'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎77r] (144/211)

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^Naturally, such views cannot pretend to any originality, but are formed on the
opinions of those in a position to judge, confirmed, as far as possible, by my own
observations.
By studying former lieports in the archives of the Consulate, and comparing them
with what I have learnt ot the actual condition of these districts, I am led to the
conclusion that there has undoubtedly been a considerable improvement in the general
administration during the last few years; that Ottoman officials, at any rate at
Erzeroum, the centre of the local government, show a more thorough appreciation of
the necessities and difficulties of the country and population, with a more real desire
and determination to maintain order, and place things on a better footing.
But much still remains to be desired, and it must not be forgotten that, whatever
progress may have been made on the part of the local government, an advance of at
least equal dimension has taken place in the ideas of the Christian poi ulation. The
Armenians have learnt to realize more fully what is their position compared with that
of subjects in more civilized countries; discontent has spread with the growth of this
knowledge, and, as a consequence, the demands and ideas of the Christian subjects of
His Imperial Majesty, just and moderate enough in most cases, have outstripped the
slow changes towards their accomplishment which can he noticed in the acts of the
Government.
Lately, especially during the last year, the great drag on the progress of reform
has been the idea, deeply rooted apparently in the mind of the Turkish Government,
that the seeds, at least, of a revolution, not to say an active rebellion, exist among the
Armenians. The consequence has been a policy of harassing suspicion, which has
greatly increased the sullen discontent of the Christians.
As a result of this policy, the Armenians have become so sullen and discontented,
and, at the same time, are in such a state of abject terror, that they apparently seek to
find causes of complaint in every act of the authorities, good or bad. Absurd and
totally unfounded stories of ill-treatment are put about, and they actually seem now to
be doing everything which they can, in an underhand way, to provoke the Turks.
The idea of any wish or plan of rebellion among the Armenians in these parts is,
to the best of my belief, utterly groundless, and even if such a wish or design does
exist among a few restless and discontented spirits, fostered by the machinations of
political agitators, who are careful themselves to remain at a safe distance, the pow r er
of carrying such a design into execution is entirely wanting. Armenians in this
district are a most peaceable people, perpetually squabbling among themselves, and, for
that reason, the less likely to unite for any common design of rebellion. They have
neither arms nor leaders, and the idea of any general rising is laughed at by all who
know the real state of the country. In spite of this, however, the Turkish authorities
insist on acting as if they believed that an insurrection was imminent, and, by so
doing, are promoting, if it were possible, the realization of w r hat they pretend to
dread.
In my opinion, the Armenians would be a perfectly contented, hard-working, and
profitable part of the subjects of the Sultan, provided that they were protected against
the Kurds; given a fair share in the local administration of those districts where they
form a large proportion of the inhabitants; and, what would follow as a natural
consequence, treated, civilly and personally, on an equal footing’ with their Mahom-
medan neighbours.
To repeat what has been so often said, it is not laws but men who are wanting.
The existing laws, if strictly administered, would be, in general, perfectly satisfactory.
What is wanted are upright, energetic, and impartial officers, especially as Kaimakams,
Mutessarifs, and Mudirs in the provinces. At the same time, such officers must have
at their command a sufficient force of soldiers or armed police to enable them to resist
and punish the outrages of lawless Kurds by force, if necessary. At present, in the
majority of cases, such outrages are committed with perfect impunity. *
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
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