[24 February 1919]
Memorandum of representatives of the Fourth Assembly of Armenians of Karabagh to Commander of Allied Forces in Transcaucasia
To General Forester-Walker,
24th February, 1919
Commander of the Allied Forces in Transcaucasia
General,
The Armenian National Council, elected at the fourth District Assembly, begs to communicate to you, through the intermediary of Mr Hrant Bagaturoff and Mr Nushavan Ter-Mikaelian, Members of the Council, its views on the present situation in the region of Karabagh.
You know by the news published in the press, as well as by the Council’s report to General Thomson, that the Armenians of Karabagh took up arms to defend their liberty and their rights to independence. They refused to submit to the power of the Azerbaijanis in any form whatsoever, and nothing can cause them to alter this decision.
At the request of General Thomson the Armenians of Karabagh suspended all military action and movement of troops. But while the Armenians of Karabagh acted absolutely in accordance with the demands of the British Mission, the Azerbaijani Government moved its armies to important strategic points such as Askeran, Khankend, Zabangh, Shushi and Koriagin.
At the same time, within the boundaries of Karabagh, the Turkish troops continued their operations under the command of Turkish officers.
These acts are taken by the Armenian population of Karabagh to be the preliminaries of a policy of aggression on the part of the Azerbaijani Government, and there is consequently much natural anxiety and indignation among the people.
Basing their attitude on the standpoint of the Peace Conference in regard to questions of nationality, the Armenians of Karabagh, in order to preserve their rights and authority, and firmly believing that the Peace Conference will satisfy the inflexible desire unanimously expressed by the entire Armenian population of Karabagh to unite this essentially Armenian region with the territories of the Armenian Republic, are of [the] opinion that the only logical provisional solution, pending the decision of the Peace Conference, is to maintain the situation as it was before the arrival of the Turks.
The line of demarcation between the Armenia zone of Karabagh, in which Armanians number 75% to 90% of the population, and the Muslim zone, is clearly defined, and has been fixed with precision by the Transcaucasian Committee on territorial question[s].
In this Armenian portion of Karabagh, joined to the Armenian portion of the district of Elisavetpol (Gulistan) with which it possesses indivisible ties, we consider ties, we consider it indispensable to organize self government under the control of the British Mission, and on the principle of proportionate representation, the rights of the Muslim minority being entirely safeguarded.
The details of the project will be presented by our delegates. It would appear from the project elaborated by the British representative at Shushi, Major Monk Mason, as well as from a letter addressed by the General B. Thomson to Major Varand Socrates Bey Melik-Shahnazaroff, that with the consent of General Thomson it is thought desirable provisionally to create a joint Turco-Armenian Governement General of the Districts of Zangezur, Shushi, Koriagin, and Jevansir, in which the British Military authorities should also be represented.
A heterogeneous Government of this sort, and the union of the two distinct Armenian and Muslim districts of Karabagh, are absolutely inadmissible in view of the actual conditions of existence prevailing there. At every moment there would be regrettable friction and discord which would not conduce to peaceable cohabitation but, on the contrary, would only envenom the relations between two peoples.
The Armenian National Council of Karabagh, sincerely anxious for peace and order, finds it impossible to assume the responsibility of such an organization of local authority, which is in contradiction with the clearly expressed will of the people to govern independently of the Azerbaijanis the Armenian territory of Karabagh, and to maintain as previously stated, the status-quo until the Peace Conference announces its decision.
In view of the above considerations the Armenian National Council of Karabagh begs you not to refuse to have a radical change made in the proposed scheme for a mixed Government-General, and to settle the question of the Government of the Armenian Zone of Karabagh in accordance with the principles outlined above. At the same time it begs you to propose measures for the withdrawal from the Armenian boundaries of Karabagh of the armies which, notwithstanding the order of the British Mission, have advanced and occupied Armenian points of importance.
In view of the supreme importance of the question, and of the complexity of the situation, from which grave consequences may arise, the Armenian National Council begs you kindly to transmit the present request to the High British Command.
Assuring you, on behalf of the Armenians of Karabagh, of this unwavering loyalty and devotion to the great Allies who have always shown so much interest in the unfortunate Armenian people, the Armenian National Council begs you, General, to accept the expression of the profound respect and devotion of the suffering Armenian population of Karabagh which is convinced that it will find in you, now as ever, a powerful protector of its interests and legitimate aspirations in the settlement of the provisional regime pending the decision of the Peace Conference.
Herewith copy of the resolution of the Armenian Council of Karabagh concerning the relations with the Azebaijanis, together with copy of its project for the administration of the district.
President of Council: A. SHARNAZROFF Secretary: T. TER-GRIGORIAN
[Republic of Armenia Archives, File No. 9]
The Karabagh File, Documents and Facts, 1918-1988, First Edition, Cambridge Toronto 1988, by the ZORYAN INSTITUTE, edited by: Gerard J. LIBARIDIAN, pp. 13-15.
