The Armenian and
Pontian Greek Genocides
The Talat Pasha Telegrams
The intent of the Turkish perpetrators of the Armenian genocide of 1915 was both explicitly and implicitly clear. This is due to the existence of a series of telegrams known as the Talat Pasha Telegrams, sent by the Turkish Minister of the Interior Talat Pasha to the Governor of Aleppo. Excerpts of these telegrams read as follows:
16 September 1915: "It is recommended that the previously issued orders regarding the treatment of the males of the known individuals, be now extended to women and children; and that trustworthy individuals be employed in this matter."
29 September 1915: "It has been previously communicated that the Government has decided on the order of the Cemiyet [Committee of Union and Progress], that all of the Armenians living in Turkey are to be destroyed and annihilated. Tnose who oppose this decision can have no interest in the continued existence of the State. Without taking into consideration the fact that they are women and children and disabled, their very existence will be ended, regardless of how terrible the means of destruction may be, and without being moved by feelings of compassion."
12 October 1915: "Reports have been received that some of the people and officials are marrying Armenian women. It is strongly recommended that this be prevented, and that such women be separated and transferred."
1 December 1915: "..a temporary polite attitude during these transfers is indispensable for instilling in the foreigners [foreign diplomats] in these areas, that these transfers, have no other aim than the relocation in keeping with the present policy. It is communicated that the known measures be executed in appropriate places only."
11 December 1915: "We hear that the correspondents of Armenian newspapers travelling in those parts have faked some letters and photographs showing certain criminal actions, which have been given to the American Consuls. Arrest and destroy such dangerous persons."
29 December 1915: "We hear that there are a number of alien officers on the road who have seen the corpses of the above-mentioned people [the Armenians] and are photographing them. It is recommended as very important that those corpses should at once be buried, and not left exposed."
20 March 1916: "By, order of the Ministry of War, those children of the known persons who have been collected along the roads and fed by the military posts, are to be taken, with the excuse that they will be looked after by the Immigrants' Office and collectively annihilated in a manner which will not arouse suspicion. We are to be informed of the results."
A number of other correspondence provides further evidence of Turkish intent. A deciphered telegram sent by Abdulahad Nuri Bey to the "General Directorate for the Settlement of Tribes and Immigrants" reads:
23 January 1917: "It has been established, following an investigation, that scarcely 10% of the Armenians subjected to the general deportation have arrived at their destined places, and that the others have died on the way, by hunger, sicknesses and other natural causes. I hope to obtain the same result for the survivors by treating them with severity."