Armenia and Andranik in American Eastern Policy of 1917 and the Armenian National Council

Abstract

Campaign for recriutment of Western Armenian Division had begun on May 29, 1917. It was initiated in revolutionary environment, with purpose to withstand disintegration of Caucasus Front. The unit had to operate as a part of Russian Caucasus Army and Armenian National Council confirmed A.Ozanian's appointment on December 20, 1917 (January 2, 1918 according to Gregorian calendar). National Council of Western Armenians, General Commissioner for Turtkish Armenia, Armenian national delegation in Paris, the U.S. Consul in Tiflis, American Ambassador in Russia, the Department of State - all of them contributed to eventual decision-making. Process of negotiations and diplomatic correspondence reveal distinctions in the U.S. and Entente's approaches, especially in American and British approaches to subsequent fate of the Ottoman Empire, to role of Russia in Transcaucasia, as well as special features of their Near Eastern policy in general.