'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎68v] (127/211)

political offences, and that, at the same time, orders had been sent to the provinces for
the release of all Armenians who had been arrested on similar charges.
A telegram to the above effect was received from the Patriarch by the
Armenian Pishop here, but the Vali denied all knowledge of any such order. His
Excellencv, however, promised to telegraph for further information on the subject, and
the Bishop, afraid of giving offence, consequently took no further steps in the matter.
Nothing more has been heard on the subject, and there the matter rests.
Meanwhile, far from the Armenians being released, fresh victims are constantly
being thrown into prison on the most trivial charges. A week ago a young Armenian
Protestant was proceeding to Erzingian on business connected with the American
Mission. Although his papers were in perfect order, he was arrested at Mama-
Khatun, half-way betweeen this and Erzingian, and brought back here, where he is at
present kept in confinement. Absolutely no charge has been made against him.
Two Armenians (Bussian subjects, it is said) are in prison on equally absurd
charges. The Turkish authorities wish to send them to Russia, but will not agree to
the demand of the Russian Consulate General that they should first be examined there
as to their right to Russian nationality.
Having been confined to my bed during the last fortnight by an attack of small
pox, I have been unable to inquire personally into these cases.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
P.S.—Since writing the above
Mama-Khatun has been released.
I learn that the Armenian who was arrested at
C. S. H.
Inclosure 2 in No. 36.
Acting Consul Hampson to Sir W. White.
Sir, Erzeroum, March 21, 1891.
AS directed by your Excellency in your telegram of the 14th instant, I have the
honour to forward herewith lists of the Armenians still in custody in this Consular
district charged with offences nominally of a political character. It is very difficult to
obtain exact information of prisoners who are in confinement at Erzingian and in
Alashgerd, but I have done everything in my power to make these lists full and
reliable.
Your Excellency will observe from the inclosed lists that there are eighteen
Armenians still in prison in Erzeroum, admittedly on political charges, of whom only
five have received any sentence.
In by far the majority of cases, absolutely no investigation has taken place since
the arrest of the prisoners.
Of the prisoners arrested in connection with the events of the SOth June, 1890,
none remain in prison. On the other hand, no single Mussulman was ever arrested on
account of that disturbance.
At Bayazid there are three or four political prisoners.
At Erzingian seven Armenians are in prison on political charges.
At Kara-Kelissa and Toprak-Kala, Alashgerd, there are at present thirty-two
Armenian prisoners accused vaguely of seditious practices.
This makes a total of sixty or sixty-one political prisoners in the Erzeroum
district.
Erom \ ice-Consul Hevey I learn that in Van some ten or fifteen Armenians have
recently been released, leaving only ten or eleven still in custody.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
P.S.—I may add that Hazaros Maloian, an Armenian Protestant clergyman, who
was employed, under the American Mission, in Alashgerd, was summoned here a
year ago. Though never imprisoned, and no charge made against him, he is
not allowed to leave Erzeroum, but is kept here, on bail, unable to return to his work.
C. S. H.