Ottoman Armenian Document #41

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Ottoman Armenian Document #41

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DECLARATION Article 1. Since it has been reported that some (Armenian) families, hoping to remain here, have attempted to hide in various places, anyone who shelters such persons—regardless of their nationality or sect—or anyone who learns that persons are hiding in such places and does not inform the government, shall be sent to the Extraordinary Military Tribunal (Dîvân-ı Harb-i Örfî). Article 2. Until the completion of the deportation process, those who violate or attack sacred rights such as property, life, honor, and chastity, as well as those who in any manner attempt to disturb the peace and public order of the country, shall also be severely punished as indicated in Article 1. Article 3. Among the Armenians, whether rich or poor, anyone may take with them part of their household belongings and the materials necessary for their basic needs, on the condition that the transportation cost is entirely at their own expense. Those who wish may instead leave all of their belongings inside their homes, entrusting them to the government’s custody and safekeeping. Article 4. Armenians who are to depart may openly sell whatever they choose from their household goods; however, none of the officials of the administrative class, whether high or low in rank, shall participate in such buying and selling. Necessary instructions have been issued to the police authorities to ensure the proper conduct of such transactions. Article 5. Leasing, pledging, or transferring property by way of vefaen ferağ (conditional transfer) is prohibited; however, transfers that must absolutely take place will be permitted. Article 6. As for essential provisions of the country—grain, flour, bulgur, rice, pasta, coffee, sugar, salt, kerosene, and similar items—these shall be purchased exclusively by the municipality and subsequently sold at the purchase price to those in need and to those entitled. Article 7. Grapes, fruit, olives, and similar goods shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the special instructions concerning them. Article 8. Since the three-day period granted for collecting debts owed to them and paying their own debts will end on the evening of the third Monday of the current month, the deportations will begin on Tuesday morning. On behalf of the Governor Commission President Ali Raif 1 August 1331 / 14 August 1915 ______________________________________ Original Turkish: BEYANNAME Madde 1. Bazı ailelerin burada kalmak ümidiyle ötede beride ihtifâ (saklanma, gizlenme) teşebbüsünde bulundukları haber alındığından, bu gibileri hangi millet ve mezhepten olursa olsun alıp saklayanlar ve böyle yerlerde muhtefî (saklanan, gizlenen) eşhâs bulunduğunu haber alıp da hükümete ma‘lûmât vermeyenler Dîvân-ı Harb-i Örfî’ye sevk edileceklerdir. Madde 2. İhrâc mu‘âmelisinin hitâmına kadar mal, can, ırz, namus gibi mukaddesâta taarruz ve tecavüz edenler, huzur ve asayiş-i memleketin her ne sûretle olursa olsun ihlâline tasaddî edenler dahi birinci maddede gösterildiği vechile şiddetle cezalandırılacaklardır. Madde 3. Ermenilerden zengin ve fakir her kim olursa olsun, eşyâ-ı beytiyesinden (ev eşyası) diğer kısmını ve ihtiyâcât-ı hayatiyesine ait malzemesini, ücret-i nakliyesi tamamen kendisine ait olmak üzere beraber götürebileceği gibi, arzu edenler eşyasını kâmilen hânesi içinde bırakarak hükümetin yed-i emânet ve muhâfazasına terk etmekte muhtardır. Madde 4. Gidecek olan Ermeniler esas beytiyesinden istediklerini alenen satabilirler; ancak bu yoldaki bey‘ ü şirâya sınıf-ı me’mûrînden büyük küçük hiçbiri iştirâk edemez. Bey‘ ü şirânın selâmet-i cereyânını temîn için me’mûrîn-i zabtiyyeye tebligât-ı lâzıme îfâ kılınmıştır. Madde 5. Emlâk üzerine icâr, rehin ve vefâen ferâğ memnû olup, ancak kat‘iyen vukû bulacak mu‘âmelât-ı ferâğiyeye müsâade edilecektir. Madde 6. Havâyic-i zarûriyye-i memleketten olan zahîre, un, bulgur, pirinç, makarna, kahve, şeker, tuz, gaz ve emsâli eşya münhasıran belediye tarafından mübâyaa edilerek bilâhire mübâyaa fiyatıyla erbâb-ı ihtiyâc ve istihkâka fürûht edilecektir. Madde 7. Üzüm, meyve, zeytin vesâire hakkında talîmât-ı mahsûsa ahkâmına tevfîkan muâmele olunacaktır. Madde 8. Alacaklarını almak ve borçlarını ödemek üzere tayin edilen üç gün müddet, şehr-i hâlin üçüncü Pazartesi günü akşamı hitâmâ ereceğinden, Salı günü ale’s-sabah sevkıyâta mübâşeret olunacaktır. Vali nâmına Komisyon Reisi Ali Raif 1 Ağustos 1331 / 14 Ağustos 1915

