Management of the U.S. Relief and

the Republic of Armenia, 1918-1920

After the World War I, all European states were divided by H.Hoover as Chairman of the American Food Administration, J.H.Barnes as President of the Grain Corporation, A.Taylor and R.Taft as advisers, and Hoover's secretary L.Strauss into 5 groups. Transcaucasia was placed at the third group, where people "were destitute of everything - credit, food, raw materials and ships." Its countries had "wholly inexperienced" representative governments,¹ enduring heavy pressure of czarism and communism. Turkey did not possess even acceptable government; and peoples of the third and forth groups were dying in the midst of war. The fifth - Soviet Russia, resisted to collapse and hunger, yet her ideas seriously disturbed the rest of society.

The United States' post-war scenario was clear: this country should continue its trade and lend bread on long-term loans. As the USA had transformed into the main intermediary between two continents, new markets should be gained peacefully. Those who could not pay immediately should be awarded the charity and afforded time. According to the H.Hoover's scheme, his country should not shape new boundaries or cancel European debts, which companions "could never pay" without America's special efforts. So, the Congress should credit its national agriculture and trade across the Atlantic on the state level. In his turn, President W.Wilson didn't want the large-scale arm races with Britain, bitter confrontation with Russia or other acute problems. His plan of the League of Nations stimulated national industry. And his idea of equal access to consumers, rather than to raw materials was a hint.²

H.Hoover's scheme and international League of W.Wilson were rivals, to some extent. First plan prevised new state agencies, including the United States Food Administration (AFA), functioning from May 9, 1917 to February 7, 1919.³ This body controlled the first and the last operations of the wheat trade. It bought the crop from farmers and exported it, having moderate 18.2% income. At Constantinople, for example, 20,278 tons of flour was sent in cash to local merchants with the limit of adoptable retail. As a result, the prices dropped just in half overnight.

The U.S. Congress had allotted for the program $150 millions, and the Grain Corporation of AFA commenced its work with Herbert Hoover as Chairman. The state agency was buying wheat and handing it over to ferrymen; then it was distributing grain among refugees through its officers. National employees imposed immediate and strict control over traders' activity. As a result, in 1918-1919 the USA export grew from 41% to 53.5% of provisions, consumed by the Allies. The latter side proposed to the President W.Wilson complete "world controls of the economic life of earth to continue for some years." In return, European partners asked to reduce prices. the American answer, compiled by H.Hoover on November 13, 1918 was negative. The author stated, that the economic force "may be a powerful assistance in enabling us to secure acceptance of our view."⁴

The U.S. Food Administration and the U.S. Grain Corporation began their activity in Paris on December 12, 1918. W.Wilson arrived on December 15, and the world leaders appointed H.Hoover as Director of Relief and Rehabilitation. He had at his disposal 2,500 employees and $325 millions of America's direct charity.⁵ Evaluating the situation in the Near East, H.Hoover and J.Harbord observed a bit later, that Armenia had endured the largest inaginable losses and suffering. This people could not recover from appalling tragedy of 1915-18 without outer interference. The danger to disappear as a national unit was very real for them. The American society had been well acquainted with the situation in Western Armenia, thanks to its missionaries, merchants and diplomats.

In September of 1915 the Armenian Relief Committee of J.L.Barton was established in New York. In October of 1916 W.Wilson declared a two-day national campaign of fund-raising. By the end of 1918 the sum of donations exceeded $11 millions; although after May 28, 1918 with the Armenian independence as a reality, this sum had not yet been available for the new state. Till the Mudros Armistice of October 30 the Republic of Armenia with its Eastern and Western Armenian refugees combined, was gravely endangered and devastated. During the war hepl was practically not available. Representative of the Caucasian branch of the ARC J.Elder stayed in Armenia alone and without funds. 

The Armenian authority adopted on September 28, October 8, 11, 26, November 4, 23, December 3 and 28 nine laws on relief.⁶ Refugees should be supplied with work and idle lands, abandoned bowers should be repaired, private and state weaving shops and orphanages were to be opened; medical-sanitary care to be organized; the 2nd Congress of the Western Armenians to be convened; fund were alloted for victims from Baku and for escapees in Georgia, Persia. On November 23, 1918 the Armenian Parliament decided to loan one million roubles to the American ARC for 3 months, bearing no interest. Actually, this sum was not available till December 14, and till the end of the year.⁷   ...

Notes

1. Hoover H., The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover. Years of Adventure 1874-1920. (NY: Macmillan, 1952), p.284.

2. Hoover H., p.283.

3. W.Wilson ordered to transform the U.S. FA on November 7, 1919. The process itself continued for 3 months. See: Hoover H., p.240, 277-278, 297-298.

4. Ibid., p.278, 289, 396.

5. Ibid., p.240-245, 270-271, 285, 293-298, 302, 312; Why continued and undiminished  relief in the Near East is imperative. (NY: 1919). United States of America. The National Archives (Washington, D.C.). Microfilm publications, RG 59: Records of the Department of State; Records of the Department of State relating to international affairs of Armenia, 1910-29, microfilm T1192. Roll 7 (Wash.: NA and records service, General services administration, 1975), RG 59, class 860J.48/doc.1 (following: US NA, T1192/R7); The Republic of Armenia. The National Archives (Yerevan) fund 200/register 1/file 20/Pt.3/f.183A-185 (following: NAA); The Senate should reject the Turkish treaty. (NY: 1923), p.5.

6. NAA 200/1/86/f.6A-14, 20; Հայաստանի Հանրապետության պառլամենտի օրենքները (1918-1920թթ.)։ Կազմ. Ս.Միրզոյան և ուր., խմբ. Ս.Միրզոյան, Ֆ.Մամիկոնյան։ (Երևան, ՀՀ Ազգային Ժողով, Պատմության կենտրոնական պետական արխիվ, 1998), 6-8, 11-12, 15-16, 20, 31։

7. NAA 370/1/34/f.15-15A.  ...