Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎40v] (80/290)

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2 . Russian Armenia, or the Republic of Erivan.
This Republic was proclaimed in May 1918, and its natural territory would seem to
consist of the districts of Erivan and Etchmiadzin in the Government of the former, and
of at least a part of the province of Kars. This latter province is at present under
British military government, pending the return of the Armenians expelled by the 1 urks.
The ultimate destiny of this Republic is no doubt incorporation with Armenia
proper. Its significance in Trans-Caucasian politics lies in the hostility prevailing
between the Armenians and the Georgians on the one side, although fighting between
the two has now come to an end, and the Tartars of the Azerbaijan Republic on the
other. This hostility has even given rise to a belief that the Armenians have an agree
ment with Denikin for common action against Georgia (see Major McDonnel s report,
Constantinople, No. 4643 I.).
3. The Tartar Republic of Azerbaijan,
This Republic was set up in May 1918, and in its present form appears to represent
a Government by a land-owning oligarchy. Its stability is gravely compromised by the
presence in Baku of General Bicharakov’s troops and flotilla (the result of the measures
to be taken to deal with the latter has not so far been reported), as well as by the
recent dispute on the oil question which had arisen with the Georgians, and by the bad
financial situation. The Republic, if it can be consolidated, would seem to offer a bulwark
against Bolshevism. Its relations with the Georgian Government appear strangely
enough to be at present satisfactory, but it is hostile to the Armenians.
A deputation from Azerbaijan is now at Constantinople, and we are endeavouring
to obtain permission for it to proceed to Paris.
4. Daghestan, or the North Caucasus Republic <
This Republic was established in the summer of 1918, and, although lying to the
north of the main Caucasus range cannot be omitted from any review of the conditions
in Trans-Caucasia.
The situation of the so-called Republic, a delegation from which is at
Constantinople awaiting permission to proceed to Paris, is described as follows in
P.I.D. Special 2 :—
“ The tribes are so wild and split up (linguistically and geographically) that it
is improbable that they have adopted any effective central administration
The delegation (now at Constantinople) claimed for the North Caucasus Republic,
a wide territory, including the country of the Terek and Kuban Cossacks, where
the population is purely Russian and Ukrainian. But its authority is only
acknowledged, if at all, by the Sunni Moslem tribes of Daghestan in
North-Eastern Caucasia. The remnants of the former Moslem population of
North-Western Caucasia (Kabardians, Abkhasians, &c.), seem to be holding aloof
from it so far.”
It would not appear that we have any commitments towards Daghestan, except in
so far as the general expression of good-will towards Georgia, Daghestan, and Russian
Azerbaijan, which was transmitted to General Milne, may have been communicated to
the Daghestan chiefs. If, however, as would appear to be the case, conditions for the
establishment of a stable and independent Republic are lacking in Daghestan, we would
seem to be only courting a repetition of our experience with Albania in attempting to
withhold this territory from Denikin, except in so far as its occupation by his forces
would jeopardise the maintenance of the line laid down by the War Office, namely,
Kizil Burun-Zakhatali, and thence along the crest of the Caucasus to Tuapse on the
Black Sea (this line has already been broken by the advance of Denikin’s forces through
the Sochi district to the river Bzib)
V. Political and Economic Results to be anticipated from Withdrawal.
While the military and naval position and the mutual dependence of the two forces
in Trans-Caspia (where Merv has recently been evacuated under Bolshevist pressure),
the Caspian and Trans-Caucasia have been dealt with in the memorandum already