To Report No. 58 dated 24 February of this year.
I can only agree with Your Excellency and the Grand Vizier that upon the collapse of the European part of Turkey the Turkish government will have the important task of winning over the Armenian element to assist in a practical way in the reconstruction of the empire in Asia by means of effective reforms and enlisting their services in municipal administration. As we are just as concerned about the preservation and the consolidation of the Asiatic part of Turkey as the rulers at the Golden Horn, it is in our very own interest to assist the Supreme Porte in carrying out this task. We have both the right and the duty to do so under Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin, which enjoins the Sublime Porte to introduce reforms in the Armenian provinces and grants the Powers the right of supervision.
However, true to our previous policy, we must refrain from seizing leadership in the Armenian question. In doing so, we would arouse the distrust of the Entente powers and put ourselves in a position of opposition against Russia, without being of any use to the Armenian matter. Together with the other Powers, we will gladly advise the Turkish government on drawing up the reform project, but in general it would be better to refrain from taking a special role as advisor.
Together with Your Excellency I consider it to be desirable that the Imperial diplomatic missions in Turkey give their constant attention to the Armenian matters and continuously report to the Imperial Embassy on all their findings. On the other hand, I would consider it as being questionable whether our consuls should be entrusted with the safeguarding and the protection of Armenian interests. The assumption of such a patronage carries with it the danger of our falling between two stools and achieving the opposite of the planned effect: Turkey would feel tempted to make us responsible for the sins of the radical Armenian elements, while our charges would be inclined to make us pay if we could not enforce their often utopian pretensions in Constantinople.
We should also take all due caution when influencing our press in favour of the Armenian movement.
On the other hand, the development of the German school system in Anatolia and the increase in the number of our consulates there seems to be desirable, to me also. Your Excellency has been informed elsewhere of my willingness to give full consideration to the establishment of a school in Adana. I will be pleased to receive suggestions for the possible establishment of further schools. In this respect, our limited means will naturally require a careful examination and consideration of the question of necessity and costs. In principle, I am also in agreement with the establishment of a diplomatic mission in Erzerum. I would also not be averse to taking into consideration the new establishment of a further consulate in Anatolia. I look forward to a suggestion in due course from Your Excellency on the conceived location of such a consulate.