ARMENIAN - Erevangala500

tics. And they apparently still have not learned their lesson,
since Armenian terrorism is, willingly or unwillingly,
still offering its services today to Russian superpower
politics.
"We had created a dense atmosphere o f illusion in our
minds. We had implanted our own desires into the minds
o f others; we had lost our sense o f reality and were carried
away with our dreams. From mouth to mouth, from
ear to ear passed mysterious words purported to have
been spoken in the palace o f the Viceroy; attention was
called to some kind o f a letter by Vorontzov-Dashkov to
the Catho-licos as an important document in our hands to
use in the presentation o f our rights and claims - a cleverly
composed letter with very indefinite sentences and
generalities which might be interpreted in any manner,
according to one's desire.
We overestimated the ability o f the Armenian people, its
political and military power, and overestimated the extent
and importance o f the services our people rendered to the
Russians. And by overestimating our very modest worth
and merit was where we naturally exaggerated our hopes
and expectations.
The deportations and mass exiles and massacres which
took place during the Summer and Autumn o f 1915 were
mortal blows to the Armenian Cause. Half o f historical
Armenia - the same half where the foundations o f our
independence would be laid according to traditions inherited
from the early eighties and as the result o f the course
adopted by European diplomacy - that half was denuded
o f Armenians; the Armenian provinces o f Turkey were
without Armenians. The Turks knew what they were
doing and have no reason to regret today. It was the most
decisive method o f extirpating the Armenian Question
from Turkey.
Again, it would be useless to ask today to what extent the
participation o f volunteers in the war was a contributory
cause o f the Armenian calamity . . .
The proof is, however - and this is essential - that the
struggle began decades ago against the Turkish government
brought about the deportation or extermination o f
the Armenian people in Turkey and the desolation o f
Turkish Armenia. This was the terrible fact!" A short
while later, the former Prime Minister o f the Armenian
Republic comes to his conclusion: "By an extraordinary
mental aberration, we, a political party, were forgetting
that our Cause was an incidental and trivial phase for the
Russians (in their fight against the Ottomans and their
drive to the Mediterranean, editor's note), so trivial that if
necessary, they would trample on our corpses without a
moment's hesitation . . . When the Russians were advancing
we used to say from the depths o f our subconcious
minds that they were coming to save us; and when they
were withdrawing we said they are retreating so that they
allow us to be massacred . . .
In both cases we misunderstood the consequence and the
purpose and intention ..."
70
“HUNCHAK” 1914:
Appeal issued by the Hunchaks at the beginning o f the
First World War
The Hunchak Social Democrat Committee . . ., which
has been working since over a quarter o f a century in
a bloody path to obtain the liberation o f the Armenians
in Turkey, now descends, driven by the power o f actual
political events, from the Taurus Mountains and the
borders o f Armenia down to the battle-field, blowing
the trumpet o f strife and revolution, to drown in blood
the Ottoman tyranny.
In this gigantic struggle where existence o f nations is
at stake, the Hunchak Committee as well as the entire
Armenian nation will join their forces, moral and
material, and waving the sword o f revolution in their
hands, will enter into this worldwar.
As comrades o f arms o f the Triple Entente and
particularly o f Russia they will co-operate with the
Allies, making full use o f all political and revolutionary
means they possess for the final victory in
Armenia, Cilicia, Caucasus, and Azerbaijan . . .
Well then, foward Comrades . . . Foward to work.
Let us
crush down the death, death which threatens
Armenia,
so that it lives and it lives forever . . .
Paris, 1914 Head offices o f the Social
Democrat Hunchak Committee.