Armenia and its sorrows

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78 ARMENIA AND ITS SORROWS
he at once made formal representations to the
Sultan, who promptly contradicted the reports, and
charged Vice-Consul Hallward with instigating the
Armenians to revolt. This charge was duly reported
to the British Government, and Colonel Chernside
was ordered to proceed at once to Sassoun and
investigate the whole affair. But investigation by an
impartial authority was precisely what the Porte
most feared, and after considerable manoeuvring to
defeat the intentions of England, the following;
message was delivered to Sir Philip Currie on the
15th of November
:
" His Imperial Majesty will send before to-morrow
week a Commission to inquire into the events which
have taken place in the Sassoun district, as well as
into all the reports mentioned in the Memorandum
presented to His Imperial Majesty by Her Majesty's
Embassy on the 1st November.
" The Sultan considers that it is in his own interest
to inquire into the facts as reported, and assures Her
Majesty's Ambassador that the inquiry will be carried
out in a just and impartial manner, and that punishment
will fall on the guilty. The Commission will
be composed of two or three Imperial aides-de-camp
and of a civil functionary, all trustworthy men, who
will be sworn to give a true report. His Majesty does
not believe in the charges which have been brought
against Vice - Consul Hallward of inciting the
Armenians to rebellion ; he considers them null and
void, and withdraws them."
No sooner had this proposal been accepted by the
British Government than the wiles of the Turk became
apparent. An official notice was sent to the papers,
announcing that there had been no outrages, and that
the Conniiission was only sent to incpiire into the
criminal conduct of Armenian brigands. This policy
wa,s pursued until the patience of England was