Memorandum
His Majesty's Government have impressed on the Russian Government that, for reforms in Turkey to prove successful, two conditions are essential:
1) that there should be unanimity among the Powers, and
2) that their scheme shall be accepted without coercion by the Ottoman Government.
Sir E. Grey has advocated that the Ambassadors of the six Powers at Constantinople should discuss both schemes of reforms namely the general scheme proposed by the Ottoman Government and the scheme for the Armenian Vilayets proposed by Russia. The most urgent consideration is the introduction of reforms in the Armenian provinces and it can be admitted that it would be impossible to elaborate a perfectly uniform scheme for all the provinces.
His Majesty's Government have expressed to the Russian Government their hope that it may be possible to react on the above lines the agreement necessary in order to begin the discussion of the question by the Ambassadors.
Foreign Office, July 24th 1913.