So-Called Armenian Problem

Armenians, the government made a law (27 May 1915) to displace the Armenians to Syria a place out of the war, and more peaceful. As Armenian historian, Leo said; "the Ottoman government defended itself against the Armenian societies revolted by Russian influence and with a trust to the Russian arms". The Armenians and the European Powers named whose displacement as "Genocide" and they used this as a propaganda tool against the Ottoman government.

In fact, displacement was only a measure of security for a certain group of people whose treacherous actions were proven. The Ottoman government was aiming to end the revolts and rebellions. In that situation, displacement was the most definite solution. The Ottoman government took measures to protect its own lands. Moreover, during many countries had taken similar measures in the history. Even in the Second World War, USA and many other countries did the same. ..With the regression of the Ottoman Empire, the minorities living in the empire began to fight for their independence under protection and guidance of Russia, Britain, France, and Austro-Hungarian Empire. Some of the Christian subjects succeeded and became an example for Armenians. Thus, from the second half of the 19th century Armenian Question came in to being.

In this period, Russia became one of the most powerful states of the world and she saw the Ottoman Empire as a step for her diffusion through the warm seas. To reach her target Russia made wars and incited the Christian minorities living under the Ottoman flag. She became the protector of these minorities. At the same time, the other European powers France and Britain were intending to benefit from the catholic and the protestant Armenians and in Istanbul, they instituted the Armenian Catholic Church in 1830, Armenian Protestant Church in 1847. This show of protection by the European Powers was a disguise of their intention to be involved in the interior affairs of the Ottoman government and to divide the empire.

After the Treaty of Berlin, "Armenian Question" progressed in two directions. The first direction is increasing European interference and pressure on the Ottoman internal affairs, the second is Armenian armament, and secret organisations emerged in Syria, Anatolia, and Roumelia.

Russia was the initial provocateur of the secret Armenian organisations. This protective role of Russia urged Britain and France's interest on the Armenians. The number of the British Consulates in the Eastern Anatolia increased and many Protestant missionaries were sent to the region.

Because of European provocation, the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire began to form local nationalist groups and secret societies. However, all these organisations remained local and failed to create a widespread influence. The Armenian habitants living in peace and welfare did not join those radical societies and many of them ended.

Hencefort the failure to create a movement among the Ottoman Armenians led the Armenian nationalists to form societies in Russia. Thus, in 1887, an organisation was formed on socialist lines, in Geneva, named Hunchak. In Tiflis, in 1890, an Armenian Committee more rebellious, more nationalist, and more radical was founded, named Dashnaktsutium, whose members were commonly called Dashnaks. The target of those committees was Anatolia and "to give freedom to the Ottoman Armenians."
First the Hunchaks began to organise demonstrations mainly targeting to attract the attention of the European powers and the Dasnaks followed these attempts. The main characteristics of these demonstrations are their planing and leading systems. All the actions were planned and led outside Turkey.

The first revolt was in Erzurum, in 1890. Kumkapi demonstration followed this revolt and Kayseri, Yozgat, Corum and Merzifon events became next between 1892-93. In 1894, Sasun revolt, in 1895 Babiali demonstration and Zeytun revolt were organised. In 1896, the Ottoman Bank was occupied and Van was raided. In 1903, the second Sasun revolt was occurred. In 1905, an assassination to Sultan Abdulhamid was made but failed and Adana revolt, in 1909, followed this unsuccessful attempt.

The Ottoman Army repressed the revolts, they were accused as murderers, and the Armenians gave the whole world a false message as "the Muslims are killing the Christians." With these events, "Armenian Question" raised and gained a more international identity. The target of Armenian revolts was to create anarchy and chaos in Turkey to incite the Ottoman army forces. In fact, the reports of the British and Russian diplomatic missions reveal the reality. The British and Russian consulates in Anatolia and the Christian missionaries played an important role in Armenian propaganda and they have misled the public opinion.

