The Hon. The Colonial Secretary
  Nicosia

G.G. AMIRAYAN                                          NICOSIA, 28th October, 1925
BARRISTER AT LAW                                           
P.O. Box No. 268

 Confidential

 Sir,

With reference to the Charities Law, 1925, I consider it my bounden duty to submit for His Excellency’s information that Mr. Melkonian’s advisers headed by Archbishop Zaven, late Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, and a certain Mr. Kayarian, an unscrupulous lawyer of Alexandria, have prevailed on Mr. Melkonian to change his mind and to distrust British institutions and control, with the result that it will no longer be possible to bring under the law in question the administration of the orphanage which Mr. Melkonian has built at Ayia Paraskevi.

I am informed that Mr. Melkonian has recently given all his property to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, but has vested the administration of such property in an Armenian Benevolent Association known as “Parekordzagan”.

In reality this Association occupies itself mainly with political matters, and during the last European War greatly contributed to the formation and maintenance of an Armenian military force under French control; and it is generally believed that in a few years time when this Association has squandered Mr. Melkonian’s fortune for political purposes, there will be no funds left for the maintenance of the orphanage at Ayia Paraskevi.

I may state that Mr. Melkonian is an old man without any education and is quite unprincipled. I deeply regret that relying on his verbal and written instructions to me I have troubled His Excellency about passing a law which would have afforded perpetual protection of the Melkonian Orphanage.

His Excellency has very kindly interested himself in this orphanage and I am grieved to find now that his invaluable support of the efforts made by me and Mr. Seropian to found the administration of it on a sound basis have not been appreciated by Mr. Melkonian.

In the circumstances I would beg to submit my humble apology to His Excellency and to thank him for all his kindness in the matter.

                                                                                     I have the honour to be,

                                                                                                     Sir,

                                                                                      Your obedient servant,