'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎83v] (157/211)

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Ijast week two young Protestants from the school at Khar put, one a Russian
subject, arrived here "on their way to their houses, the one in Russia, the other in
Passen. All their papers were strictly in order, yet they had been arrested fRe times
between Kharput and this town. Here their papers were again examined, and they
proceeded on their way. Prom Passen, however, they were again brought hack under
arrest, absolutely no reason being given for this treatment.
Whatever justification there may have been in the spring for such vexatious
proceedings, it seems to me that there is none now; but that, on the contrary, they
can only tend to promote discontent and ill-feeling among the Christian population.
Even after learning the recent events in \ an, narrated in Vice-Consul Devey’s
despatches which I forward to-day, I cannot believe that such a harassing policy is
necessary, or other than harmful to the public security. Let strict examination be
made before passports are granted; but those whose papers are in order should, surely,
not be liable to arrest at any moment during their journeys.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES S. HAMPSON.
Ho. 68.
Acting Consul Hampson to Mr. Fane.—{Received at the Foreign Office, September 4.)
gir Erzeroum, August 15, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that the Commander-in-chief, Zeki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
arrived here last Sunday from Erzinjan,
His Excellency informed me that he is making a tour of military inspection, and
that he will proceed after a few days in the direction of Alashgerd and \ an.
I understand that the main object of the Pasha’s journey is to inquire into the
formation of the new Kurdish cavalry, in connection with which many diffiulties have
arisen, the Chiefs in most cases being unable or unwilling to produce anything
approaching the number of men which they promised.
I have, &c. ^
(Signed) CHARLES S HAMPSON.
No. 69.
Sir W. White to the Marquis of Salisbury.—{Received September 4.)
My Lord, Therapia, August 25, 1891.
I HAVE the honour to report that Her Majesty’s Acting Consul at Erzeroum has
reported to me by telegraph that a serious disturbance has taken place among the Kurds
in Derim, and that the Imperial troops were defeated with a loss of fifteen killed and
twenty-five wounded; a battalion of reinforcements has been dispatched to the scene of
the disturbances from Erzeroum.
The above information was sent to Mr. Hampson from Kharput.
(Signed) ’ W. A. WHITE.
No. 70.
Vice-Consul Levey to Acting Consul Hampson.—{Received at the Foreign Office,
September 18.)
Sir, Van, August 4, 1891.
I HAVE lately been-journeying in a few of the cazas round about Van city, viz.,
Arjish, Bergri, Mahmudi, Albak, Julamerik, Norduz (reduced to a Mudirlik), and
Kavash, and found, with reference to the hopes advanced in my despatch of the
31st October, 1890, the general condition of the inhabitants fairly satisfactory, and some
degree of concord existing between the various sections of the community. Since my
visit the Vali also has been continuing his tourne'e in much the same direction, making a
more extended round. Raids on a large scale are little heard of, though as several
squads of the horse gendarmerie have had to be drafted off from Van during the last
three months, one or two more serious cases of sheep-lifting occurred nearer home, e.g.,