'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎83r] (156/211)

As far as I have been able to ascertain, any agitation which exists is the work
ot semi-professional agitators, who come from Erzeroum and other centres.
I met one of these men, nominally a school-master in Erzeroum, in an Armenian
monas ery a few days ago. He at once began talking, in a vague way, of the
“ deliverance of the Armenian nation from their captivity,” and of the assertion “ of
t icir rights. T\ hen T asked what he meant by these phrases, and what he wished,
he was evidently at a loss for an answer. He agreed, as did all those present, that the
Aimemans, n under Russian rule, would be far worse otf than they are now, and
admitted that autonomy was impossible. All allowed that there is a marked improve-
ment m the state of things this year, that this was owing to the Vali, who was acting
with justice and energy, and that it was very unlikely that any other Vali would he
found as satisfactory. In short, their complaints were reduced to the old story of
ill-treatment by Kurds (in other districts; not here, where there are no Kurds), and (o
occasional cases, of which I could obtain no definite statement, of injustice on the part
ot minor officials.
A® for their rights, the only claim which I could evoke was one for the ri^ht of
establishing an Armenian press in Erzeroum.
\V bile telling them that I was always ready to listen to genuine and well-
authenticated complaints, I spoke very strongly against the system of vague and
factious agitation, warning them that the only possible result would he to afford a
pretext for that foreign interference which they professed so much to dread.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
No. G6.
Acting Consul Hampson to Mr. Fane.—{Received at the Foreign Office, August 21.)
® lr J ^ Erzeroum, August 1, 1891.
I HA\ E the honour to inform you that, from news I have received, the Kurds
are giving considerable trouble in various directions.
The Velali tribe, in the neighbourhood of Mount Ararat, have refused to pay any
taxes, or to submit to conscription, on the ground that the formation of the Kurdish
cavalry absolves them from any such duties; and many of them have crossed the
frontier into Persia.
Near Bayazid, a party of the Haideranli Kurds entered Russia, attacked the
village of Igdyr, killed the Armenian priest and others, and carried off all the property
on which they could lay their hands. I hear, on good authority, that a Russian officer,
with an escort of Cossacks, is at present in Bayazid to demand satisfaction, and the
surrender of the offenders.
In the Palu district I learn that the Kurds are at open w r ar among themselves,
and that some fifty lives have already been lost. Acting Vice-Consul Boyajian will
doubtless send me particulars of these events from Kharput.
V ith the exception of these events among the Kurds, the country is remarkably
quiet.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
No. G7.
Acting Consul Hampson to Mr. Fane.—{Received at the Foreign Office, August 21.)
Erzeroum, August 8, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that, although tranquillity exists generally
throughout this part of the country, certainly as far as any idea of disturbances on
the part of the Armenian population is concerned, no relaxation is visible as yet in
the system of espionage and annoyance towards the latter, which the Ottoman officials
have enforced for the last year and more. This is more especially evident in the
treatment which Christian travellers meet with. Although their papers may he in
perfect order, they are liable to be arrested at any moment, no reason being given for
such action; and even though they are generally released after a few hours” detention
and interrogation, the inconvenience and annoyance caused are considerable.