On 01 November 1914, the Ottoman Empire entered the First World War, which was taken an advantage by the Armenian Committees. Armenians sided with Russia and they joined the Russian Army. Moreover, they entered eastern Anatolia with Russian Expeditionary Forces. In addition, they have organised new revolts in Anatolia, stabbed the Ottoman Army from its back, and massacred the Turkish locals. They have not only killed the Turks but also they killed the Greek and Jew habitants of Hakkari region. While all these ruthless events in the eastern territories were going on, the British and French fleet was forcing the Dardanelles. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Army was in war nearly in every front of the country from eastern Anatolia, through Galichia and Iraq.

At first, the Ottoman government alerted the Armenian Patrick, the Armenian deputies, and the influential Armenian subjects that it ought to have taken measures about these events if the revolts would continue. However, this warning did not solve the question and the government closed the Armenian societies and committees on 24 April 1915. In the same day 235 people were arrested because of treachery. The Armenians living outside Turkey commemorate 24 April as the "Day of Genocide". The day in which the secret societies were closed and the traitors were arrested.

Armenian Casualties

It is true that the Armenians gave causalities during displacement and the fights. This fact has never been denied. Under the atmosphere of the world war and the negative conditions of the revolts, the Armenian convoys had been attacked. The Ottoman government had struggled to cease the attacks and punished the guilty people. To maintain security and substance of the convoys, the government declared required orders. These orders could still be found in the archives of the European States. Some of the orders are as below:

"The Armenians should be safely transported to their new settlements. During the journey, their rest and security should be maintained. From their arrival until their settlement, all the costs would be compensated from the refugee appropriations. Considering their previous wealth and requirements new land would be appropriated. New houses should be built and agricultural needs would be implemented."

"Necessary measures should be taken to hinder possible fights between the civil Muslims and the Christians as this order aims to cease the rebellious Armenian societies."

"To maintain resettlement of the Armenians, security forces should be charged."

"For the poor refugees, sufficient substance would be maintained and doctors would control their health everyday."

On the other hand, the negative conditions of the world war, insufficiency of food, medicine, vehicles should be considered. Moreover, typhus and the other epidemics negatively effected the refugees. For example, 90.000 soldiers of the Ottoman Army had suffered from the cold and epidemics in the eastern front. In those days, even in Istanbul people had suffered due to negative effect of the war. The negative conditions of that time did not effect only the Armenians but the whole Ottoman habitants. All the Ottomans faced with poverty, diseases, and hunger.

Treaty of Shvres was signed after the First World War. It provided for an independent Armenia which risen the hopes of the Armenians. The President of USA Wilson was given authority to determine the frontiers.

The Treaty of Shvres was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne on 24 July 1923; the treaty recognised the boundaries of the modern state of Turkey. The Allies dropped their demands of territory to Armenia. In fact, before the Treaty of Lausanne, the Treaty of Moscow was signed on 16 March 1921 and the frontier between Soviet Russia and Turkey was drawn. Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, which was founded in Caucasia, approved this frontier on 13 October 1921 with the Treaty of Kars. Thus, Armenian demand of territory in Anatolia vanished.

As all the other minorities of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians lived in welfare and peace for centuries. The Armenians never massacred by the Turkish army. On the contrary, they have always been in the significant positions of the government and society.

FAMOUS ARMENIANS OF THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT

Agop Gircikyan Counsellor of the first Turkish Ambassador, Resid Pasha.

Krikor Agaton Chairman of the Ottoman Post and Telegram Office (1848-50).

Sahak Abro General secretary of the Ministry of International Affairs (1850-).

Sebuh Laz Secretary in the Turkish Embassy in Paris (1863).

Krikor Odyan Principle of the International courts.

