now the name “Turkey” was intentionally abused by Dashnak (i.e. Nazi) Armenians to depict as if the deportation which took place in 1915 during Ottoman era and represented as a genocide, was actually performed by Republic of Turkey, which was established in 1923 after a long and bloody liberation war not only against Western powers but also against Ottoman Empire (which shrunk to the size of Anatolia at that time) as a rebellion against Sultan.
Strangely, only Turks out of all nations (i.e. Arabs, Greeks, Circassians, Kurds, Albanians, etc.) consisting the Ottoman Empire in 1915, are solely responsible for this alleged genocide.
Moreover, as for the fact that Ottoman government was dominated not by ethnic Turks but devshirmes who despite seem nominal Moslems and acting for the sake of Moslems, were actually always harboring their ex-coreligionists.
İttihat ve Terakki Fırkası (Party of Union and Progress) was in power while adopting the deportation resolution in 1915. The cabinet established by this war-time government of İttihat ve Terakki Fırkası consisted of Sabetayists (a.k.a. Sabbatians, a Judeo-Moslem ethnic minority, followers of Sabetay Sevi (or Zvi in Hebrew)) Talat, Enver, Maliyeci Cavit, Doktor Nazım, etc. who were big guns and cabinet ministers of İttihat ve Terakki were all Sabetayists. Moreover there was an Armenian minister (Nubar Pasha) in the cabinet too. The Ottoman army's general staff was a German General, called “BRONSART VON SCHELLENDORF”. Almost all top level commanders of Ottoman Army were German at that time, because Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and Germany were at war with Britain, France, Russia, Italy, et al., during WWI.
Apart from the debates as to whether or not a genocide took place, consider this:
1) Armenians are being persecuted by nomadic Kurds for several years,
2) Despite they are being protected by Ottoman Empire, they rebel against Ottoman Empire as honest (???) and faithful (???) people should do and
3) Instead of attacking government officials, police, soldiers, etc. just as a rebellion movement normallly do, they chose to attack civilian targets and try to create an ethnic war by staging attacks on Moslem (i.e. Turkish) families consisting of only women and children, whose men were off to war and thus unprotected sitting ducks, to induce retelliations by Moslems and thus intervention by Western Powers,
4) In response to this rebellion an Ottoman Empire's cabinet ministers consisting of entirely non-Turks, was adapting a resolution in 1915, to deport Armenians from the war zones,
5) The resolution was being executed by German Commanders,
6) The deportee convoys were being robbed by Kurdish bandits during their travels and
7) I, an ethnic Turk, being citizen of Republic of Turkey which was established in 1923, is responsible for this!... YOU SHOULD BE KIDDING OR ON PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS OR YOU ARE SIMPLY A TURCOPHOBE, HAVING PREJUDICE AGAINST AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TURKS.
If I, as a citizen of Republic of Turkey, which was established in 1923. must assume responsibility for so-called genocide of Armenians of 1915, then American natives must assume responsibility for liberation and civilizing of India (any invasions by westerners leading to massacres of millions are liberation or civilizing of that nation, nothing else), or Australian aborigines, opium wars.
Or White Americans must assume responsibility for atroticities committed by Stalin in USSR during the great purge!...
The following correspondence were shedding some light on the state of affairs in the areas where Armenian population is higher than the rest of Anatolia. Despite the authors of the correspondence show the courtesy of using the real name of the area i.e. Anatolia, he also continues using such name as Armenia, Kurdistan etc., according to his convenience.
These correspondence are important not only since it sheds some light on the state of affairs, but also clearly indicates Ottoman Authorities did their best to protect non-Moslems of the Eastern and South Eastern Anatolia from the atrocities of Kurds.
The correspondence also indicate that the Armenians who now represent themselves as the innocent victims of a genocide, were abusing Moslem population during Russian invasion. The correspondence also indicates involvement of Armenian Priests in rebellious movements.
Anyway read yourself and let the truth be told.
No More Discrimination.
No. 113
Vice-Consul Biliotti to the Marquis of Salisbury.
(Extract.) | TREBIZOND, November 4, 1878. (Received 1V 19.) |
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a letter from Mr. Cole dated the 3oth ultimo, and giving the latest intelligence from Erzeroum.
Mr. Cole conveys the gratifying intelligence of the important innovation of convicting Mussulmans on the simple testimony of Christians.
It is to be hoped that this satisfactory state of things will not only continue, but also improve, especially by the presence of an English officer at Erzeroum.
A letter dated the 3 ultimo, from another source at Erzeroum, informs me that all the Koordistan is in open revolt. The last news was that the Koords between Diarbekir and Sert had carried away 9,000 sheep and numerous other cattle, and had pushed so far as the town of Bitlis.
The Dersim region continues to be surrounded by twenty Turkish battalions, but it is said that their inaction paralyses all the influence of the civil authorities, and encourages the Koords.
It is also reported to me, as coming from trustworthy sources, that the Russians have concentrated a rather large body of troops close to the Persian frontier towards Erivan.
Six pieces of 18 centim., and eight of 15 centim., lately received from Russia, have been added to the armament of Kars.
Turkey No. 54 (1878), p. 209-210, No. 242
Inclosure in No. 113
Mr. Cole to Vice-Consul Biliotti.
