Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress December 2, 1895, Part II

Mavroyeni Bey to Mr. Olney.

[Translation.]

Imperial Legation of Turkey,
Washington, December 27, 1895.

Mr. Secretary of State: Some American newspapers have stated—I hope without reason—that Mr. Chilton, Chief of the Consular Bureau of the Department of State, has addressed to you a report which is rather unfavorable to the Turkish authorities, concerning the recent disturbances at Trebizond, of which it appears that he was a witness during his brief stay in that city. I therefore consider it interesting herewith to transmit to you, merely by way of information, a translation of a report with regard to those disturbances which I have lately received from the Sublime Porte. This report clearly shows, once more, the necessity under which the Imperial authorities were, at Trebizond also, of repressing by force of arms the disorders provoked by the Armenian revolutionists, who were armed and determined, in pursuance of a preconcerted plan, to foment their rebellion at several points in Ottoman territory.

Be pleased to accept, etc.,

Mavroveni.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Report on the Armenian troubles at Trebizond, signed by the civil and military officials, the ulémas, and notables of the vilayet (Mussulman, Greek, Orthodox, and Catholic).

Gen. Bahri Pasha, ex-vali of Van, who spent several days at Trebizond in returning from Van, and Ahmed Hamdi Pasha, commander of the “redifs” at Trebizond, were crossing on Wednesday, the 2d of October, 1895, at about 6 o’clock in the afternoon, in company with Razi Han (the Persian consul at Trebizond), Hadi Omer Effendi (the director of the posts and telegraphs), and Suleiman Bey (the commander of the mounted police of the vilayet), Ouzoun Sokak street, which opens into Charki Square, in the city of Trebizond, when a certain Armenak, a servant in the employ of the Armenian bishop of Trebizond, who was suspected with being affiliated with the revolutionary committees, and another individual, also an Armenian, fired on them several times with revolvers, and wounded Bahri Pasha in the calf and Hamdi Pasha in the foot. Armenak and his accomplice were instantly arrested.

This incident, having been the first to occur in Trebizond since the Armenians, subjects of the Ottoman Empire, had commenced to commit crimes and to enter into rebellion in different parts of the Empire, caused naturally a certain emotion to the population, but it was happily not followed by any other incidents that day. Two days later, however, on the following Friday, at about 9 o’clock at night, several Mussulmans belonging to the trades union, having met in the Aï Vassil quarter, with a certain Hatchik, a son of a barber named Stepan, who was being sought by the police as being incriminated in the attack upon the two pashas, they addressed him in these terms: “Stop! Where are you escaping to? You are sought by the authorities.”

Hatchik, instantly drawing out his revolver, fired upon them a number of times.

Rahmi Effendi, who happened to be passing in a neighboring street, heard the shots, and wishing to know their cause turned into the street from which came the noise, but, being seen by Hatchik, he was instantly shot at and killed.

This second incident following so closely upon the first, with only two days intermission, caused great excitement, and at the sound of the shots the population in the neighboring quarters precipitated itself in the streets, some carrying arms and some unarmed a rumor having been circulated to the effect that the Armenians had gone to the government house and assassinated the vali, the populace immediately marched in that direction, from which arose great confusion and blocking of the adjoining streets. However, the civil and military authorities, and also the zapties and agents of the police, assisted by the prominent citizens of the city, having stationed themselves at the entrance of the streets did finally succeed, after great difficulties it must be admitted, in calming the mob and dispersing the crowd, by explaining that the shots which had been heard had been of no serious consequence, and that the Armenians had done nothing in the way of violence.

The repetition of the shots by the Armenian conspirators and the nonarrest of one of their number and of his accomplice, had, notwithstanding, the effect of keeping up public agitation. On the other hand, the lack of confidence in the authorities and in the Mussulman population which was exhibited by the Armenians, who no longer opened their shops or bazaars, necessarily greatly accentuated the existing feeling.

In view of this critical situation, a certain Father Mesrob, at the time acting representative of the Armenian bishop of Trebizond, and also the most prominent citizens of the city, were summoned to the government house to a meeting; but only the bishop’s representative and one merchant, a certain Mahouhian, answered the summons and presented themselves. They were implored to exert all their influence to prevent the repetition of such scenes, which are of such a nature as to destroy the mutual confidence which should exist between the different populations, and were also requested to state where the two accused were in hiding, the arrest of whom would aid much in restoring calm and tranquillity. In reply to these exhortations, however, the merchant Mahouhian declared that he had never interfered and never would interfere in the affairs of the community, and the priest, Father Mesrob, replied on his side that he did not know the accused, and that judging from what he had heard reported it would appear that the two pashas had been wounded by a soldier, and that Rahmi Effendi had been killed by a Mussulman, and he added that it would be well to arrest the real criminals and allow the arrested Armenians their liberty.

It was observed to them that both of the cases were of public notoriety, and, indeed, the accused had been seen in the act. The first incident had occurred in daylight and had been witnessed by a number of persons, and that as for Hatchik Stepan, he had not yet been arrested and yet inhabited the city itself It was therefore most improper that they should simulate ignorance and take the part of the criminals, and Father Mesrob and the merchant Mahouhian were therefore again exhorted to heed the counsel of the authorities and to summon the more prominent citizens to meet at their house to discuss the situation and also to reveal the hiding place of the fugitives, and thereby aid the authorities in calming the existing excitement.