Serkis Effendi First Secretary of Ministry of International Affairs (1870-1871)

Ovakim K. Reisyan Judge

Artin Dadyan Pa~s Counsellor in Ministry of foreign Affairs (1880) Diran

Aleksan Bey Ottoman Ambassador for Belgium (1862)

Yetvart Zohrab Effendi Ottoman Ambassador for London (1838-1839)

Hirant Duz Bey Ottoman Ambassador for Italy (1900-1907)

Hovsep Misakyan Effendi Ottoman Ambassador for La Haye (1900-1907)

Sarkis Balyan Turkish Consulate for Italy (1900)

ARMENIAN DEMANDS AND PROPAGANDA

The Armenians' demands from Turkey are recognition and compensation of so-called genocide, and grant of land. These demands are based on following claims:

- The Turks occupied Armenia and deported the Armenians.

- The Turks systematically massacred the Armenians from after Russo-Ottoman War in 1877-78.

- From the beginning of 1915, the Turks methodically annihilated the Armenians.

- Talat Pasha gave secret commands for the annihilation of the Armenians.

- 1.5 million of Armenians had been killed in the genocide.

All these claims can be vanished with an objective research. As follows:

- When the Turks came to Anatolia, an independent Armenia did not exist; thus, it is impossible to say that the Turks occupied the Armenian lands.

- The Armenian riots following the Russo-Ottoman War in 1877-78 are mentioned above. Today it is clearly known that the Armenians revolted to attract the attention of the European Powers.

- Events of 1915 were just a measure taken by the Ottoman government to provide security in its territories against the Armenians who stabbed the Ottoman Army from its back. Besides United Nations describes genocide as a government's intention to annihilate a race. There is no evidence to prove such an intention of the Ottoman government. The Ottoman archives are opened to the historians and any further investigation would reveal the facts.

Armenian historian Andonyan claimed that he found the confidential documents of Talat Pasha and for many years these documents used as the evidence of so-called genocide. However, two Turkish historians researched those documents and proved they are counterfeit.

- These telegrams were published in British "Daily Telegraph" in 1919. It was believed that during the occupation of Aleppo forces of General Allenby had found some documents remained from the Ottoman government. When the British Foreign Affairs Bureau have investigated this issue, they have learnt that the documents belonged to an Armenian group in Paris. The original documents of this investigation are still in the British archives.

Talat Pasha was killed by an Armenian terrorist called Tehliryan, in Berlin. During Tehliryan's trial in Berlin, five of those counterfeit telegrams adduced to the court although their nullity was proven. The language and the paper of the telegrams were not in the Ottoman style and this fact was clarified by the experts.

The number of the Armenian casualties does not have any valid basement. It is said that 1.5 million Armenians were killed but, according to the Ottoman records, there were 1.3 million Armenian habitants. If the total Armenian population was, 1.3 million it is impossible to kill 1.5 million Armenians. However, there is neither a method nor a record to count the Armenian casualties. For example, the president of the Armenian delegate in the Lausanne Conference Bogos Nubar stated that, in that time, 700.000 Armenians migrated to other countries and there were only 280.000 Armenians in Turkey. If these numbers are correct and the Armenian population was 1.3 million, the casualties should be 300.000 including the ones joined the Russian Army and died in the First World War.

In 1918 edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica the number of the Armenian casualties is 600.000 but in its 1968 edition, the number is 1.5 million. As seen the casualties increase on paper.

After the war, in Istanbul, Mustafa Pasha Council was formed and the remaining members of Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) were arrested. The list of the suspects were given by the British and four group of people were arrested:

1. The people who harmed the Armenians and the Greeks during the war.

2. The people who disobeyed the war rules.

3. The people who disobeyed the armistice.

4. The people who disobeyed the allies in Caucassia (these are the Azerbaijani Turks).

At first, the trial was planned to be holding in Istanbul but later the suspects were taken to Malta. Most of them would have been judged from the Armenian genocide. The court took more than a year and the British made long investigations. The arrests were made usually on denunciations , which still exist in the files. The British government asked the Royal Attorney if it is possible to suit against these people but the response was negative, because there were not enough evidence to trace a trial. Britain then asked for evidence to the Embassy in Washington but the response was the same, there was no proof of genocide in the American archives.