Sir, | ERZEROUM, October 30, 1878. |
YOU ask after the Dersim region: that rebellion is pretty much crushed out, from all I can learn for the present.
Things are still moving on here with tolerable quiet. I had an invitation from Moossa Pasha the other day to meet him at the seraglio, in connection with the Bishops and a few other leading men from the Christian communities.
The object of the meeting was to ask if we thought there was no demand for a special military council, as in time of war, for the sake of security to Christians against danger of a massacre.
The reply was given that there seemed no demand for such a council at present, though there had been very serious disturbances in the past. The Pasha did not dispute it in regard to the past, but seemed much pleased that his vigilance at the present time was appreciated, and that no need for the new Court was felt.
To have decided there was a need for such would have been to draw a breach between the Turks and Christians, and wrongfully, as the life and property of the latter seems safe enough in the city at the present time.
In a trial where the Turks were involved they were convicted on the simple testimony of Christians, which is a look in the right direction.
The military force this way is small, but quite large enough if the Government can’t keep them better. Poor poverty-stricken creatures are the soldiers; hence, not a little oppressive foraging in villages here and there, and clamouring for bakhshishes.
The order went out some time since to turn back all that turned towards Russia without a teskéré.
From personal observation in the late tour I did not see any turned back, only so far as for the impoverished zaptié to get his bakhshish, larger or smaller, as the case might be.
No serious cases to report from the villages, though petty oppressions occur here and there.
Times very bad here.
Such stagnation in business and very high prices gives a serious look again for this winter.
All Armenians in Bayazid, as a helper of ours who was there not long since says, come back from Russia, but are in great poverty.
(Signed) R. M. COLE.
Turkey Yo. 54 (1878), p. 210, No. 242/1
No. 114
Vice-Consul Biliotti to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 157. Political. . (B. B.)
My Lord, | TREBIZOND, November 8, 1878 (Received .November 25.) |
THE question of appointing an Armenian as Governor-General at Erzeroum having been raised some time since, I take the liberty to submit respectfully a few observations on the subject.
If, notwithstanding that the Armenians are everywhere in Anatolia in minority, a Christian Governor is to be nominated, the last place to be fixed for his residence is Erzeroum, which will become by that fact, and owing to its proximity to the frontier, the focus of Russian intrigue.
But the appointment in question at Erzeroum, or elsewhere, besides not gratifying to their full extent the wishes of the Armenians, is not likely to promote their welfare in the least.
in their present mood nothing short of the creation of an independent Principality will satisfy them, and this is not likely to take place at present.
However, this important change would, perhaps, be less injurious to British interests than the simple nomination of an Armenian as Governor-General.
Examined exclusively under the Armenian point of view, the question presents three possible cases.
1. The Porte may succeed in appointing a functionary devoted to its interests.
I have had no occasion to hear generally of the feelings of the Armenians on the subject, but having sounded a few years since on a similar question the Greek populations of the twelve Isles of the Sporades, forming the district of Rhodes, they, without exception, told me plainly that the nomination of Christians as Governors would be the worst service that could be rendered to them. They adduced as principal motive for their objection, that their co-religionists, in order to avoid suspicion from the Porte, would be less tolerant than the Mussulmans themselves, who, at all events, had no fear to be suspected to side with them. There is no motive to suppose, and the little that I have been able to gather on the subject tends to confirm this opinion, that the objection of the Greeks in the Archipelago does not apply as well to the Armenians in Anatolia.
2. The choice, by chance or influence from without, may fall on an Armenian only devoted to the interests of his countrymen.
But, owing to the Mussulmans forming by at least one-third the majority, and to the pressure which will be exercised on him by the other elements of the Turkish administration, he will be unable to promote the welfare of his countrymen.
They, being deluded in hopes impossible to realize at present, will find themselves more unhappy than before, and be deprived even of the satisfaction which they now enjoy, to complain of the maladministration of Mussulman functionaries.
3. It may also happen that the Armenian Governor-General be a Russian partizan, of whom there are but too many in the service of the Porte.
He may satisfy for a time in insignificant matters the wishes of his countrymen, but as he will be acting under the inspiration of his patrons, it can only be to the important detriment of all future prospects of emancipation of the Armenians as an independent nationality.
In no case, therefore, can real benefit accrue to them from the appointment at the present moment of one of their co-religionists as Governor-General, while the evils that may be the consequence of this nomination may have the most fatal issue in other respects.
It is essential for general British interests to introduce reforms in Anatolia, and in order to do so it is required that Great Britain should uphold her influence in Asia Minor.
The Mussulmans are clamouring as loudly as, and with more reason than, the Christians, for a better administration. In fact, the former have their respective ecclesiastical authorities, which are invested with civil power to assist them in their claims; they always find a Consul ready to protect them against, or represent to higher authorities, the abuses of which they may be the victims; they make their voices heard through newspapers to the world at large, and if they do not always obtain redress, they live in the hope that the list of accusations which they accumulate against their rulers will finally conduce to their emancipation.
