The Turkish press was divided in its attitude toward the Armenian visitors. Several papers remained sceptical and critical whole others, particularly Tanin, echoed the official government policy of favouring friendship and peace. Ahmed Emin, already a distinguished journalist, greeted the delegates enthusiastically and promised to dedicate his pen to the difficult task of championing Armeno-Turkish understanding and solidarity. In another interview, Ahmed Riza, the patriarch of the "Young Turks," recounted the long, united struggle of liberal Turks and Armenians against Abdul Hamid II. He abhorred the use of force and criticized the Enver-Talaat faction of Ittihad ve Terakki for destroying the great ideals on which that party had been founded. He warned that as long as the present clique determined Turkish politics the delegation's efforts would be in vain. 57
Despite such advice, the Armenian mission pursued the goals for which it had been sent. One of these, Turkish withdrawal from Lori and Pambak, was complicated by Georgian pretensions to the former district. While requesting immediate clearance of Pambak, a part of the Yerevan guberniia, the delegation vacillated in relation to Lori. Khatisian wrote Ohandjanian of his fear that the Georgians with German backing would occupy Lori as soon as the Turks evacuated the uchastok. His urged his colleague to convince the Berlin government that Lori, though in the Tiflis guberniia, constituted an integral part of Armenia. With that accomplished, the matter could be pressed more forcefully in Constantinople. 58 At the end of July, Khatisian reported that the Ottoman authorities had finally agreed to clear the two areas and permit Armenian troops to occupy them. He doubted Ottoman sincerity, however, for until mid-July the Turks had continued to advance near Yerevan and had conscripted several thousand young men from Pambak for forced labour in the Erzurum vilayet. 59 Khatisian's misgivings notwithstanding, it was logical that were the Turks to leave Lori-Pambak they should uphold Armenian claims. Inclusion of the areas within Georgia would add rich copper mines and another strip of railway to the German protectorate, whereas annexation by a subservient Armenian state would best protect Turkish interests. The question remained academic, however, for Third Army regiments stood firm in Lori-Pambak. Even when, in October, they were compelled to retreat as a precursor to surrender, the Turks succeeded in prolonging the turbulence in the Caucasus by inflaming Armeno-Georgian relations. While Ottoman envoy Abdul Kerim informed Zhordania's government of the evacuation and gave permission for the Georgians to enter Lori, Mehmed Ali made the same announcement in Yerevan and invited Armenian troops to occupy the abandoned districts. The result was an immediate and inevitable Armeno-Georgian confrontation. 60
As vital as, and more urgent than, clearing Lori-Pambak was the repatriation of refugees. From Yerevan and Tiflis came sporadic reports of famine and epidemic. Thousands died monthly, and before winter's end it was expected that all would be swept away by the "white massacre." The torment of the Akhalkalak fugitives was the most appalling. Khatisian appealed for their return, arguing that Vehib Pasha had given assurances in Batum that the Ottoman government would authorise this. Throughout June and July, Enver refused to consider the subject, pointing out that Moslems in the region were so agitated by Armenian atrocities that the safety of the refugees could not be guaranteed were they to descend form Bakuriani heights. Furthermore, it was presumptive of the Armenians to make such a request when Moslems were being oppressed in Baku and when, in Zangezour, Andranik was pillaging, burning, and massacring! 61 In August, Enver made a minor concession by stating that Armenians could soon return as far as 20 kilometres east of the Alexandropol-Joulfa railway. Khatisian complained that few villages existed in that specific narrow mountainous strip, whereas thousands of the refugees were natives of the adjacent river valley through which the railway passed. It would be a great favour if the latter group were allowed to go home. 62 Permission was not granted, but in September, while Talaat was being pressured in Berlin by von Hintze, Enver made a verbal concession relating to Akhalkalak. The Armenian delegates were informed that Essad Pasha had received instructions to supervise the repatriation of inhabitants from one hundred villages in the uezd and to take measures to relocate the Moslems who recently settled there. 63 Despite the good news, the Armenian refugee, whether from Akhalkalak, the ceded half of the Yerevan guberniia, or lands extending farther to the west, remained refugees until the conclusion of World War I.
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