As has been emphasized several times in the reports there, we must expect that our opponents and those neutrals who are hostile towards us will attempt to place a share of the blame on the Imperial Government for the oppression of the Armenians in Turkey. As such accusations could also meet with a response nationally, particularly in ecclesiastical and missionary circles, it might be necessary to issue a White Book or a similar publication to justify our position.
I would like to request of Your Highness that a collection of appropriate material be prepared now. What will matter in particular is demonstrating that there actually was an Armenian movement in Turkey, with many branches, which was hostile to the state, the suppression of which was a matter of self-preservation for the Sublime Porte, and that the Armenians were incited to their treasonable acts exactly by the Entente Powers who have, thus, taken on the moral responsibility for the consequences. It would then have to be proved what was done on our part to prevent too harsh a treatment of the Armenians and to ease the suffering of those affected.