The Mussulmans are in a far different and unenviable position. They can only apply for redress to the very authorities against which they have to complain; they are restrained by a sort of patriotism, or by religious fanaticism, from submitting their grievances against their own Government to foreigners; and with British Agents, in cases of flagrant injustice which may happen to come to their knowledge, Consuls never raise their voice in favour of oppressed Mussulmans; they are not in the habit to give publicity through the press to the abuses heaped upon them, and, if they did so, no heed would be taken of their complaints; finally, instead of a hopeful future, they see before them nothing but cause of discouragement and despair.
This I sincerely believe to be the situation in Anatolia.
If at this juncture a Christian be appointed Governor-General in Armenia, whether it be the result of British intervention or not, the Mussulmans, who now place all their confidence in England, will think, as they cannot doubt of her power, that she is as hostile to their race, land, and religion as Russia herself. Their feelings will be deeply wounded, and their present sympathy estranged by the belief that British intervention is only in favour of Christians.
By England thus losing her influence on the Mussulmans, who, as already stated, form in Anatolia the majority, and consequently the real strength of the country, no reforms are possible.
The Armenians, for whose benefit the measure would have been adopted, will be the first sufferers, while the Mussulmans will sink from discouragement to complete demoralization, and consequently lose those qualities which make of them so splendid soldiers. However, as, according to all probabilities, the Mussulman element in Anatolia is called to play a prominent part, by the side of England, in the struggle which some day or other is expected to take place between Great Britain and Russia, that element must be raised rather than lowered in its present standing, and to attain this end reforms are indispensable.
The Mussulmans may have lost their respect for the person of the Sultan, but they have nevertheless the same reverence as heretofore for the sacred authority which he represents. They will submit, as they have submitted hitherto, even when they were far from welcome to them, to all the orders issued by the Government; and they will accept reforms the more readily that they long themselves for an amelioration in the administration.
When those in power at Constantinople put forward the opposition to be met in the provinces, they simply shield themselves behind the populations in order to promote their own views.
No serious opposition is to be apprehended here, provided that the Central Government act honestly.
If anything is to be feared, and with reason, it is the general discontent and the disorders which prevail in consequence of maladministration.
An energetic Governor can overcome abuses and prejudices, even those based on fanaticism. An evident proof of my assertion is in the fact that Mussulmans have lately been convicted at Erzeroum on the simple testimony of Christians, a case without precedent in that quarter, and which was supposed to present the greatest difficulties.
Hovewer, before touching the existing institutions, it is essential that the Mussulmans should be convinced by facts that the reforms tend to the general good, and not only to favour the Christians.
This end can be attained by the elimination of incapable or corrupt officials from the service; by the strict distribution of justice in the local Courts; by the institution of a strong and well-paid police force; by the expenditure of a proportion of the taxes levied in the provinces toward the construction and maintenance of roads; by the promotion of all undertaking that may be calculated to develop the material resources of the country; in a word, by the very measures which Her Majesty’s Government has recommended the Porte to adopt.
When the Mussulmans will be convinced that these innovations tend to the general good, their domination on the Christians can be gradually and easily destroyed.
But it is hardly to be hoped that the reforms decided upon will be put into execution by functionaries who, in general, place their personal interest before that of their country, and who have all to lose and nothing to gain by an amelioration in the existing system. There may be, and there are, honest and energetic officials, but their number being limited their efforts in the right direction will continue to be thwarted. The real obstacle to reforms is the ill will of the majority of the governing class, and not in the opposition to be met in the populations.
Under these circumstances, unless carried out under the strong pressure of Great Britain, the projected innovations will remain a dead letter, and to be effective that pressure should be supported by a British force occupying Armenia, the other advantages of which occupation I have pointed out in a previous Report.
A province administered by British officers will offer such advantages to the Christian population that it is beyond doubt that Armenians will flock in, not only from other parts of the Ottoman Empire but also from Russia and Persia. They may in time form the majority of the inhabitants, or perhaps present, in a small body, an intellectual superiority which may compensate for the number.
An autonomous Armenia would then cease to be an Utopia, and should its creation be considered advisable, the scheme could be carried out without apprehension of any shock whatever.
If I have entered on a subject which is already out of question, or considered to be beyond my competence, I trust that your Lordship will pardon my having encroached on your most valuable time in consideration of my desire to fulfil what I conceived to be a duty.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALFRED BILIOTTI.
F. 0. 424/76, . 405-407, No. 554
No. 115
Consul Henderson to Sir A. H. Layard.
Sir, | ALEPPO, November 8, 1878. |
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that the insurgents of Zeitoun, awed by the strong military force sent to coerce them, accepted the terms offered to them by the Government, and perfect tranquillity was restored by the military commandant six weeks ago, and the troops being required elsewhere, were with drawn from the mountain. Omer Pasha, the Acting Governor-General, informs me that he has to-day received a telegram from Marash informing him that an Armenian priest had arrived at Zeitoun from Constantinople a few days ago, and that, incited by him, the whole district is again in revolt.
Three battalions of infantry are under orders to return to Zeitoun at once.
I have, &c.
(Signed) P. HENDERSON.
Turkey No 54 (1878), p. 293-294, No. 338/9
No. ii6
Captain Trotter, R. E., to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 2 Political.
