Armenian Genocide French Documents

CONSUL OF FRANCE IN SALONIKA SEON TO DELCASSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER

T. N. 110

SALONIKA AUGUST 20, 1915, 18:30
(RECEIVED: 20:55)

Communication

I have received information from various reliable sources that the armenians are pursued not only in Constantinople, but in the vilayets, too.

The number of Armenians killed in the empire reaches 200000, and if this state of affairs lasts long, the nation will be entirely exterminated…

(A.M.A.E., Guerre 1914-1918, Turquie, tome 887, f. 179). A. Beylerian, les grandes puissances, l’empire ottoman et les armeniens dans les archives francaises (1914-1918), p. 58.


REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT ON THE MASSACRES OF THE ARMENIANS

? DECEMBER, 1915

…The number of Armenians, who disappeared, were killed, forced to become islams, abducted during deportation of the Armenian population in Armenia and vilayets of Armenia, exceeds 500000.

Arrests are constant in Constantinople, the arrested are sent away from the capital without any guarantee of their security. They are merchants born in vilayets and settled in Constantinople for a long time. Some Armenians succeeded in getting permission for abandoning the ottoman territory by paying large sums, which sometimes exceeded 100000 francs, to the Turkish and even the German officials.

The entire Armenian population in turkey was finally condemned to death and this verdict was implemented in the empire according to the German method. Neither Germany, nor Austria did any attempts to stop their ally, their ambassadors in Constantinople come to nothing more than making memoranda, they didn’t make a step, and they will show the pieces of paper for justifying themselves on the day of giving account. The consuls of these two powers to the u.s.a. state that “it is an internal affair of turkey”. Moreover, German officers are dubious owners of the supreme class in the whole ottoman territory, they admitted measures implemented by the civic and military authorities. They couldn’t justify evil deeds of the gendarmes and the army…

(A.M.A.E., Guerre 1914-1918, Turquie, tome 887, ff. 250-254 v). A. Beylerian, les grandes puissances, l’empire ottoman et les armeniens dans les archives francaises (1914-1918), p. 151


M. MARCEL CACHIN, DEPUTY OF SENA TO MR. ARISTID BRIANDE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL, THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER

PARIS, DECEMBER 19, 1915

According to the stories of reliable eye-witnesses, the massacres in their cruelty exceed the massacres of 1894-1895, and the year 1915 filled Armenia with blood…

…in 1915 one million of these unfortunate people were exterminated by Enver pasha, the former student of Berlin military academy with complicity of German officers and consuls. The foreign affairs committee of the chamber was informed by respectable Mr.Aharonyan about the new attempt of extermination of the whole nation. The tragic story of this prominent Armenian was confirmed by the reports of American and Swiss missionaries and consuls, and they are involved in the last book of honorable lord Bryce.

… nobody could remain indifferent to the martyrdom of this nation subjected to extermination. Despite these present misfortunes France will protest against these terrible crimes once again in accordance with its noble and tender traditions.

A.M.A.E., Guerre 1914-1918, Turquie, tome 887, ff. 244-245v). A. Beylerian, les grandes puissances, l’empire ottoman et les armeniens dans les archives francaises (1914-1918), p. 148


REPORT ON THE MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS IN CILICIA UNDER FRENCH ADMINISTRATION

Decypher, Admiral de Robeck, (Constantinople), March 7th, 1920. D. 4.20. p.m. March 7th. 1920. R. 5.45. p.m. March 8th. 1920. No.200. (R).

Following for Mr. Aneurin Williams M.P. is transmitted at request of W.A. Kennedy. Message begins. No. 5. Confirmation of news of Marash: 18,000 massacred in district: city burnt and without supplies and has not been relieved: 2,000 refugees have reached Adana: 13,000 women and children perished in snow-storm on way there: 8,000 Armenians still in Marash of whom many are wounded: Hadjia Zeitoun isolated: Adana, Tarsus not immediately threatened, but anxious and unsettled: no confidence of security in district. Message ends. I submit any appearance of official confirmation of this message should be guarded against. We have no information other than that already telegraphed. French, as previously stated, are very reticent but take the line that loss of life is to be ascribed to casualties incident to hostilities and subsequent withdrawal rather than to massacre.