V. I.

Lenin

26

To:   G. V. CHICHERIN

14/ XII.

Comrade Chicherin, Yesterday Ter-Gabrielyan came to see me and he also
spoke of the terrible danger of a pogrom.

(1) 600,000 Armenian refugees are said to be in danger of losing their lives.

(2) Without Kars, Baku is said to be threatened. [1]

I think we should separate No. (1) from No. (2) and do everything to help in No. (1).

What is your opinion? and what are you doing on
No. (1)?

With communist greetings, Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
On December 13, 1920, Lenin received S. M. Ter-Gabrielyan,
who had been sent to Moscow by the Revolutionary Committee
of Armenia to report to Lenin on the political and economic
situation in Armenia.

As a result of the reckless policy of the Dashnaks, who had
started a war against Turkey in late September 1920—with the
approval of the Entente—the Turkish army occupied the towns
of Sarykamysh, Kara, Alexandropol and others. On the occupied
territory, the Turkish troops massacred great numbers of
Armenians. Many Armenians died from starvation and epidemics, and
thousands of families fled from their homes, seeking refuge in
other parts of Armenia.

The Dashnak government of Armenia rejected the R.S.F.S.R.’s
mediation and preferred to sign the enslaving Alexandropol
Treaty on December 2, 1920, under which Armenia was declared
a Turkish protectorate. But the treaty did not enter into force,
because the Dashnak government was overthrown on November
29, 1920, and the Soviet power was proclaimed in Armenia. On
March 16, 1921, the R.S.F.S.R. and Turkey signed a treaty which
virtually nullified the Alexandropol Treaty. The question of the Soviet-Turkish border in the Caucasus was fin illy settled
with the signing of the Kars Treaty on October 13, 1921.