My Lord, | ERZEROUM, .November 13, 1878. (Received December 7.) |
ALTHOUGH I have been only three days in Erzeroum, and am, therefore, hardly in a position to grasp the situation or give many details, I venture, in order to give what information I can by the present mail, to submit a few remarks upon the present state of the country. I may mention that I have already exchanged visits with all the local notabilities and the Consular officials, and have had long talks with many of them, so that I have had good opportunities of getting a general idea of the present state of affairs.
On my journey from Trebizond, in which I was favoured by unusually fine weather for this season of the year, I was pleased to observe visible signs of an improved condition of affairs as contrasted with what I saw on the same road a year ago, when leaving Erzeroum subsequent to Mukhtar Pasha’s defeat at Deveh Boyun; numerous houses along the road, then untenanted, windowless, and often roofless, were now repaired and inhabited; shops were opened, and seemed to be doing a good business.
This prosperity, however, is doubtless due to the recent Russian occupation of Erzeroum, which, while it lasted, caused an almost unprecedented traffic along the road. Since their departure trade is again slack. Rates of freight from Trebizond which at one time rose to nearly double the normal tariff, are now rapidly returning to former figures.
I fear that the impulse given to trade, however favourably it may have affected, the inn-keepers and others along the route, and certain Armenian merchants of Trebizond who have done an excellent business in brandy and spirits, has not had any effect on the population generally of the towns and villages near the road. Wherever I halted and made inquiries, people complained bitterly of heavy taxation and of the losses they had been subjected to for two years past from the constant passage and billeting of soldiers.
This evil they are not even yet freed from, as not a day passed but I met or overtook detachments of troops passing along, ill-clothed and ill-paid as of old. It has also been found necessary to billet troops permanently in many towns and villages, partly for the protection of the Christians, partly for the more economical keep of the troops in the matter of fuel, &c., and in some cases, as in the mountainous tracts in the neighbourhood of the Kop Pass, between Baiburt and Erzeroum, for the protection of the villages from the bands of robbers, from which, owing to these precautions, the country is tolerably free; although I regret to say that the day previous to my crossing the Wa-uk Pass (between Baiburt and Gumush Khana) a daring highway robbery was committed there by a band reported to consist of twenty-five horsemen, well mounted and armed. The mounted police force along the road, which consists of some three or four men, stationed at intervals of from ten to fifteen miles apart, is manifestly inadequate to deal with such a band as this, and while such exist it is absolutely necessary to keep strong parties of soldiers quartered about the country; and as long as these men remain unpaid and insufficiently rationed, the villagers must necessarily suffer.
The road between Trebizond and Erzeroum is, generally speaking, in fair order, and as far as travellers on horseback and pack animals are concerned, I have never known it in better order, but there are here and there occasional gaps caused by small bridges and culverts having been washed away, which a small expenditure of labour and material would remedy; but unless this is quickly supplied, the road will soon be impossible for wheeled traffic.
I shall take the earliset opportunity I have of calling the Pasha’s attention to the subject.
On the third day’s march from Erzeroum I encountered a large caravan of 300 camels from Persia.
In Erzeroum the state of affairs is, on the whole, satisfactory, certainly for more so than could reasonably have been expected. There is no doubt that during the Russian occupation several of the Armenians, who had been enrolled in the local police, took advantage of the opportunity to abuse and maltreat the Mussulmans. This has been admitted to me by the Russian Acting Vice-Consul, who told me he had had several Armenians flogged for doing so. When the time approached for the Russians to retire, threats of reprisals were freely uttered, and, as has already been reported by Her Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Trebizond, there was for some days prior to the Russian exodus, quite a panic amongst the Christian population. Most fortunately, however, no disturbances occurred then or since; feelings on both sides appear to have calmed down, and none of the Armenian or other authorities with whom I have conversed, appear to think that there is any danger of a popular outbreak. This happy state of things is unanimously attributed to the active exertions of the Turkish authorities, notably of Moussa Pasha, the Military Commandant (a Circassian by birth, and once a General in the Russian army; he commanded the Turkish irregular cavalry during the war). On calling on Moussa Pasha yesterday, and congratulating him on the effect of his exertions, he told me, with some bitterness, that he and his coadjutor (Munnir Pasha) had both been called “ghiaours” (infidels) for their pains.
In the large towns the presence of Turkish soldiery in garrison is looked on by the Christian inhabitants as a source of protection. It certainly is the case here, and at Baiburt, where the Christian population is only about one-fifth that of the Moslems, an influential Armenian told me that he attributed the order and safety that existed there entirely to the presence of a strong body of troops. I fear the same cannot be said of all the villages where small bodies of soldiers are quartered; so much depends on the officer in charge that in many cases, no doubt, considerable oppression takes place with but little hope of redress. With the exception, however, of the affair at Kodoorchoor, which has been reported on by the Vice-Consul at Trebizond, there does not appear to have been any serious breach of the peace in this part of the country, although isolated cases of ill-treatment undoubtedly occur frequently.
