Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.
Constantinople, October 24, 1895. (Received Nov. 11.)
Sir: I have the honor to submit my views of the character and political tendency of the reforms in the Ottoman Empire which were announced on the 21st instant, and a copy of which I inclose.
[Page 1326]These reforms are not heralded by a hatt or public proclamation at the Porte, which the Sultan was urged by the powers to issue; nor do they embrace the radical measures so emphatically demanded by Lord Salisbury on his accession to power.
It will be observed that the iradé which announces the regulations refers to them not as innovations on former customs, but as the orders to enforce existing laws, or as regulations in harmony with them. Nor are these regulations to be general; they are to be enforced only in those vilayets “where their application would be consonant with the spirit of the Imperial hatt of Gulhane and the firman of reforms published in 1272” (February 18, 1856).
The Kurds are not to be disarmed (as demanded by England), but only an application is to be made to them of the general law which regulates the bearing of arms, and a requirement to escort them with an armed force “during their periodical migrations.” The Kurdish troops called “hamidieh” still remain in regiments of cavalry, but shall “wear uniforms or arms only when mustered in camp for their drill.” There is no prohibition against their being continually mustered for drill.
The regular army will still be composed of Turks, and Christian races will be admitted to the gendarmerie and police “according to their respective number in each province.” This will perhaps give one Christian to five Turks at most in the provinces to which the regulations will apply. As to what shall be the race or religion of the officers who command them nothing is said.
Under existing laws forced labor can only be exacted on roads; under the new regulations it may be claimed for “all matters of public utility.”
The homestead, the implements of one’s trade, and necessary family supplies have been exempted from forced sale in Turkey for centuries; the regulation affecting them contains nothing new. The laws formerly existing for the protection of life and property were ample; the vice was in their administration, and for the correction of this no new guaranty is given.
This “project,” as it is called in the iradé, “to make some necessary reforms” contains absolutely nothing new of practical value for the future security of life or property, and yet its immediate effect upon the fears of all classes has thus far been wonderful, for all hail it as a harbinger of future peace. The Armenian populace here seem delighted; troops have ceased to patrol the street in such force as formerly; the British ambassador and the Servian minister depart to-morrow for their respective capitals; the French ambassador leaves in a few days, and thus this “project,” which satisfies the powers, has restored confidence.
It is worthy of note that though four months were consumed by the delegates of the three Powers who examined the evidence on which charges of atrocity were based, and five months more have elapsed since they closed their labor, neither of those Governments has given to the world the facts discovered by them. The demand for reforms assumed the truth of alleged atrocities before the evidence was taken. The present grand vizier, who speaks English well, said to me yesterday that no atrocities, such as murdering women, desecrating churches, women being compelled to cast themselves from precipices to escape dishonor, pits filled with murdered prisoners, etc., ever occurred or were ever proved. He insists that the terrible stories which have filled the Christian press were invented by Armenian anarchists and circulated by the Christian press to arouse Europe in the work of establishing [Page 1327] state autonomy for the Armenian race. He deliberately asserts that the entire population in the revolutionary locality involved did not exceed 4,000, and that of those not more than 500 were slain. He avers that the revolution was planned by the Armenians and precipitated by a conflict with some Kurds over cattle, in which a Kurdish chief was killed, whose body was cut up and fed by the Armenians to dogs.
It is proper to inform you that Howard, the reporter of the New York World, who claims to have visited the scene of the massacre, was never nearer there than Van. This fact I obtain from a well-informed missionary here, and from Mr. Werndel, the general agent of Reuter’s Telegraph Company. Regarding the statement furnished by the grand vizier, I express no opinion. The Turkish press, unlike that of any other Power, refrains from all defenses of its Government, and remains silent under every accusation.
Well-informed persons among our countrymen here express their conviction that the late demonstration in this city was planned and conducted by Russo-Armenian emissaries. Certain it is that it was conducted with a skill and coolness not consistent with revolutionary fervor. Churches were filled and emptied and all Armenian business houses closed and again opened by the Armenian population of nearly 200,000 without noise and with clock-like system. Strange men walked undisguised to visit those who were tardy in closing their houses; they imposed and collected fines and enforced their orders to close by the terror of consequences which they inspired. This was done without secrecy, and the orders were obeyed. It is known that the poor who depended on their daily work were supplied with alms for bread by the same mysterious agencies. The British fleet during these trying days remained inactive at Lemnos, and the Turkish army here, though inspired by race hatred and over 25,000 strong, remained under perfect discipline and furnished patrols for the city. The Turkish “ulema,” or priests, whose fanaticism was aroused by the bloodshed on the night of the 1st instant, and for that cause were much to be feared, were imprisoned in large numbers, and after the night massacre by the populace and priests absolute order was preserved. During this period Turkish troops under Fuad Pasha were engaged in torpedo practice in The Dardanelles. The apprehension among well-informed classes of a general massacre lasted from time to time from the 1st until the 20th instant, when the iradé proclaiming the “project” was published.
I am assured by the Porte that an era of tranquillity will now be restored everywhere. My own conviction is that it will be only temporary. Permanent security and order in the Ottoman Empire are made impossible by the rancor of race and religious hatred, now more bitter than ever, but above all by the schemes of the Armenian anarchists, who will never rest while certain of the sympathy of the Christian world. These people will watch for a few months the effect of the “project” in securing substantial reforms, and the secret societies, whose strength will grow on the terror they inspire and who, it is known, will not disband, though disappointed for the present, will continue to foment strife and excite the Christian world.
While the present truce between opposing forces endures it would seem prudent for our Government to secure, if possible, a treaty regarding naturalization, and thereby lessen the danger of being involved in the future conflict.
I have, etc.,