'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎86v] (163/211)

into the town and examined, he stated that lie had gone out for a walk with the
Second Secretary of the Gregorian Archbishopric; that they sat in the fields talking;
that then the Secretary got up, saying he would return in a moment, and immediately
shot him with a revolver and fled j that he had no idea of the reason of this act.
This is all that the authorities have been able to induce the wounded man to
say.
I learn, however, that the real reason of the crime is the following:—
Each of these two men w r as head of a different secret Armenian Committee: the
Secretary, of one for promoting intrigue and discontent; his victim, of a more mode
rate and peaceful one. Shortly before the attempted murder the two men had a
discussion as to the means to be* employed in order to ameliorate the condition of the
Armenian population.
The Secretary insisted on the necessity of promoting disturbances, and so forcing
the intervention of Russia or other Powers. The other strongly disapproved of such
a policy, recommending that they should trust to time and gradual reforms, or, at
least, watch events, and wait for *a more favourable moment before attempting any
m r we.
Such I believe to have been the origin of the quarrel, which ended in the
attempted murder.
The Secretary, the perpetrator of the crime, has escaped, it is believed to Russia.
His victim is in a desperate condition.
Although, as I have stated in my previous despatch of this day’s date, the country
is perfectly tranquil, and all danger of any general outbreak is, I believe, completely
gone, yet,'unfortunately, there is no doubt that a good deal of foolish and criminal
intrigue continues among a certain class of Armenians.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
No. 79.
(Received at the Foreign Office,
Kharput, September 7, 1891.
I REGRET to inform you that Colonel Mehemed Ali Bey and the physician of
the battalion died from the effects of the wounds received in the unfortunate affair of
Dersim, details of which I have had the honour to report in my former despatches.
Mehemed Ali Bey, whose acquaintance I made while he w r as Commander in
Diarbekir, was, as I believe, one of the best officers in the army.
There are at present five battalions in Khozat; the question of attacking the Kurds
is not yet decided, and the recent change of the Cabinet may delay the decision for
some time to come.
I have, &c.
(Signed) THOMAS BOYAJIAN.
No. 80.
Vice-Consul Devey to Acting Consul Hampson.—(Received at the Foreign Office,
October 16.)
Sir, Van, September 7, 1891.
WITH respect to the assassination of the Armenian, Mohsi Sahag, reported in
my despatch of the 25th ultimo, his brother-in-law and companion, Abraham, has since
reappeared unharmed.
The Alai Bey, with a strong force of gendarmerie, is still searching for the
murderers in Norduz, but I believe that so far he has sent no regular Report. There is
strong hope that the guilty parties will shortly be under arrest.
TV ith respect to the zaptieh, Ibrahim of Kavash, assassinated in the same
neighbourhood, the most reasonable surmise current is that he was murdered and
robbed by nomad Kurds, upon whose capture and conduct to the Van prison he had
once been engaged. Among the Kurds of that district wild stories were afloat that
Armenians had killed him, while by certain Armenians, as you are aware, it was
insinuated that Shakir and his companions were the assassins.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
GEORGE POLLARD DEVEY.