'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎50r] (90/211)

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir W. White.
gj r Foreign Office, January 28, 1891.
I HAVE received and laid before the Queen your Excellency’s despatch
of the 17th instant, in which you report the steps which you have been taking in
order to obtain as extensive an amnesty as possible for the numerous Armenians who
have been exiled and imprisoned for political otfences; and I have to inform your
Excellency that your efforts in this direction are approved by Her Majesty s Government.
I am, &c.
(Signed) SALISBUHY.
No. 5.
Sir W. White to the Marquis of Salisbury.— (Received February 6 .)
Mv Lord Constantinople, January 31, 1891.
ON receipt of Mr. Acting Consul TIampson s despatches of the Ibth instant, I
at once instructed Sir A. Sandison to bring their contents to the special notice of the
Grand Vizier, and I have now the honour to inclose copies of the despatches m
question, as well as of Sir A. Sandison’s Memorandum giving details of his interview,
and reporting his Highness’ language on that occasion.
For previous particulars in reference to the affair at Vartennis, I have the honour
to refer your Lordship to the late Mr. C. Lloyd’s despatch of the 21st August
last, which formed an inclosure in my despatch to your Lordship of the 31st of that
month ; and I propose to supply the Grand Vizier with the particulars asked for by
his Highness, as mentioned in the last paragraph of the inclosed Memorandum.
Your Lordship will perceive that, under instructions from me, Sir A. Sandison
availed himself of the same opportunity to urge on Kiamil Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. the appointment of
proper Governors-General, as well as the nomination of honest and efficient judicial
functionaries in Kurdistan, and further to address various questions to Ins Highness
with reference to the Armenians of Zeitoun, and the imprisonment of their Bishop at
Marash. _ . 0
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. A. WHITE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 5.
Memorandum by Sir A. Sandison.
IN accordance with your Excellency’s instructions, I took an early opportunity
of telling the Grand Vizier that, in recommending certain measures for the improve
ment of the condition of affairs in Kurdistan, you had repeatedly urged upon Ins
attention the appointment of proper Govemors-General, as well as the nomination o
proper and efficient judicial functionaries. . ^ ,,
Your Excellency, I added, wished now to know, with a view to reporting the
matter to Her Majesty’s Government, whether the Sultan, if not Ins Government,
intended to act upon this important suggestion. His Highness stated, m reply, that
there were three important posts of Governor-General m Kurdistan, viz., Lrzeroum,
Van, and Bitlis. . . , • j i t» *
The latter post, he remarked, had for some time past been occupied by llaouf
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , ex-Mutessarif of Jerusalem, who, as your Excellency is awaie, ias gn ui u
satisfaction to the people in general, and to his Government. With regard to A an,
there was -an intention, he said, of changing the present Governor when the Porte
received testimonials, both from the Christian and Mussulman mlia ntan s, expressing
their satisfaction with his government. Lastly, as regards Erzeroum, his Highness
described the Governor as having so far given no cause of complaint to the people and
the Government, but that, nevertheless, he was quite prepared to change the last-
mentioned two Governors in case they should not continue to give satisfaction.
With reference to judicial functionaries, his Highness said that, in pursuance ot
the representations made to him by your Excellency through me, he lost no time m
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