We started a “hunger strike”

TCD MS 3416 page 72

TCD MS 3416 page 72

On July 23rd, by way of protesting against this wholesale robbery, and of cutting down the illgotten gains of the contractor, we started a “hunger strike” which meant that we bought no extras & merely existed on bread and one course of meat. The effect of this was interesting for we received a message from the Comdt to the effect that “we must not cut down the meals as it would ruin the contractor”! The following day Col. Chitty received a summary of so called “orders” from the Comdt through the interpreter with directions that we should sign & return them. This we unanimously refused to do as they were contradictory in themselves, ridiculous, & calculated to enrich the contractor at our expense; & furthermore they were so worded that had we signed them it would have signified to the Turkish authorities that we were content & that our treatment was very satisfactory which was far from being the case.

Amongst other things which were written in these orders were a few of particular interest & by which I will explain what I mean by saying that had we signed them it would have inferred that we were contented, and that we were receiving our due. –