Mr. McDonald to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, Persia, April
20, 1896. (Received May 28.)
No. 235, Dip. Series.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith two
letters from an American missionary at ———, on the border of Turkey,
giving report of horrible massacre of Armenians at Van, and depicting
the dangerous and exposed situation of the Christians on the plains of
Salmos and Khoi from murderous raids by the Kurds and Moslems of the
border. I have sent translations to the Sadr Azem; and in a personal
interview with him recently on the subject he expressed the most
determined purpose to protect the Christians of that section, and said
that a regiment had been ordered to Khoi. But I have reason to fear that
this latter has not been done. I also sent copies of the second letter
to the British and Russian ministers, they having subjects in the
exposed districts, and received cordial acknowledgments and promises of
cooperation.
I have, etc.,
[Page 471]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
235.]
Mr. ——— to Mr. McDonald.
Dear Sir: I wish to inform you on behalf of
the American citizens resident in this place that there is
considerable danger of the Kurds of Persia and Turkey, in the course
of next month, making an incursion on the Christians of the Salmos
and Khoi plains. The Kurds are openly talking of doing so as soon as
the snow melts off the mountains. The 9,000 Armenians of Salmos and
2,000 of Khoi are in great trepidation and are utterly defenseless.
In case of an attack many of the Moslems of this place will join the
Kurds in plundering and massacreing the Christians.
I would advise you to confer with the English ambassador as to what
is best to do and that you act unitedly. If a couple of thousand of
soldiers could be sent by the Shah, well armed and fed, we feel the
Kurds would not dare to invade Salmos and Khoi. The spirit so
prevalent in Turkey is growing rapidly in this part of Persia, and
if the Shah does not take a strong stand the Sunne and Sheah Moslems
will combine to exterminate the Armenians and Nestorians of these
border regions.
I have just been to Khoi. In Kotur the 40 houses of Armenians are
terrorized. The same is true of the 35 houses in Van. Many of these
have fled to Khoi, and dare not return even to get their families.
The priest of Kotur has been in Khoi three months, in this way, and
is reduced to great want—in fact, has to beg to live at all.
As we live among the Armenians, our property and lives will be in
danger if they are sacked.
Yours, sincerely,
——— ———.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
235.]
Mr. ——— to Mr. McDonald.
Dear Sir: I again wish to inform you of the
disturbed state of these border regions.
Word has come from Van, Turkey, both by telegram and through Kurds,
which indicates a fresh onslaught on the Armenians. It is in
substance as follows: Two Turkish guards in the Armenian quarter
were shot at night by some one; the deed was laid on the Armenians.
So the Government quickly surrounded the whole Armenian quarter with
soldiers and Kurds; and having thus cut off all means of escape,
entered the street with cannon and attacked the Armenians. The
latter tried to protect themselves, and many of the assailants were
slain, but finally the Government prevailed and gave no quarter and
slew every Armenian in the place. There were about 22,000 Armenians
there recently. This word may be exaggerated, but is verified from
such a number of different sources that there can be but little
doubt that the greatest massacre yet heard of has taken place. All
travel between these regions and Van is strictly prohibited, and
even Moslems can neither come nor go except they be Kurds of this
region. Hence it seems probable that a general massacre of Armenians
is taking place in the Van, Bitlis, and Moosh regions, and the
Government
[Page 472]
is trying to
prevent word getting out to foreign countries until the work of
carnage is done.
The Kurds just west of us are now, or soon will be, free to plunder
Salmos. They are busy trying to arrange among themselves the plan of
the raid. I have this word directly from a Kurd who called on me
yesterday. The Christians and Jews of this place are now in a state
of consternation and expect any day now an invasion of the
plain.
There are no soldiers here, and no means whatever are in the hands of
the Persian officials with which to protect the non-Moslem
population, which is some 13,000 in this plain alone. They are
perfectly defenseless, and dare make no effort to arm or protect
themselves lest the Persian Moslems raid their towns. Many of the
Persian Moslems are just waiting for some such pretext to give a
warrant for plundering the non-Moslems.
We have not yet asked for a guard for our premises from the
Government here, but may have to do so any day unless the Shah
places some regiments here to protect his subjects.
It might be well, I judge, to communicate the report as to the
massacre at Van to the English and Russian embassies; but of course
you will know best about it. Thanks for the word as to the country
not being taxable.
Yours, sincerely,
——— ———.