Category

Misc. Documents

Dimensions

Height

24 cm

Width

16.5 cm

General Notes

Note Type

Historical Note

Note

The Armenians of Bursa were primarily planned to be resettled within the borders of present-day Syria. For security and health reasons, the evacuation was to be carried out via railway, with Armenians transported along two main routes: Bursa–Yenişehir–İznik–Mekece and Bursa–Kütahya. Those sent to the Kütahya and Mekece stations would continue by rail to Deir ez-Zor. Following the issuance of the order authorizing forced relocation, local authorities released a declaration on 14 August 1915 to prevent potential confusion and unrest. The declaration reflected the principles outlined in encrypted telegram No. 452, dated 29 July 1331 / 11 August 1915, sent by the Ministry of Interior’s Directorate of Resettlement of Tribes and Migrants to various provinces and districts, including the Presidency of the Hüdavendigâr Commission of Abandoned Properties. The declaration outlined strict measures: anyone who sheltered Armenians attempting to evade deportation or failed to report hidden individuals would be sent to the Extraordinary Military Tribunal (Dîvân-ı Harb-i Örfî), and those who violated or attacked Armenians’ property, lives, or honor, or threatened public order, were to be severely punished. Armenians were technically allowed to take their movable belongings and dispose of immovable properties, but they were granted only three days to do so, a timeframe that made fair sales virtually impossible and led to widespread loss of value. The announcement of the deportation created a climate of panic among Bursa’s Armenians. Many attempted to hide in the homes of neighbors or acquaintances of different religions or sects, or in rural areas. According to Turkey’s state archives, some Armenians armed themselves, formed militias, and attacked Muslim villages in Bursa and its surroundings, heightening tensions and contributing to a volatile climate. Looting of Armenian homes began even before the evacuation started. The first convoy left Bursa for Eskişehir on 17 August, and within three days, approximately 1,800 families were expelled from the city. 150 Protestant and Catholic households were exempted by orders from Istanbul. Like other deportation convoys, those from Bursa followed the railway through Konya and Bozanti, then crossed Cilicia to Aleppo, while the most unfortunate were sent onward to Deir ez-Zor. Several hundred deportees managed to hide in Konya and Kütahya, and most of Bursa’s post-war survivors came from among these individuals. By 3 September, roughly 10,000 survivors from Bursa and İzmid (Izmit) had arrived in Konya. The Austro-Hungarian consul in Bursa, L. Trano, reported the imminent deportation as early as 16 August 1915, noting the establishment of a committee responsible for “abandoned property.” Three days later, Trano indicated that approximately 9,000 people had been deported, with over 7,000 transported by train and around 1,800 on foot. He further noted that the committee had immediately proceeded to confiscate manufactories and other Armenian properties. A 31 August cable from Pallavicini to Minister Burian, based on information provided by Trano on 23 August, stated that the confiscations were carried out by members of the Union and Progress Club and other Turkish notables. Trano described the methods used to seize Armenian assets even before the deportees were removed: Armenians were summoned to the office of the vilayet’s secretary general in the konak, where a bag of money was placed on a table. A state official asked the summoned individual to sign a prepared document claiming they were voluntarily ceding their property to a Turkish buyer, who counted out the money. When the “involuntary seller” left, another official intercepted them, reclaimed the money, and placed it back on the table—repeating the procedure. These accounts reveal how Bursa’s Young Turk circles combined formalistic procedures with cynical manipulation to seize the assets of prominent Armenian businessmen. The Committee for Abandoned Property in Bursa was staffed by CUP cadres dispatched from the capital, including Mumtaz Bey, Abdurahman Bey, and Receb Bey, with parliamentary deputies Memduh Bey and Hamid Rıza Bey also involved. These practices were emblematic of the systematic plundering of Armenian property under the guise of legal and bureaucratic formalities.

Created By

garenkazanc@hotmail.com

Create Date

November 15, 2025

Updated By

garenkazanc@hotmail.com

Update Date

December 10, 2025