Participation of Hovhannes Tumanyan in the Diplomatic Mission

of the Republic of Armenia at Batum (1918, July 3-5)

Abstract

The Treaty of Batum, signed on June 4, 1918, between Turkey and the Republic of Armenia incited discontent among leaders of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Bulgarioa. On the same month of June it turned into the military conflect between Turkey and Georgian-German bloc. The Quadruple Alliance insisted on the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, concluded on March 3, 1918; so it initiated negotiations at Constantinople and invited there delegations of all Transcaucasian republics. Armenia was too weak to contest the Treaty of Batum; however, it did not ratify it either. The Armenian National Council had appointed on June 29, 1918, Samson Harutyunian, Hovhannes Tumanyan, General Ivan Baghramov and Ervand Mirzoyants as a delegation that would negotiate with the Commander of the 3^rd Ottoman Army Essad Pasha. After an interview on June 21-22 with the previous Commander of the same Army Vehib Pasha, Hovhannes Tumanyan departed on //-29  June 30 or July 1 for Batum as a member of delegation. The bilateral debate took place on July 3, 1918. They discussed the issues of frontiers, refugees, railways, of the withdrawal of Turkish troops out of Lori and Pambak, Hovhannes Tumanyan stressed the necessity to cease the outrages, committed by soldiers; and the Republic of Armenia was urged to plea the forces of the self-defense at Baku to disarm. The Armenian side had successfully transferred the matter of ratification to Constantinople; and Essad Ppasha abstained from invasion to Yerevan. However, his subordinates carried out an offensive into Baku. The delegation itself had depaprted for Tiflis on July 4 or 5; they reported back to the National Council on July 6, 1918. //-30