In the Alashgird Valley and towards Bayazid, all is reported quiet. Very large numbers of the Christian inhabitants of the valley followed the Russians across the frontier, probably between 2,000 Or 3,000 families, whilst, on the other hand, some 250, out of about 2,000 families who emigrated at the beginning of the war, have since returned. I have been visited since my arrival here by the Gregorian and Roman Catholic Archbishops, both of whom, as the Russian authorities here and at Kars, appear to have done all they could to discourage the emigration movement with such success, that not more than fifty families have emigrated from Erzeroum itself, and about the same number from the neighbourhood of Tortoun. In many cases the emigration was actually checked by force. This action of the Russians has been attributed in certain quarters to the worst possible motives, but I am of opinion on the contrary, that in this matter the Russians have been actuated by a bona fide desire to benefit the Armenians, and the Russian officials who have been most active in the matter, viz., General Lazaroff, at Kars; Major Kamsaragan, the late Acting Consul of Erzeroum, who held the post of Chief of Police during the Russian occupation; and Lieutenant Nicolosof, his assistant, are all three of them Armenians. On the other hand, at Bayarida, in the Alashgird, the late Governor (Arakeloff a pure Russian, is said to have encouraged the emigration with the results as previously stated.
I am told that in some villages the Roman Catholic Armenians did not wish to emigrate, but were compelled to do so as their neighbours, of the Gregorian persuasion, burned down their houses and stacks to compel them to join in a common emigration. At one village only, in the Alashgird Mullah Suleeman, the whole of the inhabitants remained behind, having been guaranteed protection by a neighbouring Kurdish Chief, Jumshed Agha, on whom, at the request of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, Ismail Pasha has conferred a decoration. Six villages are said to have been entirely abandoned.
General Lazaroff, now commanding at Kars, has assured the Armenian authorities here that he will send back the whole of the refugees in the spring. To do so now, at the beginning of winter, would be an act of barbarity.
I cannot get reliable information as to what is going on in the Dersim district, near Erzinjan. The Russian Consul told me to-day that although he had no authentic news, he was under the impression that a Turkish force of unknown, but of considerable strength, had penetrated into the interior of the mountains held by the insurgents, and had been cut off, and not heard of for some weeks. I can hardly credit the intelligence.
A weekly postal communication is now regularly established between Erzeroum and Trebizond, and relay of post-horses are stationed along the line.
The country between Erzeroum and Tabriz (Persia) is reported perfectly quiet; but no relays of post-horses exist, so that although the French and Persian couriers have both recently safely arrived, via the Bayazid route, they have been much delayed by having to ride the same horses throughout.
The Russians still continue to prohibit the exportation of wood from the Soghanli forests; but Major Gamsaragan (late Consul) told me to-day he was going to use his utmost efforts on his return to Kars (to which place he proceeds to morrow) to get the order rescinded. Thanks, however, to the continuance of unusually fine weather, the price of firewood, which, a few weeks ago, was as high as 400 piastres per cart-load, has now fallen to less than one-half that rate.
As far as I can learn, the Russians occupy the villages on their own side of the new frontier-line, and I have not heard any complaints of encroachment.
The Turkish Boundary Delimitation Commission left this for Kars before my arrival. No one here seems to know what progress is likely to be made with the delimitation before the winter sets in.
I must beg to apologize for the meagre matter and somewhat discursive manner of this despatch; but I thought it best, in the short time at my disposal, to give a general view of the situation rather than to enter into great detail upon any particular subject.
In conclusion, I would beg to observe (14 November) that no one with whom I have conversed here appears to be in any serious alarm as to future disturbances on a large scale, unless, indeed, following on a revolution in Constantinople. There is no doubt, however, that isolated outrages are constantly occurring in the province, and may be expected to occur throughout the winter. It will be my endeavour to impress on the Governor the necessity of punishing the guilty parties.
I would again venture prominently to bring to notice that Moussa Pasha is spoken of by all the Armenians and Russians with whom I have conversed—as well as by Mr. Cole, the American missionary—as being the right man in the right place; and it is sincerely to be hoped that he may be retained in the position he now holds.
It is also only fair to Ismail Hakki Pasha, the Governor, to say that he has well supported his subordinate, with whom he appears to be on the best of terms
I have, &c.
(Signed) HENRY TROTTER, Captain R. F.,
In charge of Erzeroum Consulate.
F. O. 424/77, pp. 48-50, .No. 114
Turkey No 54 (1878), p. 286-288, .No. 335
Turkey .No. 10 (1879), p. 1-3, No. I
No. 117
Captain Trotter, R. E., to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No.3
(Extract.) | ERZEROUM, .November 21, 1878. (Received December 10.) |
IT is with much pleasure that I have the honour to inform your Lordship that perfect order and quiet continue to reign in Erzeroum.
A few days prior to his departure, M. Obermuller (Russian Consul-General), in the course of a visit he was paying me, urged me to join him in pressing on the Governor the necessity of bringing into working order the Diwan-i-Harb, or Military Council, which I understand the Turkish Government had ordered to be constituted here.
Some weeks before my arrival at Erzeroum, Moussa Pasha summoned a meeting of the heads of the religious communities here (including, amongst other, Mr. Cole, the American Missionary, who may be looked upon as the head of the Protestant Armenians here); at the meeting the question was put as to whether those present were satisfied with the existing arrangements for the preservation of the public peace, or whether they considered that a special Military Council was necessary; I understand that all present replied that they were satisfied with the existing state of affairs, but declined to take on themselves the responsibility of advising the local authorities here to override the Sultan’s orders as to the formation of a special Military Council. Ismail Pasha, after this meeting, telegraphed to the Porte for further instructions, pending the receipt of which the Council has not yet been organized.