The telegrams which, Andonyan mentioned in his book were in Britain at that time. If they were real the British government would have absolutely revealed them to the court and sentence the suspects. If the most keen, Turk opponent Lloyd George's government did not prove anything, it means there is no proof to condemn Turkey.

During the displacement, the Ottoman government associated with Armenian Relief Society and USA. USA distributed aids to the refugees. In this respect, it is illogical to accuse the Ottoman government by a methodical annihilation movement.

To conclude, it is irrational to accept a counterfeit genocide. In fact, the Armenians massacred the people of Anatolia. In Turkish Government's Archives there documents proving this cruelty. The chart shown as below clarifies the facts:

TURKISH CASUALTIES IN ANATOLIA AND CAUCASIA BETWEEN 1906-1922 (REFERENCE GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES) Volume and Document Number Date Place Death

1/2 1914-2-21 Kars, Ardahan 30000

1/3 1916-5-8 Pasinler 2000

1/3 1916-5-8 Tercan 563

1/3 1916-5-8 Van,Tatvan 1600

1/3 1916-5-9 Bitlis 40000

1/3 1916-5-8 Bitlis 10000

1/3 1915-5-9 Bitlis 123

1/4 1915 Van 44

1/4 1916-5-22 Van 1000

1/4 1916-5-22 Koprukoy, Van 200

1/4 1916-5-22 Van 15000

1/4 1916-5-22 Van 8

1/4 1916-5-22 Van 80000

TERROR

Because of the alleged Armenian genocide, many Turkish diplomats were assassinated in Europe. The list is as below:

Date City Title Name
22.10.1975 Vienna Ambassador DanisTunaligil
24.10.1975 Paris Ambassador Driver IsmailEnez
16.02.1976 Beirut First Secretary OktyaCirit
09.06.1977 Vatican City Ambassador Taha Carim
02.06.1978 Madrid Ambassador's wife Necla Kuneralp
Retired Ambassador NesirBalcioplu
12.10.1979 The HagueAmbassador's AhmetBenler

TURKISH MASSACRED IN GAVUSOGLU BARNYARD

Experts brought some human skeletons found coincidentally during the construction of a house in Gavusoglu Samanligi, and taken to the laboratuary at Hacettepe University in order to examine it. As known, Anthropology enables the scientists to know the age and causes of death, sex, ailments, and some other facts by means of skeletons with the aid of advanced techniques and methods. Above all it is possible to determine the which race it belongs to through the examination of a skull. It was impossible to match the skulls with the bones of the body where, the remains of the skeletons we found. Thus, we counted the individual skeletons according to the amount of skulls and we numbered each.

In other words each individual skeleton happened to have a different anthropological identity. We resolved that there were five females and four males among the remains. The most prominent criterion that indicates the age of death is symohysin pubis which is a part of Pelvis. This part was preserved in seven of the individual skeletons we worked on. We demonstrated the age range of skeletons found in GavuSoGlu Samanligi as follows.

1.Female(P6)........................17-18 age
2.Male (P7)..........................17-18 age
3.Female (P4)......................18-19 age
4.Female (P3)......................27-30 age
5.Male (P2)..........................35-40 age
6.Female (P1)......................39-44 age
7.Male(P5)...........................50 age (approximately)
8.Chid (D.1).........................15 age (approximately)

There was a striking common denominator of the skeletons examined; That was marks on the skulls which resulted from the blows of cutting tools. Accordingly, the common cause of death was subjection to severe torture.

IV. General Conclusion and Evaluation

The skeletons which were coincidentally found in GavuSoGlu Samanligi (ErciS) were examined throughly in terms of antrophological methods. It is concluded that these skeletons belong to mostly young people who were celiberately killed and some of them were exposed to fire. The skulls demonstrated that these skeletons belong to people from the Alpin race-type. Where Anatolia is concerned, they most probably belong to Turks. The scientific discoveries prove that these people were subjected to severe torture and killed violently. These facts confirm the statements of the witnesses who live in the same area today.

Thus the part of history related to Armenians has to be rewritten once the people who were massacred violently were not Armenian but Turk.