'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎57v] (105/211)

IS
Acting Consul at Erzeroum, reporting demonstrations which were made by Armenians
at tbe^Murakhs-Kliane of Van, and at the Russian Consulate in that town.
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. A. WHITE.
Inclosure in No. 13.
Vice-Consul Devey io Acting Consul Hampson.
g* r Van, February 9, 1891.
ON the afternoon of the 4 th instant a foolish demonstration was made at the
Murakhs-Khane in this town by about 100 Armenians of no particular position, but
amongst whom were probably many relations of the young'men recently arrested (vide
my preceding despatch); apparently their object was to make a parade of discontent,
for they blamed the Murakhs-Vekil, Thaddseus Yartabed, for not caring sufficiently for
their community’s affairs, and protesting that innocent Armenians had been arbitrarily
arrested; they turned him out of the room in which the Armenian Council usually
deliberates, and locked it. The Yartabed sent word to the authorities, and by the
time that the police arrived on the scene the turbulent Armenians had already retired.
These proceedings naturally attracted the notice of a small crowd of spectators.
Thaddseus Yartabed has refused to denounce the disturbers of his peace, and I
believe he really received three warning letters, one of which has only been reported
on (vide mv preceding despatch), but asserts that he destroyed them as soon as aware
of the nature of the contents.
About 5 p.m. on the same day from forty to fifty Armenians came together to the
Russian Consulate, and four or five entered as spokesmen, while the rest were desired
to withdraw a little distance. I believe they pretended that many Armenians wished
to enter the Orthodox Church, and went on to say that the freshly-taken prisoners
were maltreated, denied water, and abused in other ways. Two or three of these
individuals were arrested next day.
This latter demonstration is very strongly disapproved by most respectable
Armenians, and it is not to be supposed for a moment that any person will change his
Church. There was a vague rumour that some 2,000 villagers desire to join the
Orthodox Church, but, to the best of my judgment, this w'as merely a symptom of
factitious discontent.
Not more than twenty-five or twenty-six arrests have been made, and one
prisoner, a youth named Derboghsian, is said to have escaped. Whispered rumours
are again sedulously circulated that the prisoners have been maltreated and tortured,
but I feel pretty sure that there is no truth in them.
A fortnight ago I believe a Mazbata was drawn up by certain Armenians
ascribing the present effervescence to laxness and apathy on the part of the Vali and
local authorities. It is at least some satisfaction to find that the Government can no
longer be attacked for arbitrary persecution and the brutal and criminal manner in
which arrests are made. As to the change of laxness and apathy, I venture to think
that the local authorities have been acting with patience and discretion in attaching
little noticeable importance to this latest phase of agitation.
Another Mazbata was in preparation, if my intelligence be not mistaken, two
days ago, purporting that Thaddseus Vartabed might advantageously be replaced in
his charge as Murakhs-Vekil.
I have reason to believe that there can be no reasonable doubt of the writers of
the anonymous letters being among the prisoners, only the chain of evidence is not
quite complete. Rumour announces that most of these prisoners will shortly be set at
liberty, and perhaps it would be wise to discharge those merely suspected or found to
be accessory. It is reported that all the political prisoners, seventy-six Armenians, at
Constantinople have been freed.
I have, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE POLLARD DEVEY.
P.S. February 11 , 1891.—Seven prisoners have been released.
G. P. D.