Not seeing any special reason for interfering in the matter, I declined the Consul-General’s proposition, on the grounds that I had not received any instructions from Her Majesty’s Government on the subject, and that there was certainly no immediate or pressing necessity for taking action, as there was most perfect tranquillity in the town and in the surrounding districts.
His Excellency the Governor informs me that orders have been sent for the repair of various portions of the Trebizond-Erzeroum road, to the state of which I had previously called his special attention.
His Excellency also informed me that it was not intended to place post-horses on the Erzeroum-Bayazid road until the spring. Until this be done there must be great delay in forwarding the Tehran post. I believe the last French courier took eighteen days from Tehran to Erzeroum.
It is very difficult to learn what is going on in the Dersim district, but the Defterdar informed me yesterday that seven battalions of Turks were stationed in different villages at the foot of the Dersim hills, at distances of from four to five hours apart. He gave me the names of five places where the troops were thus in quarters for the winter, but I can find none of the names on any of my maps. They are said to be south and south-east of Erzingan, at which latter place the greater portion of Dervish Pasha’s force is said to be located. There do not appear to be any active operations going on at present against the insurgents.
There is nothing to add to what I mentioned in my last despatch about the emigration of Armenians to Russian territory. The movement appears to have entirely ceased, and, on the other hand, a few families are said to have returned to their homes in the Alishgird Valley. The vast majority cannot possibly do this until the spring, as the emigrants generally destroyed, prior to their departure, all stocks of grain, fodder, &c., which they could not carry away with them.
Two meetings have been held here by the Armenians during the past week to take into consideration the call that the Sublime Porte has made on all good subjects to contribute, according to their means, their stores of caimé to the Public Treasury. At the first meeting the majority were of opinion that they had contributed during the war quite as much as could reasonably be expected of them. At the second meeting, however, the friends of the Government had the majority, and it was finally decided to take the matter into serious consideration, and, if possible, to arrange that the whole Armenian community should contribute, according to their means, on a scale to be hereafter determined.
F.O. 424/77, p. 133-134, No 191
Turkey No. 54 (1878), p. 299-300, .No. 347
Turkey No. 10 (1878), p. 3-4, .No. 2
No. 118
Sir A. H. Layard to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 1462
My Lord, | THERAPIA, .November 25, 1878. (Received December 7.) |
CONSUL HENDERSON, in his despatch to me No. 31 of the 14 instant, copy of which he has sent to your Lordship, states that Kiamil Pasha, the Vali of Aleppo, on his recent visit to Zeitoun, seized nineteen Christian women and brought them as prisoners to that city. 1 have brought this statement to the notice of Safvet Pasha, and have urged that measures should be taken to show the strongest disapproval of the Porte of this disgraceful conduct of the Pasha. I have already had occasion to call His Highness’s attention to other complaints against Kiamil Pasha, and I trust that he will be removed from his government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. H. LAYARD
F. 0. 424/77, p. 52, No 117
Turkey No (1878), p. 288, No. 336
No. 119
Captain Trotter, R. E. to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 5. Political.
My Lord, | ERZEROUM, November 28, 1878. (Received December 21.) |
I HAD the honour to report in my letter dated the 21St November, that the Military Council (Diwan-i-Harb) had not commenced its sittings, owing to representations having been made by the authorities here to Constantinople that the formation of such a Court was unnecessary, an opinion which was apparently shared by the heads of the various religious communities here.
It appears, however, that a considerable number of the influential Christian inhabitants of this place have represented to the authorities that the local heads of their communities did not fairly represent them on the occasion alluded to, and they urged on the Pasha the formation of the Military Council as originally ordered by the Porte.
In consequence of these representations, it was announced on the 2 instant (although no final orders had been received on the subject from Constantinople) that the Court, the members of which had for the greater part assembled here some weeks ago, would at once commence its sittings, and Christians were invited to bring their complaints before it. The first meeting was held on the 2 instant, when numerous letitions were presented, and it has since met daily, but the proceedings have hitherto been mostly formal.
I understand that it is not proposed that the new Court should take cognizance of civil cases, or of matters which are already sub judice in other Courts, but it will address itself more particularly to the settlement of any fresh difficulties that may arise, as well as aim at the apprehension of certain notorious evil-doers who are still at large.
The Court is composed as follows: Ferik Moussa Pasha, President.
Liva Munnir Pasha, Member
Liva Mustapha Pasha
Mir Allai Kirkhor Bey
Mihram Efferidi.
Of the President, I have already had the honour to report most favourably to your Lordship.
Munnir and Mustapha Pasha I had the pleasure of knowing on service at Batoum during the war. I believe they are both good men. Mustapha Pasha has not yet arrived from 1
Kirkhor Bey and Mihram Effendi are Armenian (military) doctors, and were sent here from Constantinople expressly to take seats in the Courts.
I think it is a good thing that this Tribunal has been formed. There is, no doubt, a great deal of latent ill-will, both in the city and in the province, between Christian and Mahommedan, which at any time might burst into a flame; and, although Moussa Pasha has done wonders, I think the formation of this Council must strengthen his hands, and may act as a prevention of much evil. The Courts is only assembled provisionally pending further orders from Constantinople.
