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Index

Armenia

The Urartu Civilisation

Victory for Independence

Artashisian Dynasty on the Armenian Throne

Armenia caught between Rome and the Arsacids

The Acceptance of Christianity

Defending Christianity

Armenia Under the Bagratouni Dynasty

Cilicia - the New Armenia

Armenia Under Turanian Rule

The Renaissance or the Resurrection of Armenia

The Eastern Question

Russia in the Caucasus

The Armenian Question

Battle on Two Fronts

Tsarist Russia Against the Armenians

The Revolution of the Young Turks and the Armenian People on the Eve of World War I

The First World War

The Resurrection of Armenia

Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

- Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

Eastern Armenia

Western Armenia

"The Fateful Years" (1914-1917)

"Hopes and Emotions" (March-October, 1917)

The Bolshevik Revolution and Armenia

Transcaucasia Adrift (November, 1917

Dilemmas (March-April, 1918)

War and Independence (April-May, 1918)

The Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

The Suppliants (June-October, 1918)

In conclusion

Soviet Armenia

The Second Independent Republic of Armenia

Epilogue

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Dilemmas (March-April, 1918)

Battled by the gales of war, revolution, and anarchy, Transcaucasia was drawn ever deeper into the whirlpool of destruction. Efforts to avoid the catastrophe were hindered by the synchronous existence of several dilemmas, each distinctly discernible, yet all inextricably interrelated. The problems of peace negotiations with the Turks, military activities on the front, inconsistency and disunity in the Tiflis government, clashes between Moslems and Armenians in every province, as well as the establishment of Soviet order in Baku were the most salient aspects of the quandary of Transcaucasia throughout March and April, 1918.

Confusion in Trabizond and in Tiflis

Following receipt of Karakhan's telegram from Brest, the baffled Transcaucasian peace delegation remained in Tiflis until news arrived from Trabizond that Turkish negotiators were departing from Constantinople. Encouraged by this report, the Transcaucasian entourage, nearly a hundred delegates, counsellors, and guards, rushed to Batum, whence, on March 7 aboard the "Korol Karl," they set sail for Trabizond. On the overnight voyage, the ship was nearly diverted to the Crimea by order of the Bolshevik Military Committee of the Black Sea, and only by resorting to bribery did the delegation succeed in reaching its destination. 1 That episode was only the first ordeal, for upon arriving in Trabizond harbour they learned that the entire region had been occupied by Yakub Shevki's 37th Division. The Turkish vali, who had been reinstated, denied that Trabizond was a neutral city and refused to allow the Transcaucasian guards to disembark. Chkhenkeli's mission would be the guest of the Ottoman government and, as such, Turkish troops would provide adequate protection. 2 Added to this annoyance was the fact that the promised Turkish delegation had not yet arrived. The Transcaucasians remained aboard ship until March 12, feeling more humiliated as each day passed. In compliance with orders of the Tiflis government to return to Batum if the Turkish mission had not arrived, Chkhenkeli had already prepared to sail when a ship flying the Turkish flag and carrying the negotiators from Constantinople entered the harbour. Three hours later Husein Rauf Bey, Chief of Naval Staff and Chairman of the Ottoman delegation, boarded "Korol Karl" to pay his respects. 3 After the customary exchange of compliments, Rauf invited Chkhenkeli to disembark, but disconcerting news from Tiflis regarding Turkish military activities made the Georgian leader reluctant.

Two days later, on March 10, Vehib Pasha had invited Front Commander Lebedinsky to order the evacuation of Kars, Ardahan, and Batum, in accordance with the Brest-Litovsk settlement. At the same time he informed Army Commander Odishelidze that, because of Armenian atrocities in and around Erzurum, the Turkish Army would advance to liberate the innocent victims. Vehib warned that any resistance to this march would result in unfortunate repercussions. 4 That evening Chkheidze, as President of the Seim, wired Vehib that Transcaucasia had already repudiated all agreements concluded without its approval and that a peace delegation had departed for Trabizond. Should now the demand for Kars, Ardahan, and Batum be viewed as Ottoman disinclination to negotiate? 5 The situation became even more bewildering when Odishelidze reported to Tiflis about Vehib's March 8 communication, advising that a Turkish deputation was sailing to Trabizond on the following day to begin talks. 6