Mavroyeni Bey to
Mr. Gresham.
[Translation.]
Imperial Legation of Turkey,
Washington, October 26,
1893. (Received October 26.)
Mr. Secretary of State: I had the honor, a few
days since, to inform your excellency that the newspapers published in
New York in the Armenian language, by Armenians, and for Armenians, most
of whom are naturalized citizens of the United States, always contain
articles inciting the Armenians who live in Turkey to insurrection.
You told me in reply that you were not aware of that fact, and that you
desired to receive proof of it. Inclosed your excellency will find the
last two numbers of an Armenian paper called the “Haik,” which appears
twice a month in New York, together with a translation of certain
passages therefrom. A perusal of these passages will give you an idea of
the views and efforts of the Armenians in this country, the majority of
whom become naturalized as American citizens for the sole purpose of
securing the protection of the United States Government while
entertaining, I repeat, the views set forth in the inclosed
extracts.
I beg your excellency to be pleased to inform me whether you would like
to receive similar extracts regularly, or whether the extracts now sent
are sufficient to establish the correctness of the statement which I
have had the honor to make to you.
Be pleased, etc.,
[Inclosure: From the Haik. October 1
1893, No. 18, p. 280 et
seq.]
If we were to adopt the principle of Mr. Tcheraz, viz, that of
gaining a maximum of advantage for the nation with a minimum of loss
for the Armenians, it is probable that we should neither be
organized nor able to revolt in due season. . . . .
It is impossible to keep up military spirit by means of words and
articles. We must begin by disciplining. The best way to arouse a
military spirit among young Armenians in foreign countries is to
give them the military training which is the only means of preparing
men for the field of battle.
. . . . We must lose, if necessary, one half of the nation for the
sake of saving the other half.
Page 288: Experience has shown that the political reconstruction of
the nation through diplomatic action is impossible. Positive and
energetic means are needed in order to bring about diplomatic
intervention. Those means are fire and sword, which call for
soldiers and money. It is the nation that must furnish them. It must
establish its center of activity in Russia or the United States.
Just as there is an Armeno-Russian corps in the East, ready and
organized, so must an Armeno-American corps, equally strong, be
raised in the West.
[From the Haik, October 15,
1893, No. 19, page 303]
A people is not aroused in a moment, as an electric lamp is lighted,
it is true. Yet, the Eastern question, if it should again come upon
the carpet, would be agitated for two years at least. At first there
will be insurrectionary movements followed by repression, and, next,
war, followed by a Congress of the Great Powers. If the Armenians
get ready and make a beginning before the expiration of these two
years, they may revolt in good time. I approve of the system of
Hentchaguin, viz, to organize bands at once. When the Eastern
question is revived these bands may unite. It would be well for them
to organize as guerrillas, and to carry on operations in the
mountains of Turkey in Asia. That would protect the population of
the cities and of the rural districts.
