Documents on Armenian Massacre of Muslims in French Archives
By Erdal Sen
Zaman, Turkey
Aug 5 2005
France, a vocal opponent of Turkey’s European Union membership, is
also a fierce defendant of the alleged Armenian genocide. Lying at
the center of the Armenian Diaspora, France frequently brings up the
genocide allegations in international or domestic platforms.
France and other countries that have accepted the genocide thesis
repeatedly block Turkey’s call for a debate to be conducted
by historians. Moreover Ottoman archives are deemed “biased”. In
response to this attitude, the Turkish Historical Association (TTV)
opened the Ottoman Archives to the public and has conducted research
about the topic in the French, British, Russian and American archives.
Within the framework of the project that concluded recently, the
documents obtained from French archives are to be compiled. These
documents include diplomatic correspondence that refers to Armenian
massacres of the Muslim population within Ottoman territory. Secret
official documents refer to Armenian rioting activity and to plans
to cause panic among the Muslim population through assassinations
which date from well before the deportation decision. Correspondence
conducted with French Foreign Ministry contains information that
Armenians were plotting to kill Enver and Talat Pashas and that their
assassinations would be realized in contact with the Entente Powers.
Concerning the documents found in the French archives, TTV Chairman
Professor Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu comments, “the reason why our call for
a debate conducted by a commission of historians was refused now has
come to light.”
According to the TTV’s examination, 479 documents were brought
to Turkey from France after they were photocopied. Most of the
diplomatic documents bear a “confidential” sign on them. TTV will
publish the documents in three volumes, which give the opportunity to
evaluate the problems from the points of view of the Ottomans and the
Armenians during World War I. The documents shed light on the pre-
and post-deportation period whose original and Turkish versions
will be published separately. The exchange of arms and ammunition
between the French and the revolting Armenians are available in
French archive documents. One of the documents, which best summarizes
the actions of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire is the 14 May 1915
dated correspondence telling about the “killing of 6,000 citizens by
Armenians in Van region”. This document was sent to the French Foreign
Ministry by Russia’s Paris Embassy. Another telegram, dated 8 May,
1915, filed by French Foreign Ministry proves that triple-entente
“benefited from” Armenians. The document reveals that “Armenians who
revolted in Van killed many Muslims and civil servants”.
Speaking to Zaman about their studies regarding the international
achieve studies, Halacoglu claims that most of the countries that
prosecute Turkey about the Armenian genocide now, benefited from the
Armenians during the World War I. Halacoglu said they proved this with
the documents they obtained as he added: “According to the Ottoman
archives, we had formerly announced the massacre of Muslim public by
Armenians. The documents that we have brought from other countries
prove these massacres. Armenians’ riots, massacres and plans can be
seen in French documents as well, which played a role in the Ottoman’s
taking a decision for Armenian deportation.”
Armenian revolt
Following is a statement sent by Russian Embassy in Paris to French
Foreign Ministry on 14 May 1915:
“According to a telegraph by Sazanov to Iswoybky, a letter pinned on
a harbinger’s cloth sent by Van’s Armenian colony to inform Tbilisi
Armenians says: ‘About 6,000 were killed in the Eastern Anatolian
province Van, The Van and Catak defense still continued, the cannon
balls did not cause much damage in Van but urgent help is needed.’
This letter is dated 28 April 1915. Russia’s Embassies in Paris and
London take conveying the above information to the both cabinets as
a mission.”
Another Seon-signed telegraph from Salonica to French Foreign Ministry
on 8 May 1915 says:
“Armenians have revolted in Van. They killed Muslims and civil servants
there. They blew up municipal building and seized the city for 16
days. Troops sent from Erzurum following the events took back the
city and killed Armenians. 2,500 prominent Armenians were arrested in
Istanbul upon these events. Several bombs and documents were found at
their homes. It should be admitted that intention of Armenian rebel
societies are to kill Enver and Talat Pashas in connection with the
Triple Entente and to create panic among the Muslims by plotting
assassinations with dynamite.”