BULLETIN OF ARMENIAN ARCHIVES

Scientific collection

Yerevan  - N 122  - 2014

PROBLEMS OF ARRANGEMENT OF SELF-DEFENCE
IN THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL
(1917 NOVEMBER - 1918 JANUARY)

Key words - Armenian National Council, National Council of Western Armenians, arrangement of self-defence, Andranik Ozanian.

Owing to disintegration of the Caucasus Front and the intensification of revolutionary processes in Russia, formation of national troops had acquired vital importance for Armenian nation. Recruitment of the Western Armenian Division in general composition of national Army Corps had become an important event of the regimentation, planned by Armenian armed forces. Issues of logistics and politics, objects and goals to be pursued by the detachment, nomination of its commanding officer were violently discussed in the Armenian National Council. This problem in tote was carefully considered in Tiflis with high command of the Russia Army and with U.S. Consul on the spot, with Provisional Government in Petrograd and at the Department of State in Washington, by the Entente supreme authority in Paris and London. After a stormy debate, the Armenian National Council chimed in with a decision of the Council of Western Armenians, Allied Powers allocated insignificant assets and did not detach military advisers; thus the chief task of self-defence had to be undertaken by Armenians alone. //-111