During the past week I was waited on by a deputation of twelve Armenians, representatives of the same number of villages, all situated in the Erzeroum plain, and at distances from the city varying from one to three hours. Each man presented a petition: one of them was addressed to Her Most Gracious Majesty, the others to myself.
I desired the petitioners to return in two or three days time, in order to give me leisure to study their complaints.
In the course of the same day the Vali Pasha paid me a friendly visit, and I took the opportunity of speaking to him on behalf of the petitioners. He promised to pay special attention to their cases if I would furnish him with details, which I promised to do. Before a detailed statement could be made out, however, Moussa Pasha circulated a notice, to which I have already alluded, that all complaints of the kind in question should be brought before the new Military Board; and, being unwilling to do anyting which might clash with the working of the newly-formed Council, I sent my Dragoman to the Vali Pasha to inform him that, in consequence of the formation of the new Court, I would not trouble him further in the matter, but would send the petitions direct to Moussa Pasha.
When the petitioners presented themselves a second time, I told them of the formation of the new Court, which had been specially appointed to take into consideration the kind of grievances of which most of them complained, and recommended them to make their appeals there at once. I also, by way of assisting them, sent my Dragoman with them to call Moussa Pasha’s attention to some of the cases which required immediate action on the part of the authorities. I trust the representation will not have been made in vain.
I also took the opportunity of urging on the deputation the necessity of trying to keep on good terms with their Mussulman neighbours; and, as some of the petitions had alluded, though somewhat vaguely, to the proposed reforms, I informed them that Her Majesty’s Government took a great deal of interest in the well-being of the country, and that His Majesty the Sultan had agreed to the institution of a gendarmerie, as well as to other reforms. I explained that these reforms could not be the work of a day, but must take time, although I hoped they might be commenced in the spring. I exhorted them to have patience and all would yet be well, and the evil of which they complained would be removed.
I ought to mention that, in my first interview with the petitioners, I offered, after hearing their complaints, to propose to the Pasha that small parties of soldiers should be distributed amongst the different villages, but they one and all decidedly objected to my proposal, on the grounds that the soldiers would cost them much money, and eat them out of house and home. I cannot but think and hope, under these circumstances, that the alarm expressed by the petitioners as to losing their lives, their religion, and their property must be somewhat exaggerated. At the same time there can be no doubt that in these, and presumably in other villages, there exists a very undesirable state of things, and that there is great tension between Mahommedans and Armenians. This is probably more particularly the case in the villages whence the petitioners come, i. e., in the neighbourhood of Erzeroum. In that city, as well as in the surrounding villages, it is well known that the presence of the Russian force of occupation encouraged and induced some of the Armenians to behave to their Mussulman fellow-subjects in the same manner as they had been themselves treated by the Mahommedans for many years past. The natural consequence has been that ill-feelings on both sides have been considerably augmented, and it is merely owing to the strong hand hitherto shown by the authorities that the sparks have not kindled into a flame.
There can be no doubt that the best preventative of such acts as are described in the petitions would be the presence of a large, regularly paid, mixed police force under European officers of efficiency, and, in the interests of the country and of humanity, the sooner such a force is organized the better. I do not suppose that anything can be done here before the spring; but as long as the existing miserably insufficient police force remains in its impoverished and inefficient state affairs can only be expected to go from bad to worse.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HENRY TROTTER.
F. O. 424/77, p. 295-296, No. 412
Turkey No. 10 (1879), p. 5-6, .No. 4
No. 120
Sir A. H. Layard to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 1477
My Lord, | CONSTANTINOPLE, November 30, 1878. (Received December 12.) |
I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a letter addressed to me by the Armenian Patriarch at Constantinople, complaining of the cruel treatment of the Armenians at Zeitun, Marash, and Diarbekir, and communicating to me telegrams received by him on this subject. I have directed Her Majesty’s Consul at Aleppo to make inquiries into the matter, and to report to me the result of them at once.
This he will probably be able to do as regards Zeitun and Marash. I trust that ere long there will be a British Acting Consul at Diarbekir, who will send me trustworthy information as to the condition of the Christians in that province, and who will be in a position to make such representations to the Turkish authorities as may secure protection to the Christians if they be in need of it.
I may mention that similar telegrams to those referred to by the Patriarch have been sent to me direct, and to some of my colleagues. They have generally proved, on inquiry, to contain very exaggerated statements, and they probably come from the same source, and are sent with the same object.
I have, &c
(Signed) A. H. LAYARD.
F. O. 424/77, p. 205, .No. 243
Inclosure in No. 120
Monsignor Neres to Sir A. H. Layard.
Excellence, | Le 26 Novembre 1878. |
J’AI déjà pris la liberté d’inviter l’attention de votre Excellence sur le sort des Arméniens de Zeitoun. Un nouveau Mutessarif, Versiz Pacha, a eu une entrevue avec moi avant son depart; je lui ai remis des lettres adressées aux Chrétiens de Zeitoun et de nature a ramener chez eux le sentiment de l’ordre et de la paix, en les invitant a attendre avec confiance Ia réalisation des projets réformateurs du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine d’Angleterre et Impératice (sic) des Indes, et en leur réitérant l’espoir de les voir rentrer en possession du statu quo.
