REPORT FROM THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIA IN GEORGIA

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REPORT FROM THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIA IN GEORGIA TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REGARDING THE FORMATION OF A COMMISSION COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND ITALY TO HALT MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KARABAKH No. 187, April 3, 1919

In response to my request, which was also supported by the Karabakh population, a commission has been appointed consisting of representatives from England, France, and Italy. They are to proceed to Karabakh immediately upon Gress’s arrival. For the past two days, the newspaper Azerbaijan has published no dispatches. Aghdam has been cut off from Shushi, and Askeran, according to Mr. Vekilov, was already in the hands of insurgents yesterday. A general assault is expected today.

I have twice sent detailed telegrams to Mr. Agharonian regarding these developments, urging expedited resolution of the border issue. Martel has likewise sent a similar telegram to his government. Would it not be advisable to telegraph directly, on behalf of the Armenian government, to the Supreme Council* stressing the urgency of a prompt resolution to the border question?

Tomorrow, the people of Karabakh are expected to hold rallies demanding an immediate end to hostilities.

For Pre-Armen Tumanov Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Opus 1, File 563, Page 54. Original. Typewritten.

\* Refers to the Supreme Council of the Paris Peace Conference.

NOTICE FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARZOUMANYAN REGARDING HIS APPOINTMENT AS REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BRITISH COMMAND’S COMMISSIONER FOR AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION OF ARMENIAN KARABAKH April 4, 1919

Following communications with General Thomson, Commander of British Forces in Transcaucasia, the Government of the Republic of Armenia has appointed you as representative to the British Command’s Commissioner for the administration and affairs concerning Armenian Karabakh.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Tigranyan Secretary General A. Ter-Akopian Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 201, Opus 1, File 42, Page 9. Certified copy. Typewritten. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 97.

FROM THE RECORD OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN GENERAL ANDRANIK, COMMANDER OF THE ARMENIAN SPECIAL STRIKE UNIT, AND MAJOR GIBBON REGARDING THE HOSTILE POLICIES ENACTED BY THE BRITISH COMMAND IN ZANGEZUR AND KARABAKH Keshishkend, April 6, 1919

[Andranik] … The Armenian population is encircled on all sides and appears to be deliberately condemned to starvation. A great number of refugees are dying before our eyes from hunger, perishing, while in Nakhichevan and Kars, the Turks enjoy millions of poods of Armenian grain. We have waited six hundred years for this day, yet now we see that not only are the rights of the Karabakh Armenians, the people of Zangezur, and of Nakhichevan ignored, but everything is done to favor and listen exclusively to the Turks.

It has been three months since the British arrived in this region, and they have done nothing for the Armenian people. They obstruct our efforts and place bans on our legitimate aspirations. Armenians constantly make concessions and are continuously oppressed. Our accommodating nature, along with the hunger, poverty, and destitution we face, is exploited to pressure us. As the Turks appear more powerful, they naturally attract support. The present situation resembles the rule of brute force — and it is all because we fought the Turks, resisted Turkification, and struggled for justice. And now, we see that justice does not exist.

The major stated that if the general would agree to meet Thomson face to face, he would realize that his protests were unfounded and unfair.

The general replied that one need not meet a man in person to form an opinion of him; one judges by deeds. What is being shown toward the Armenians now is arbitrary and one-sided. How can one form a favorable impression of the competence and fairness of any high-ranking official when, during the spring sowing season, countless starving refugees cannot return to their native land to plow and plant, and are staring down the prospect of another year of famine? That alone speaks volumes. The remaining refugees must not be allowed to fall into destitution, and he himself is prepared to sacrifice a few soldiers to achieve a more dignified state of affairs.

The general regrets that the British government has not condescended to understand the current plight of the Armenian people or grasp the true scope of their extreme impoverishment. Otherwise, it would not allow its officials to behave toward our people in this manner. Turkish governors have been appointed to Shushi in Karabakh, and are being readied to take positions in Goris and Zangezur. An English governor has been assigned to Nakhichevan and it is being declared English territory. No doubt, tomorrow or the day after they’ll do the same with Erivan. Meanwhile, they hypocritically proclaim we must wait for the Peace Conference.

They’ve been here for three months and we have seen no benefit from them. Troops are stationed in Tevelu and Nakhichevan, but not a single road has been opened. If you value justice and possess power, as you claim, then show your strength — otherwise, why did you come here at all?

Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 370, Opus 1, File 39, Pages 3–4. Original. Manuscript. Translated from Armenian. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 98.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA TO THE CONSUL OF THE UNITED STATES REGARDING ARMENIA’S POSITION ON THE STATE AFFILIATION OF KARABAKH Tiflis, April 8, 1919

Your Excellency,

I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the Republic of Armenia maintains the same position regarding the fate of Karabakh as it has previously stated. Specifically, the Armenian Government desires that the mountainous portion of Karabakh, populated by Armenians, be declared outside the jurisdiction of the Azerbaijani General-Governorship, and that its administration remain in the hands of the National Council, in accordance with the will of the population. Moreover, it calls for the immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian Karabakh.