These two incidents, having been followed by the news of the riots in Constantinople, brought about by some Armenian vagabonds, the public excitement became greater than ever. Everyone became alarmed, and the Armenians began to walk around armed to the teeth and not to open their stores. As since the day on which the first incident occurred the Armenians of neighboring villages had commenced to swarm into the city, the governor-general, wishing to prevent, if possible, bloody riots, proceeded on the morning of Tuesday, the 8th of October, accompanied by the president of the municipality, to the market square, and there, in one of the principal stores, assembled a large number of prominent citizens—both Mussulmans and Christians—selected from among the members of the trades union, and publicly exhorted them not to cause trouble and to cease the tumultuous excitement of the population.

It was precisely at this moment, however, that shots were heard in every direction in Charki Square. It was then about 10.30 o’clock. Owing to the existing confusion it was impossible to determine on which side the brawl began. In truth it seemed as though the more the Imperial troops, the agents of the police, and the zap ties endeavored to suppress the riot the greater became the audacity of the Armenians.

It was from their shops and bazaars, from the windows of the upper stories, and indeed from anywhere and everywhere that they were, that they fired at random on soldiers, police, zapties, and citizens alike. The vali, learning of the troubles, proceeded at once to the scene. Notwithstanding his presence, the shooting continued-directed against the officers of the regular army and of the zapties, who, stationed before the shops, exhorted the rioters to drop their arms and place themselves under the protection of the authorities, who would know how to defend them. Indeed, they did not even respect the person of the governor, at whom they fired several shots. At the sight of one soldier and of two or three Mussulmans wounded, and two others who were already dead, the agitation of the Mussulmans and of the Greeks who had joined the brawl reached its climax. It was 3 o’clock before, with great trouble, they could reestablish order. The corpses lying in the street and in the shops were taken that same night to the untenanted stores, and the wounded were conveyed to their respective homes or to the hospital.

After the riot was put down the Armenians who had remained shut up in the houses and stores were deprived of their arms. Until the calm should be entirely restored they were lodged in the edifices of the civil and military authorities. Those individuals and families who were deprived of means of support were cared for in some Mussulmans’ houses and at the Catholic school, and received bread and whatever was necessary for them. When order was finally entirely restored the old offenders and the accused were handed over to he tried by court-martial, while the others regained their own firesides.

The Ottoman subjects and the strangers who had sought protection at the residences of the foreign consuls at the moment of the riot were conveyed under escort to their homes, and for the purpose of protecting from all attack the foreign consulates and the schools and other religious establishments, as well as the residences of foreigners, these were, while the troubles lasted, guarded by the regular troops and the zapties. Certain particular families were lodged for protection in the houses of prominent Mussulman citizens, and wherever the troops and the zapties failed it was the Mussulman and Christian leading men who took their place. In order to aid the authorities in their work of restoring order, a committee was formed under the presidency of the receiver-general of the vilayet, composed of prominent citizens, both Mussulman, orthodox, and Catholic. Its mission was to reassure the timid, provide for the wants of those in distress, care for the wounded, cause goods to be returned which had been stolen during the riots either on the market square or in the houses, prevent all attacks on the Armenian villages in the neighborhood of the town, find the objects which might have been lost, and, should it learn of any proposed attack of Mussulman or Christian villages by the population of neighboring Armenian villages, to inform the authorities thereof and in concert with the troops and the corps of zapties to take the necessary precautions. The resources of this latter body not being sufficient, 200 more zapties were enrolled provisionally. In a word, all that forethought dictated was done with a view of meeting every possible emergency.

After the complete suppression of troubles an elaborate inquest was held to discover the authors of the first shots. It was discovered that on the morning of Tuesday, the 8th of October—the day of the riot—several conspirators were expected from Constantinople by the Austrian steamer. An unusual assembling of Armenians having taken place near the wharf, popular curiosity was excited. Among the letters distributed was one addressed to a certain Chvarch, of Erzindjan, who lived at the Han, immediately opposite the town hall, which is situated on Charki Square. This letter contained details of the troubles at Constantinople, and announced the death of the brother of the addressee. This latter, the moment he had read the contents of the letter, placed himself at the window of his room and commenced to fire wildly on all the passers-by, contending that it was thus that one should act under such circumstances. Immediately afterwards four or five shots were fired from the stores of Diradourian, opposite the Han, and under the town hall. These shots were followed by others, fired by the Armenians assembled at the landing. It was thus that the crowd which found itself in the square and the adjoining streets was obliged to respond.

The fact that some of those who fired during the riots from the windows of Armenian houses were inhabitants of neighboring villages who had only come to town that morning, and that the first shots were indeed fired by them; that simultaneously with the commencement of the riot the shops and bazaars had been closed; that the Armenians themselves had knowledge of all these facts, and, finally, that the officers of the army and of the zapties, who exhorted them to submission and to laying down of their arms, were greeted by shots, and also all that has been stated above proves conclusively that the rioters had decided to cause a great slaughter throughout the country.

It is worthy of remark, however, that the above-mentioned Chvarch, of Erzindjan, from whose room the first shots were fired, notwithstanding that he was proved to be affiliated with the revolutionary committee, and was also proved guilty of several crimes, profited by the amnesty graciously accorded by His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, as did also the Diradourians, who were among the most suspected.