'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎72v] (135/211)

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1 By the Regulations (“Tan.imat”) ot 1255, confirmed m 1293 (1875), it is
declared that Mussulmans and Christians alike are to be employed in all public offices
-including, of course, the police force-and as clerks, &c„ in the Government Offices
and Courts of .Tusticc. in the whole of the police force in the Erzeroum
district there are, I believe, three Christian zaptiehs. _ . .
As to Christians employed as Government officials, omitting the Christian
members of the Council and Law Courts, of whom the necessary number is exactly
kffi down by law, there is not in Erzeroum a single Christian official with the excep
tor of Michael Effendi, the Dragoman of the vilayet and Kr.kor Effendi Shahaman,
Head of the Public Debt, with two subordinate officials from Constantinople. _
Thus the Regulation that Mussulmans and Christians alike are to be employed m
the police force and in the public offices is practically a dead letter.
I may here mention that, during the five years for which Ivnkor Effendi has
directed the Office of Public Debt, the receipts of that office have increased nearly
2. The proportion of Mussulman families to Christian families in Erzeroum is
nearly two to one. Their respective wealth is, at least, in the same proportion. In
spite of these facts, the amount of the income-tax (“ vergu ), nominally of 1 per
cent, levied from the Christians in this town, is equal to that levied from the
8 On the amount of income-tax thus levied, a further sum of o per cent, is
collected from Mussulmans and Christians alike. The sum so levied called ‘ Maanl-
ianessy,” is devoted to the maintenance of schools. Not a piastre of this sum,
however, is given to help Christian schools. The whole is employed for Mussulman
schools, which no Christian can attend. On the tithe, also, a sum of t P er cent - 19
charged for the schools, which sum likewise goes entirely to Mussulman schools.
4 . Till lately, if any inhabitant of the town was about to make a journey, in
order to obtain the necessary papers from the local authorities, he had only to presen
a certificate from the Head of his community—if a Mussulman, from the Ulema ot his
district; if a Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox Armenian, from the Millet-Bashi, or
his respective Bishop, stating his respectability. At present, a Christian betore
receiving his passport, is obliged to present not only papers from the Head ot his own
community, but also to obtain certificates from the Mussulman Chiefs of his distnc .
This demand has given great offence to the Heads of the Christian communities.
These points, which I have ventured to bring to your Excellency’s notice, may
seem small in themselves, but they are not so in the opinion ot the Christians ot t ns
district; and all of them, more especially the first, have a very sensible effect on tffe
position and feelings of Christians towards the Government. ^ .
Meanwhile, the ill-feeling between Mussulmans and Christians is daily on the
increase. The former behave with contempt and abuse to the latter, refusing to pay
their debts, and beating and maltreating any Christian who dares to protest, or to ask
for his due. The Christians on their side are in a state of sullen discontent, and
declare that, at least, they will not be massacred without resistance. In fact, a very
small spark is all that is necessary to put the whole place in a blaze. I stiU hope that
the Vali, by his energy, will prevent any outbreak, and that, if all is quiet for another
month or two, confidence will gradually be restored; but things are in a critical
condition, and it would do much to allay the uneasiness if such evident causes ot
discontent as those which I have quoted at the commencement of this despatch ueie
removed.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
No. 42.
Consul Jago to the Marquis of Salisbury.—{Received May 15.)
My Lord, Aleppo, April 18, 1891.
IN tendering to your Lordship my respectful thanks for the permission granted
to me in despatch dated the IGth September, 1890, to visit the Vilayet of Adana,
I have the honour to submit herewith a Report on the province in question, resulting
from mv visit there early in March last.