introduction Part 2

Until the 1870's neither Russia nor the other powers were significantly involved with the Armenians. The rebellions broke out in the Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire in 1875-76 and the Russo- Turkish War of 1877 -78 and its aftermath provided the conditions that were to be exploited both by the Russians and the Armenians.
The Armenians also began to seek the aid of the European powers. These attempts were pursued by the Patriarchate and the clergy.
Sir Henry Elliot, the British Ambassador,writes in a letter to the Foreign Office on 7 December 1876:
"The Armenian Patriarch called upon me yesterday. His object was to express, on behalf of the large Christian community of which he is the head, the hope that the Conference will not insist upon the Porte conceding to the provinces which had risen against the Goverment privileges which would be denied to those which had remained quiet, but which were entitled to equal consideration.
I answered with reserve, saying that the object of the Conference was to restore tranquillity to the provinces where an insurrection threatened the general peace, but that it would not, I imagined, go into the whole question of the administration of the entire Ottoman Empire.
The Patriarch replied that his people were much excited, and said that if, in order to secure the sympathy of the European Powers, it was necessary to rise in insurrection, there would be no difficulty in getting upsuch a movement. "(2)


(2) F.0.424/46, p.205-206, No.336

In a dispatch dated 14 July 1878, to Lord Salisbury, Foreign Secretary, Sir Henry Layard, British Ambassador, refers to the Russian activities among the Armenian population:

"I am informed, on good authority, that Russia is already commencing her usual intrigues among the Armenians of Asiatic Turkey. Russian agents are being sent into the provinces inhabited by them with the object of stirring up discontent against the rule and authority of the Porte. A Russian party is being fonned in the capital amongst the Armenians, which already includes some leading and influential members of that community. "(3)


(3) F.0.424/72, pp.160-161, No.211

Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador in Istanbul (1894-1897) writes:
"The Armenians were pleasantly accepted in London. The Gladstone Cabinet invited the unpleased ones, classified them, put them in order and promised to support them. Henceforth, the propaganda committee was established in London which was going to be the source of inspiration.
Two simple concepts had to be adopted by the Armenian people: The concepts of nationalism and liberty.
The committees believed that it was their duty to spread these ... and thus with the help of propaganda they exploited the deficiency and faults of the Turkish administration and established secret organizations which will spread the concepts of national awakening and liberty ... "(4)
With reference to Paul Cambon's report, the Russian General Mayewsky, Consul of Russia in Van and Erzurum, states the following in his study presented to the Russian General Staff:
"P Cambon clearly claims that the rebellious Armenians believed that their duty was to make the villagers accept the concepts of nationalism, liberty and autonomy.
In this case, what would the attitude of the Turkish Government be against the activities of Armenian committees? Could the Turkish Government approve of these activities which are actually aimed to destroy her?"

(4) Livre Jaune, Affaires Armeniennes, pp.11-12