V. I.

Lenin

718

PROPOSAL TO THE POLITICAL BUREAU OF THE C.C., R.C.P.(B.) ON THE SITUATION IN ARMENIA [1]

I propose that the Politbureau endorse all three of
Chicherin’s proposals.

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
In an effort to pit Turkey against Soviet Russia and to wreck
negotiations for establishing friendly relations, the Entente leaders
instigated Dashnak Armenia to attack Turkey. Dreaming of
creating a “Great Armenia” which would include almost half of Asia
Minor, the Dashnak government began military operations against
Turkey on September 24, 1920. In this war the Dashnak army
suffered defeat after defeat, while the advancing Turkish troops
laid waste to the land, chased out the civilian population and
organised massacres of Armenians. The war brought Armenia
to the brink of complete ruin and total extermination of the
population. At the beginning of October 1920, the C.C., C.P.(B.) of
Armenia issued a call to the workers and peasants to overthrow
the hated Dashnak yoke and establish Soviet power.

In connection with Orjonikidze’s report of the probable
resignation of the Dashnak government of Armenia and of the
possibility of power passing to the Communists, Chicherin
proposed: =

1) to agree with the opinion of the C.C., C.P.(B.) of
Armenia and the Caucasian Bureau of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on the
necessity of decisive action for establishing Soviet power in
Armenia, =

2) to afford Armenia political help in halting the further
advance of the Turks, and =

3) to support the new, Soviet government.

On October 14, 1920, the Politbureau of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.)
adopted Chicherin’s proposals.

Soviet power in Armenia was established on November 29,
1920, as the result of an armed uprising of the working people.
For Lenin’s message of greetings to the Chairman of the
Revolutionary Military Committee of Armenia, see present edition, Vol.
31, p. 437.