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106 ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
This completely altered the position in Transcaucasia, as the
Germans and Turks had to withdraw from Georgia, Batum,
Russian Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Although the independent
Transcaucasian republics were in opposition to the Bolshevik
Government in Russia, the anti-revolutionary leaders in
Ekaterinodar treated them as enemies who wished to dis
member the Russian Empire. In March 191 9 Denikin
attacked the Georgians, but this was stopped by the Allies,
who appeared to favour the independent border-states.
Meanwhile the Georgian Government were trying to
negotiate an alliance between the Transcaucasian republics,
which they attempted again after Denikin’s anny broke up
at the beginning of 1920. But the attempt failed, as the
relations between the Armenians and the Tatars were still
too strained. Various negotiations followed between the
Georgian Government and Moscow, and in June 1920, when
the Polish war was occupying the attention of the Soviet
Government, a treaty was signed by which the Soviet Govern
ment recognized the independence of Georgia and relin
quished all right to interfere in its internal affairs. Georgia
was to have Batum when it was evacuated by the British, who
had occupied the town after the Turks, and left it on July 9th.
At this time the state of affairs in Georgia and Armenia
was critical, for both peoples were demoralized by years of
insecurity, repeated upheavals, and interrupted trade connec
tions, while the distress was great. Several Bolshevik dis
turbances occurred in Georgia. Finally, when the war with
Poland came to an end (November 1920), and the White
Anny in the Crimea had been destroyed, the Bolsheviks
attacked Georgia in February 1921. They were aided by a
Bolshevik rising, chiefly of Russian and Armenian elements,
in Tiflis, and in the end the Georgian Government, headed by
Jordania, had to seek safety in flight.
A Soviet Government was now established in Georgia
under Georgian Bolshevik leaders. At the Kars Conference,
held in October-November 1921, the position vis-å-vis the
Angora Government was defined, and the three Transcaucasian
Soviet republics—Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—were
united in a federation, which in turn was united to the great
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