Je viens de recevoir pourtant un télégramme adressé par les notables de Zeitoun qui ont été invites a Alep par le Gouverneur pour arrêter d’un commun accord les réformes relatives a l’amélioration du sort des Arméniens de Zeitoun. J’ai l’honneur de soumettre a votre Excellence le texte de ce telegramme:
“Nous avons reçu Ia lettre suivante signée par six prétres Arméniens et Conseil National de Marash. L’autorité locale, malgré ses promesses faites aux habitants de Zeitoun, les traite sévèrement, écrasant, emprisonnant, exilant hommes, femmes, et enfants faim et soif. Elle dépouille sous divers pretextes, encaissant impôts arriérés par insultes insupportables. Dernièrement arrêté Abbé de Fournous, accuse comme chef de révolutionnaires, conduit a Marash emprisonné. Elle semble décidée anéantir Zeitoun. La population deplorable nous rappelle celle de la Bulgarie. Nous supplions veuillez avoir pitié les rémedier immédiatement.”
J’ai recu hier, Excellence, une lettre de Catolicos de la Cilicie qui constate pleinement les faits déplorables dont parle le télegramme. II est vrai que le Consul Arménien (? Américain) de Marash m’a adressé une lettre øü ii fait éloge de la conduite tenu par le Vali Alep, mais le telegramme queje viens de recevoir m’a comblé de tristesse. J’avais prié votre Excellence de vouloir bien envoyer quelqu’un pour faire une enquête sur les lieux mêmes, etje ne sais pas si elle a eu la bonté d’accueillir ma prière.
J e viens de recevoir aussi un telegramme adressé par l’Archévêque Arménien de Diarbekir. En voici le texte:
“Oppressions provinciales ordinaires dans mon diocese. Tyrans nomades exercant leurs atrocités tellement que populations Chritiennes bien pillées et opprimées, viols, pillages, assassinats partout. Vie des Chrétiens en danger. Cheiks Kurds prêchant que ceux qui usurpent biens offrent sacrifice a Dieu, ceux qui tuent deviennent fils de royaume des aleux. Kurdes sauvages ajoutent, pas de Gouvernement; c’est a nous a nous enrichir malgré les ordres du Gouvernement. CaImacams, mudirs, gendarmes oppriment aussi bien misérables, il semble qu’ils se sont joints pour exterminer pauvres Arméniens. Innumérables plaintes améres adressCes par moi; personne ne peut retenir larmes. Si mesures nécessaires pour amelioration du sort des Chrétiens ne sont prises bientôt, nous sommes perdus. Implorons prompt secours. Details par poste.”
Aprés avoir lu ces tClegrammes je me demande, Excellence, si ce n’est un crime d’être Chrétien, et si les Puissances Europêennes, et surtout Ia philantropique Angleterre, ne voudront rien pour assurer aux Chrétiens d’Asie le droit a Ia vie.
J’ose espérer, Excellence, que le cri d’angoisse des Arméniens ne restera pas dans le coeur de votre Excellence, et qu’elle voudra bien agréer, &c.
(Signe) NERES.
F. 0. 424/77, p. 205-206, JVo. 243/1
No. 121
Sir A. H. Layard to the Marquis of Salisbury.
No. 1490.
My Lord, | CONSTANTINOPLE, December 2, 1878. (Received December 12.) |
SOME time ago Safvet Pasha, on my representations, gave orders that measures should be taken for the protection of the Armenians and Protestants in the district of Ghegi. A certain Osman Effendi was sent there as Commissioner to inquire into the charges made against the local Kurdish Beys of oppressing and ill- treating the Christians. At first he did well; but from a letter which I have recently received from an American missionary who is connected with the district in question, it would appear that he has been gained over by the Beys, and that the condition of the Christians is as bad as ever. My informant states that a good old Mussulman, one Suleiman Agha, who had remonstrated against the ill-treatment of the Armenians, and had protected them, was arrested and sent to Ezinghian where he is believed to have since died. The Christians are described to be consequently in despair. I directed Sir A. Sandison to communicate to Safvet Pacha the substance of the letter containing these details, and to urge in the strongest term upon his Highness the importance of taking energetic measures without delay to put a stop to the proceedings of the Kurds and to protect the peaceable Mussulman and Christian populations from their excesses. I further instructed Sir A. Sandison to warn his Highness that if these populations continued to be exposed to ill-treatment and outrages a most unfavourable impression would be produced upon Her Majesty’s Government and upon English public opinion, which might lead one of these days to very serious consequences, as England could never support a rule of oppression and injustice such as appeared now to exist in the east of Asia Minor.
Safvet Pasha replied that he hoped some allowance would be made for the present disorganized state of the country to which I referred, as the Porte, in consequence of the actual state of affairs, had not yet been able to take the necessary measures to put an end to it.
His Highness requested Sir A. Sandison to make a memorandum in writing of my communication, which I authorized him to do, and promised to write most strongly on the subject to the high provincial authorities.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. H. LAYARD
F. O. 424/77, p. 210-211, No 249
