Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. Armenia in modern times
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
316 ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
dropol, and the territory of the Armenian republic was reduced
from 60,000 square kilometres to less than half that size,
while at the same time it had been overrun by fresh hosts of
refugees. This happened a few days after the President of
the United States had with great solemnity defined the
frontiers of the independent Armenian State ; while just at
the same time the League of Nations, in session at Geneva,
was discussing the possibility of admitting that State to the
League, and strong opinions were being expressed in favour
of helping the hard-pressed Armenians in their unequal
struggle against Mustapha Kemal and the Turks. But it
came to nothing, except that two members of the League
—Spain and Brazil—and President Wilson stated that they
were willing to intervene in favour of Armenia in its struggle
with Turkey. By an irony of fate this offer was communi
cated to the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva
on the day the peace of Alexandropol was signed.
The new Bolshevik administration at Erivan under the
Communist Kassian did not work well, and after a few months
he was expelled and the old Government recalled. But in
April 1 92 1 the Red forces entered Erivan. A new Govern
ment, with an Armenian named Miasnikian at its head, was
formed, and they acted with wise moderation ; a general
amnesty was proclaimed, and the educated classes were
summoned to participate in the sorely needed work of regener
ating the country. The distress was naturally great in a land
devastated by constant wars and crowded with refugees ; in
the autumn it developed into a regular famine ; hundreds
perished, and the streets of towns like Alexandropol and
Erivan were littered with corpses. But energetic measures
were tåken, and it is really incredible to see how much has
been done in a few years with extremely limited means.
Chaos, misery, and famine have been replaced by order, and
even a certain degree of prosperity ; and the nation is going
ahead steadily, taking in hand many new and important
undertakings under the direction of its capable Government.
A conference held at Kars in October-November 1921
settled the points at issue between the Angora Government
and the Armenian Bolshevik Government, and Turkey was
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
