Wilsonian Armenia
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Wilsonian Armenia, is a term used for the borders drawn by Woodrow Wilson at the Treaty of Sèvres. It incorporated some parts of geological region known as Western Armenia; mainly, Erzurum, Bitlis, and Van Province. This region is also extended to the north, up to west side of Trabzon Province in securing the Democratic Republic of Armenia an outlet to the Black Sea with the port of Trabzon.
Sèvres Treaty, so the Wilsonian Armenia was recognized by Democratic Republic of Armenia and signed by the government of Ottoman Empire; however consequent to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire with the Turkish War of Independence, treaty had never never put into motion. First the agreement of Treaty of Alexandropol on November 2, 1920 than Treaty of Kars on October 23, 1921 which was ratified in Yerevan on September 11, 1922 [1] and finally, replaced by Treaty of Lausanne.
Treaty of Lausanne and all its previous history is not recognized by current Republic of Armenia.
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[edit] Negotiations
- See also: Conference of London and Paris Peace Conference, 1919
During the Conference of London, David Lloyd George encouraged Wilson to accept a mandate for Anatolia, and particularly with the support of Armenian diaspora for the provinces claimed by Administration for Western Armenia. Wilson send two commissions (King-Crane Commission and General James Harbord) to understand what is behind the claims of Armenian national liberation movement, and if these claims fit to Fourteen Points.
[edit] Historical lands
King-Crane Commission tackled the issue of whether there should be an Armenian state, also if that should be under US mandate. King-Crane Commission came to the conclusion that there should be one. While one explanation, for the conclusion, might be mere favoritism, the arguments used for an Armenian state are quite similar to later arguments for the existence of Israel after World War II. James Harbord hold the position that he would not recommend a division between these lands, which might bring other problems (inter communal wars). Harbord's report stated that "the temptation to reprisals for past wrongs" would make it extremely difficult to maintain peace in the region.
[edit] Respect of National rights
The ARF, using position of Armenian national liberation movement, defended that this region should not be part of Ottoman Empire. Armenians have the capability to build a nation. As early as 1915, the Armenian "provisional government" that was set up used as an argument "the ability to control the region". The boarders that will be drawn of the Wilsonian Armenia was stayed outside the control of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 3 years, (1915-18). And Armenians , Administration for Western Armenia, had the control of the region during this period. Armenian Diaspora, Armenian national liberation movement defended that it was natural to extend it to Democratic Republic of Armenia. This region was after the Russian Revolution controlled by Armenian volunteer units, Armenian militia and later Democratic Republic of Armenia, even if the battles during the Caucasus Campaign ended with Treaty of Alexandropol, Armstice of Mudros replaces this treaty.
A secondary argument developed during this period was the dominant population becoming Armenian. Armenians are not minority, and moving the dispalced Armenians (refugees) to this area should be considered in decision. Before the peace conference, in 1917 some 150,000 Armenians relocated to the provinces of Erzurum, Bitlis, Mush and Van [2]. The Armenians was already began to build their houses and create their farmlands in preparation for the 1917 autumn harvest. In 1917, the prospect of a new autonomous state in this region was looking favorable for the provisional governor, Aram Manougian, (Turkish sources name him as "Aram Pasha"). Administration was in a favorable place between the Russia and Ottoman Empire. Armen Garo (turkish Karekin Pastirmaciyan) and other spokesmans asked Armenian regulars in the European theater to be to be transferred to the Caucasus front to increase the stability and protection of the new establishment. Armenian soldiers began to create a strongmen between the Ottoman Army and Armenian front, which will be shortly (Russian Revolution of 1917) only defense against the Ottoman Army. All these activities were proof that there is a national structure and it should be taken into consideration. The rights as an Armenian nation in these lands should be respected.
[edit] Autonomous development
The King-Crane Commission noted that the Armenians had suffered a traumatic experience, that they couldn't trust the Ottoman Empire to respect their rights anymore, and that they were "a people." Therefore, Armenian independence which was established under very hard conditions during the Caucasus Campaign should be respected by international community and insured by the allies. Armenian independence should be respected as, Armenian Resistance and Administration for Western Armenia was already developed the mechanisms under the leadership of Aram Manougian, that should be part of Democratic Republic of Armenia.
[edit] Treaty of Sèvres
- See also: Treaty of Sèvres
The Woodrow Wilson agreed to transfer what will be named as "Wilsonian Armenia" back to the Armenians in the Treaty of Sèvres. Armenia claimed to be tolerant of minorities (Muslims). President Wilson’s acceptance letter (for drawing the frontier), to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 said: "The world expects of them (the Armenians), that they give every encouragement and help within their power to those Turkish refugees who may desire to return to their former homes in the districts of Trebizond, Erzerum, Van and Bitlis remembering that these peoples, too, have suffered greatly." [3] Today, as a continuation of the initial goal, the creation of a free, independent, and united Armenia; all territories designated as Wilsonian Armenia by the Treaty of Sèvres as well as the regions of Artsakh, Javakhk, and Nakhichevan, is the first goal of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation[4]
[edit] Aftermath
As the coming months had shown, King-Crane Commission did not really analyze the situation. Some sources even claim they did not even spend enough time. The realities of the ground were different, and they were not included in the report. Treaty of Alexandropol and then the treaty of Kars were the first blockage to this idea and than with the following months Treaty of Sèvres put to shelf as it was superseded by treaty of Lausanne. The Armenian national liberation movement fight for "Administration for Western Armenia" being somewhat part of the newly established republic droped from the table.
