While Tahsin was governor of Erzurum , the deportations of Armenians , as part of the initial stages of the Armenian Genocide , began . Upon receiving orders to likewise carry out deportations , Tahsin Bey was hesitant . He appealed to the Third Army commandment stationed near Erzurum to stall the deportations , since he believed that the deportees ' lands , assets , and lives would be in jeopardy . Historian Raymond Kévorkian thus notes that Tahsin " joined the ranks of the valis , mutesarifs , and kaymakams who displayed a degree of reluctance to apply the deportation orders because they were perfectly conscious of what these implied for the people involved . " Kévorkian adds that Tahsin 's reaction to the deportations demonstrates that the military authorities were enforcing the deportation orders , and that the politicians had no other choice but to comply with the fait accompli . These military personnel , according to Tahsin himself , were under orders of the central government , and directly involved in the " cleansing " of the Armenians around Erzurum . Meanwhile , in a coded telegram he sent to the central government on 24 May 1915 , Tahsin stated that the Armenians were not a threat . He then attempted to spare women , children , and the elderly from deportation , but failed ; the army commandment systematically deported all Armenians . Tahsin had to comply with the deportation orders , albeit reluctantly , so as to prevent harsher measures from occurring . Tahsin reportedly told Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter , the German vice consul of Erzerum , that he was against the deportations but that he had to " obey " in order to " soften it . " Scheubner-Richter testified himself that Tahsin " did what he could , but he had no power . " This was also confirmed by American missionary Robert Stapleton 's testimony which says that Tahsin rejected all orders to massacre Armenians , but was " overruled by force majeure . " Tahsin served as governor of Erzurum until 10 August 1916 , when he was transferred to Syria
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Hasan Tahsin Uzer