Previous reports No. 549, [A 26474/A 27578 presented to Mr. Rosenberg. A 27200 enclosed.] 580, 565.
Further reports by the Imperial Consuls in Adana and Aleppo confirm that the well-known telegraphic instructions by the Porte for the improvement of the fate of the deported Armenians have on the whole not fulfilled their purpose due to the various exceptions to the privileges granted, which the Porte itself made at the beginning and later, and also due to the despotism of the provincial authorities.
In Adana, as Dr. Buege reported on 13th inst., widows, orphans, soldiers’ families, even the sick and blind were to be deported.
At the same time, Mr. Roessler reports from Aleppo that despite the order of the Porte to provide the deportees with food, the majority of them would die of hunger as the authorities were not in a position to organise such mass provisions.
Recently the following telegram was received from Mr. Roessler on 18th inst.:
The order given by the Porte to refrain from deporting those who were still in their homes is a complete illusion, as some of them can be termed as being suspicious and this is often used as an excuse.
Contrary to the order, the families of soldiers are not being exempted. Also, the severely sick are being transported away mercilessly.
Transports are again being carried out to Der Zor and Mosul.
Despite assurances by the Porte to the contrary, everything is being directed at the destruction of the Armenian people.
Armenians have asked me to present this once again to Your Excellency."