Armenian congress at Erzurum

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The Armenian congress at Erzurum (the 8th World Congress of the

Caucasus front.[1][2]

Proposals

The Ottoman plan was to draw the

Armenian reform package
, which was already established in February 1914.

The Tsar promised autonomy for

Tiflis, Caucasus, during August 1914. Tsar asked Armenian's loyalty and support for Russia in the conflict.[3] The proposal was agreed upon and nearly 20,000 Armenians responded to the call, of which only 7,000 were given arms.[5]

Members

Negotiations in Erzurum were held between Armenian liaisons

Behaeddin Shakir, Omer Naji (Omer Naci), and Hilmi Bey
, accompanied by an international entourage of peoples from the Caucasus.

Conclusion

The Armenians were quite willing to remain loyal to their government, but declared their inability to agree to the other proposal, that of inciting their compatriots under Russian rule to insurrection.[3][6]

The rejection by the Ottoman Armenians of that one condition led to serious consequences for themselves.[3] Learning of a possible conflict with Russian Armenians, the Ottoman government in September 1914 decided that the aliens (Russian Armenians) and Turkish Armenians would be a liability in a war against Russia.[4] This incidentally proved of inestimable benefit to the Allies. For if the whole Armenian nation had gone against Russia, that country might have encountered defeat instead of victories early in the war. The Central Powers could have transferred large armies from the Eastern to the Western Front already in 1915 instead of 1917 with the result of such agreement.[3]

It is claimed that the proposal was developed by the

Ottoman Caliph
's decision to declare Jihad.

The Ottoman Empire dismantled the

Tsar visited the Caucasus front on December 30, 1914, telling the head of the Armenian Church that "a most brilliant future awaits the Armenians".[7][8]

See also

  • Armenian reform package

References

  1. ^ Taner Akcam, A Shameful Act, page 136
  2. ^ Richard G. Hovannisian, The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, 244
  3. ^ a b c d e f g The Encyclopedia Americana, 1920, v.28, p.412
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8166-0575-0
  5. ^ G. Pasdermadjian (Armen Garo), Why Armenia Should be Free: Armenia's Role in the Present War, Boston, Hairenik Pub. Co, 1918, p. 20
  6. Pasdermadjian, Garegin; Torossian, Aram (1918). Why Armenia Should be Free: Armenia's Role in the Present War. Hairenik Pub. Co. pp. 45
    . page 17 "The CUP delegates, in order to persuade the Armenians to accept this proposal, informed them also that they had already won the co-operation of the Georgians and the Tartars, as well as the mountaineers of the northern Caucasus, and therefore the non-compliance of the Armenians under such circumstances would be very stupid and fraught with danger for them on both sides of the boundary between Turkey and Russia. In spite of these promises and threats, the executive committee of the Dashnaktzoutiun (Federation) informed the Turks that the Armenians could not accept the Turkish proposal, and on their behalf advised the Turks not to participate in the present war, which would be very disastrous to the Turks themselves."
  7. ^ Martin Gilbert, 2004, "The First World War," Macmillan p.108
  8. ^ Avetoon Pesak Hacobian, 1917, Armenia and the War, p.78
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