The Armenian Government considers this territory an inseparable part of Armenia. Any administrative oversight established by the British command should be carried out solely by a person of British nationality, acting as General-Governor over both the Armenian and Muslim parts of Karabakh.

I first expressed this position during my conversation with General Thomson on March 28 of this year, and reaffirmed it yesterday, on April 7.

A. Khatisov Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 199, Opus 1, File 32, Page 161. Copy. Typewritten. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 100.

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ARMENIA TO THE BRITISH COMMAND IN THE CAUCASUS REGARDING THE CONSISTENT POSITION OF THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ON KARABAKH’S AFFILIATION* No. 1232, April 15, 1919

By order signed by the Commander of the British Forces in Baku and published by the British Military Mission on April 3, the population of the Shushi, Jebrail, Zangezur, and Jevanshir districts has been instructed to comply unconditionally with all directives and orders of Dr. Sultanov, appointed General-Governor by the Azerbaijani Government.

As early as January, the Armenian Government had sent a protest to the Azerbaijani Government regarding the inclusion of Zangezur and Armenian Karabakh within the General-Governorship of the Azerbaijani Republic. In several letters addressed to the British command, I had the honor to declare on behalf of the Armenian Government that neither the local population nor the Armenian authorities can reconcile themselves with the idea of placing Zangezur and Armenian Karabakh under Azerbaijani rule. We appeal for the peaceful intervention of the British command and for its authoritative influence in these regions.

By special directive of the Armenian Government, I consider it my duty to inform Your Excellency that the views and resolution of our Government on this matter remain unchanged.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, S. Tigranyan Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Opus 1, File 309, Page 3. Dispatch. Typewritten. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 101.

\* Copies were sent to the Azerbaijani and Georgian diplomatic missions.

LETTER FROM THE KARABAKH ARMENIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL TO ITS REPRESENTATIVES IN TIFLIS REGARDING AZERBAIJAN’S AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS AND THE DIRE SITUATION OF KARABAKH ARMENIANS Shushi, April 17, 1919

The situation of the Armenians of Karabakh has become critically severe. The extremely dangerous political climate, resulting from statements made by the British command favoring Azerbaijan and harming the Armenians, has led to aggressive actions by the Azerbaijani government against Armenian Karabakh, threatening us with disastrous consequences.

The Karabakh National Council, together with all Armenians of Karabakh, has made every effort to seek a peaceful political resolution to the Karabakh problem — without conflict, without bloodshed. To this end, the National Council has attempted in writing, verbally, and through delegations to persuade the British command that granting control of the fate of over 300,000 Armenians living compactly in Karabakh to Azerbaijan is unnatural and contradicts the numerous declarations made by the Great Powers regarding the right of small nations to self-determination.

Fully recognizing the seriousness of the moment, the National Council has decided to convene the Fifth Congress of Karabakh Armenians — to inform the population about the progress of negotiations, to receive new directives, and to make the British command acquainted with the sentiments of the Armenians. The British command agreed to the congress, which is scheduled to open in Shushi on April 23. A representative of General Thomson from Baku is expected to attend.

Just as the National Council had begun to emerge from its semi-legal status, the British command demanded that it vacate Shushi, leaving only two of its members behind. Once again, a crisis, once again an illegal existence. Today, the governor-general appointed by Azerbaijan delivered to the printing press an official statement declaring Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan. With this, Sultanov seeks to obstruct the congress, silence the voice of the people, and provoke confrontation.

The peasantry of Karabakh does not even wish to hear of Azerbaijan. Our council is firmly convinced that Sultanov’s statement is a new challenge — a call to battle directed against the Armenians of Karabakh. Under different circumstances, this might not have horrified us, but in the present situation, it is easy to predict the destructive consequences it may have for the Armenian population.

We are surrounded on all sides by Azerbaijani forces. A ten-thousand-strong army has blocked the Zabukh Gorge, severing our connection to Zangezur. It has been over a week since the murder of eight Armenians disrupted all communication. Khan-Kend and our city are flooded with troops. Military forces and equipment move constantly in all directions, encircling us in a ring of steel — while we are utterly disorganized, militarily unprepared, lacking arms, equipment, and leadership. There is no source from which to obtain means of self-defense. The Tatars speak only in threats toward us. Individual and separatist actions by various figures further disorganize the population and deepen the crisis.

And today, when the fields and mountains of Karabakh have turned green and promise the Armenian laborer a bountiful harvest in return for his blood and sweat, the National Council, with deep conviction, foresees the crimes being devised by Azerbaijan — crimes that may now become fatal for the Armenians of Karabakh.

The situation is hopeless, and we do not know if another message can be sent. Whatever depends on you to prevent the impending catastrophe — do not delay. And regarding the imminence of disaster, the signs are clear: individual and group murders are occurring throughout the region. If you can, save the situation. We have lost our peace.

Chairman: E. Ishkhanyan Secretary: T. Ter-Grigoryan Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 276, Opus 1, File 42, Pages 68–69. Certified copy. Manuscript. Translated from Armenian. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 102. 291

Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”

Artatsolum

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