V.H. Apelian’s Blog
Thursday, November 9, 2023
November 9, 2020 & November 9, 1920
Tatul Hakobyan posted the following from Yeraskh, Ararat, Armenia, on his Facebook page today, on November 9, 2023. He also drew a comparison to another decisive period in our recent history, one hundred years ago today as well, November 9, 1920.
Tatul Hakobyan’s post noted the following: “Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the announcement of the 44-day disaster, which many consider a capitulation. I have often used that word, but after September 2023, November 9 is the lesser of the evils. The final capitulation, or the last part of the capitulation, was the decree to dissolve Artsakh, as well the handing of millions of dollars’ worth of Armenian military equipment, to the Russian-Azerbaijani alliance.
It is apropos to note that November 9, 1920 was also a very tragic day. On that day, Karabekir presented a new ultimatum to Armenia from the already captured Alexandrapol. The commander of the Eastern Front of the Kemalists – Kâzım Karabekir – demanded the Armenian government relinquish its arms.” (read below, my translation of the Armenian government’s communication and appeal in “Haratch” daily, in Yerevan).
Tatul concluded the post stating that he was not able to find out whether the Armenian government complied with the Turkish demand in part or in full. But that on the night of November 23, 1920, as Alexander Khatisyan (Armenia’s PM) was going by train from Yerevan to Alexandropol (the present day Gumri) to sign the capitulation, a part of the Armenian war materiel was being taken away in another wagon.
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The communication and the appeal the Armenian government issued on November 9, 1920.
GOVERNMENTAL COMMUNICATION
HARATCH
Social, political, economic, literary newspaper
Yerevan
“You already know that the Armenian government accepted the conditions the Turkish command proposed on a November 6 for a truce. The conditions were harsh. But the interest of the country and the people’s demand for peace, necessitated accepting, especially that the government in Ankara had officially communicated on November 2, to begin the peace negotiations.
At that time when the conditions of November 7 truce were already being implemented and we were ready to send a delegation for peace, the same government in Ankara, in its November 8 telegram, informed that it is changing the conditions for truce and is proposing new conditions. The conditions were the following: in 24 hours the Armenian forces were required to retreat again east of (Սուրմալու (Surmalu) – Արաքս Կայարան (Araxe Station) – Գըզըլ Զիարէթ – Արագած լեռան լանջը (Aragats Mountain slope) -Տանազիրմազ Նօվօ – Լոռիրենք – Շերմուք – Եալվանագաղ) line. That is to say, yield to the Turks more than half of Armenia. The Armenian government should also relinquish to the Turks in Alexandrapol, 2000 guns, 60 machine guns, 12 cannons, 4000 mules, 1000 chests of bullets, 6000 cannonballs, 2 steam engines, 50 wagons. Right after signing the truce, the transport of military equipment will cease on the Sanahin (Սանահին)-Alexandrapol (Ալէքսանրապոլ) rail line, and a few more demands.
To accept these conditions means to give up the most important positions for defending our country and totally disarm in front of the enemy.
Such reneging of the conditions of the truce and the demand for such deadly conditions mean that the enemy, not only has no desire to make peace, but aims to destroy Armenia and annihilate the Armenian people
Given the demanded conditions, the government could not trust the intent of the Turkish conditions, refused the new conditions demanded by the government in Ankara, over the the truce signed on November 7. There is no reason to renege the truce already in force.
Armenian people, informing you about all this, the government appeals to your rightful instincts and prudence. You, who did not will to protect the state’s border at Սարիղամիշ (Sarikamish), Կարս (Gars) and Ալեքսանդապոլ (Alexandrapol), the enemy over again is threatening, not only your freedom but also of your lives. You should wake up before it’s too late. The enemy is coming with a small force. Its success will be because of your inertia (indifference). If you will, it will not only be incapable of annihilating you, but having been defeated will give up on its diabolic objectives.
Citizens, the Armenian government is resolute in its decision to fight the enemy that wills its joy on your corpses. Unrelenting and decisive fight, until the enemy proposes terms for truce that are acceptable to us. There is no other way out. Stand up Armenian people, this is the last make or break battle.
The Government of the Republic of Armenia
November 9, 1920
Yerevan”
