The Policies of the U.S. and the Allied Powers Regarding

the Defense of Western Armenia (1917-1918)

Summary

The ruined Western Armenia, which was transformed into a battleground between revolution-swept Russia and the Franco-British alliance on the one side and the Turko-German forces on the other, needed massive defense. The Armenians and their still unshaped national State with two Councils representing the Western and Eastern Armenians, namely the National Council and the Western Armenian National Council, took difficult steps in establishing the national Army and the Western Armenian Division.

Consolidating its foothold in the region, the USA refrained from subjecting its steps and objectives to British interests. The US opted for attracting Persia's sympathy and made an effort to avoid deterioration of its relations with Turkey, which were officially antagonostic but in reality good neighborly relations. Concurrently, Washington did not dare to fully replace Russia, as it expected the latter would restore itself, which would likely necessitate collaboration with Great Britain.

Armenian authorities hoped that Ottoman Turkey would respect the Brest Litovsk Treaty signed with Russia and would not move further into Armenian territories in the east. In fact this vain hope reduced the defensive vigor of the Armenians, who eventually lost the war.

The author argues that in similar critical war conditions it is essential to organize the Army and the State in a self-reliant fashion, as self-defense and promoting self-interest is the sine qua non for establishing peace and implementing treaties with neighbours. //-292