The massacre in Trebizond occurred just as the Sultan, after six
months of refusal, was about to consent to the scheme of reforms,
as if to warn the powers that in case they persisted, the mine
was already laid for the destruction of the Armenians. In fact,
the massacre of the Armenians is Turkey's real reply to the
demands of Europe that she reform. From Trebizond the wave of
murder and robbery swept on through almost every city, and town,
and village in the six provinces where relief was promised
to the Armenians. When the news of the first massacre reached
Constantinople, a high Turkish official remarked to one of the
Ambassadors that massacre was like the small-pox; they must all
have it, but they wouldn't need it the second time.