File No. 10044/250.
Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State.
Constantinople, May 20, 1909.
Sir: Conditions in Adana and Aleppo districts are rapidly assuming normal proportions, and as the panic-stricken people who flocked [Page 576] into Adana and other cities from the surrounding country have commenced to return to their homes, there will soon be nothing left to tell the tale of the recent trouble except the battered and charred buildings and the thousands of widows and orphans who have been robbed of their natural protectors and left homeless and penniless and in hundreds of cases entirely dependent upon a charitable public for their daily existence.
The recent trouble can scarcely be considered in the same light as the massacres of 1895 and 1896, as in the present case both sides appear to have been well armed, the conflict being more in the nature of civil strife between rival races, intensified by the fact that the Armenians armed themselves, as prior to the establishment of constitutional government this was forbidden; and, although in the eyes of the law all races now enjoy the same privileges, it requires time for the old dominant race to become reconciled to the changed conditions.
The estimates of our own and other consuls indicate that from 20,000 to 30,000 Armenians have been killed, but I am inclined to believe that they have allowed themselves to be too much influenced by the terror-stricken people, who very naturally have exaggerated the numbers, and while I have no particular warrant for the statement, I am quite of the opinion that the total number of killed will probably not exceed six or seven thousand, of which a very considerable proportion will be found to be Mussulmans.
Certain outrages were committed on both sides, but as a general rule the women and children were not intentionally harmed and there is no substantial evidence to show that there was any premeditated intention of injuring foreigners. As my telegraphic advices will have indicated, great distress exists throughout the district and charitable assistance is greatly needed.
The new Government appears to be acting in a very proper manner and the presence of the large number of troops sent from here is gradually restoring confidence, many of the terror-stricken people who were threatened with all sorts of disease in the overcrowded compounds where they had sought refuge having been induced to return to their homes or at least to their farms, as many of their houses had been destroyed.
The North Carolina arrived at Mersine on the 13th instant and the Montana was expected at Alexandretta on the 16th, but so far I have no definite news of her arrival. A number of the foreign vessels have already withdrawn and the balance will be retired as rapidly as the relief work will permit, following the example of the Austrians, who, with a view of leaving the new Government with as free a hand as possible, retired their ships to Piraeus so as to have them within easy range in case any fresh trouble should occur.
A mixed commission, the complexion of which meets with universal approval, has been sent to Adana, composed of two deputies selected by the chamber, two Armenians approved by the patriarchate, and two officers selected by the council of ministers, and their report is awaited with much interest.
I am still awaiting the result of Mr. Nathan’s investigations before making my report regarding the death of Mr. Rogers and Mr. Maurer.
Great credit is due to the British vice consul, Maj. Doughty-Wylie, who hastened to Adana from Mersine at the first alarm and, although [Page 577] he had his arm broken by a bullet early in the fray, he continued to look after matters in the most commendable way and it is thanks to his courage and activity that matters were not worse. The bullet which struck him was fired from an Armenian house, an inmate evidently mistaking him in the excitement for a Turkish officer, as he was wearing his uniform. In this connection I would respectfully suggest that a letter of thanks be sent to the British foreign office acknowledging the invaluable assistance rendered by Maj. Doughty-Wylie to the Americans at Adana, as we owe him a deep debt of gratitude.
In many places outside of the city of Adana the Armenians appear to have offered very stubborn resistance and in some cases quite successfully. At Hadjin, where they were besieged for over two weeks, they held out until relieved by the troops, and at Fekka they not only protected themselves in the city, but actually disarmed a lot of irregulars (Rediffs) who threatened to enter the city with the avowed intention of causing trouble. In a number of cases the Rediffs appear to have joined in the attack against Armenians, but it does not appear that the regular troops took any part and it is reported that at Sis they even protected the Armenian quarter.
With the exception of Messrs. Rogers and Maurer I have not heard of any Americans having been injured and the only property reported damaged was the school building at Kessab, where the Armenians had taken refuge, the American teacher, Miss Effie Chambers, being abent at the time, having gone to Adana like many others to attend the annual conference.
I have, etc.,