The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-05

military academy, n general In the
late Russian army and a veteran of
all the European wars since t9io, the
Armenian leader, whose declaration is
published below, is representative of
all that is best In his race and is es-
lsentially INtriot with long record
Of fine achievements
London, March 4.---On February IS.
1918, Armenian independence WAS
proclaimed AT tsrzeroum. in the pres
ence of the troops the population and
the provincial deputies. On January
! /, 1919, was received by Sir Louis
Maliet. together with the members of
my mission. at the foreign office, Lon
don.
We have come az the representa-
tives of Il free people, not as suppli-
ants, and We believe that Great Brit
: ain and Armenia are in accord on
general principles We have shed our
j. blood, Lie The other allied races. in
ali the entente armies In the army
Of the United States and in the. Arine-
nan corps No other people. / can say
without exaggeration. has suffered
from list oppresor as we have suffered.
The Turkish massacres of our fell
low citizens have been an almost con-
slant source of horror to the outside
world for decades past, and today We
look to America and England with
confidence to secure for US full rec
ognition Of our aspirations.
The sympathy of America in con-
nection with Armenia is of very long
standing. and in England we have
always had a good friend. His excel
/ lency, Boshos Nuhar, the president OF
the Armenian delegation in Paris. ia a.
son of the late Nubar Pasha, X G.. s.
l., prime minister Of Egypt. "persons
gratissima" among the English diplo-
matists and officials of his time.
After the detection of the Russian
army OF the Caucasus in November
and December. 1917. Armenia, all
though she fouHd herself sole mist ess
OF her destinies, refused to treat with
the enemy.
On the contrary, her people put up
4 most heroic resistance, fighting gu
perfor numbers. In face OF every tech
nical disadvantage as we'll
Cut off as we were, we had the
Turks and their kindred allies on the
one side and the Georgians and Tar
tars on the other. All were armed
"jusqu aux dents" Through a vigo-
rous system OF defense. Armenia held
the Turks. who were thus prevented
from Withdrawing their forces for use
in Mesopotania and Syria against the
diiAeS, moreover, the ottoman com
mand was kept from recruiting fresh
armies from among the Mussuiman
populations Of the Caucasus
We may therefore be considered TO
have served the con1man cause in
direct fashion in our own sphere OF
operations. The aims which we en-
Iertain, now that all the nations have
laid down their arms. are comprised
in an Armenian state with coast line
from Adalia TO Alexandretta on tho
Mediterranean, from Sinope to Ba-
tounn. on the Black sea. together with
a port on the Caspian. south OF Baku.
Ctlicia is an integral part OF Arme-
mia. one and indivisible and upon it
our national existence depends. With
its ports on the Mediterranean. CiIicia
would enable us to keep in close touch
with the Occident. without Cilicia,
Armenia could neither organize .nor
develop her resources.
The secret treaty between Russia,
England and France, signed at the
beginning of the war. on the subject
OF Arm enia. no longer applies. 1t Is
of no judicial value, as, among other
good reasons, one Of the signatories,
the Russian monarchy, has ceased to
exist. In any case. Armenia, now an
independent state, refuses TO recognize
any secret treaties, valid or invalid,
signed without her consent "
My country Is the friend Of the
associated powers or France, England.
the United States and Italy. but Wa