121315487 History of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation

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HRATCH DASNABEDIAN

HISTORY OF THE

ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATIO

DASHNAKTSUTIUN

1890/1924



Zohrab, Krikor, 93, 110,206,213Zohrab Khan, 98

Zohrabian, Saghatel Khan, 51Zoravar, Vartan, 135Zorian, Arisdakes (Garo), 36, 49, 97,

155, 157, 186, 199, 214Zorian, H., 155, 157

Zorian, Partogh, 61

Zorian, Stepan (Rosdom), 32, 33, 35, 36,

38,51,54,55,58,59,60,62,63, 71, 72,

81,83,85,86,92,93,95, 100,107,108,117, 136, 137, 139, 167-169, 172, 177,

181' 188, 189, 193, 199, 200, 206, 208,

209, 210, 214Zouloumat · see Basetsi Hovhannes

Table of Contents

9 Foreword

11 Introduction

29 11 Formation, Purpose, Expansion, 1890-1

37 21The Realm of Ideas and the Evolution of Pro

45 31 The Activities of the ARF until the SecCongress (1898)

57 41 The Second World Congress of the ARperiod from 1898 to 1903

71 511904-1907 (until the Fourth World Cong

85 61 The Period of the Fourth. and Fifth Worearly 1907 to M d-1911

99 7 I The Years 1911-1914 and the Sixth, SevWorld Congresses

109 81 Genocide, Chaos, Resurrection

127 91 The ARF and the Republic of Armenia, 1

149 10 I Activities Outside Armenia.Jn the Years

165 Chronologies

185 Selected biographies of persons mentione215 Index



Collana I Series I Collection I Reihe

Muhrak

2

Hratch Dasnabedian

The History

of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashn

Translation I Bryan Fleming and Vahe Habeshian

Editing I Antranig Kassarian I Leo Sarkisian 1Vah

Historical chronologies I Haroutiun Kurkdjian

Photos from the originals in the ARF DashnaktsuHistorical Museum, ParisResearch for historical photos

Nazelie Fortune I Hovik Ovaness Moradesian

Photographed by Hertzel Nassiri

© 1989 OEM ME EdizioniVia P. Giovio, 620144 Milan /Italy

Printed in Italy byGrafiche Editoriali Ambrosiane I Milan

First Edition I July 1990ISBN 88-85822-11-8

First Edition in French 1October 1988ISBN 88-85822-12-6



Foreword

Originally, this work was to have provided a brief history of the ARevolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun), the leading party of tnian liberation movement, from its formation in 1890 to the estabof the Armenian Republic in May, 1918. However, because certponents of the ARF's program and political strategy found their logclusion only in the early twenties, we deemed it fi t to extend the perdiscussion to the end of 1924, until the end of the Tenth World Cof the ARF.

Clearly, then, in this work we are interested in the Armenian Repu

in so far as it directly relates to the activities of the Dashnaktsutiun. Sthe diasporan activities of the ARF, from the twenties until our also beyond the scope of the present work.

The history of the first 30 or 35 years of the ARF, related here as cas possible, is dealt with in chronological order, following the deveof events, ideas, trends and activities. The consecutive time frames ein the work generally correspond to the years that fall between thCongresses of the ARF, because these supreme assemblies de- f o r all organizational Regions and executive bodies of the Pastrategic objectives, new military and political initiatives, organizatioand regulations, amendments or radical changes in the Progsometimes tactical variations as well.

The only exception to this chronological approach is chapter twodeals with the ARF's ideology; the entire development of the subjter is related at once, from beginning to end.

First, however, we shall briefly describe the struggle for Armenian liberation before the formation of the Armenian Revolutionary Fed



Introduction

As a whole, the Armenian liberation movement in the 19th centurythe general framework of the Eastern Question, and from the seveward, into the more particular framework of the Armenian Quesconsider the reader to be already familiar with these terms and thetions so dear to historians, and we shall concentrate exclusivel

development of the objective and subjective conditions that affeArmenians-their situation, attitudes, and efforts to achieve liber

The Armenian liberation movement, after unfulfilled expressions in

and 18th centuries, was revived in the 1840's and 1850's, when uimmediate influence of the literary-cultural renaissance of the timvalue system of the Armenians was radically transformed.

While the tyrannical regime of the Sultans, the corrupt administ

the Ottoman Empire and the outrages of Kurdish feudal lords coto devastate the eastern provinces predominantly populated by Armin the large towns, thanks to relatively more bearable conditions, Argradually came into contact with the great currents of world thoubegan to engage in the pursuit of their human rights.

The National Constitution of the Western Armenians, with its demconcepts and the enthusiasm, as well as debate and struggles, it ge



The Russian-Persian border and the Persian khanates -Yerevan (Erevan), Nakhidchevan, Gharabagh, Ganja, Shaki, Shirvan,Talish, Baku and Kuban -before the Goulistan treaty (1813).

e ErzincanYerznka

Ottoman Empire

• Harput

• E i a z i ~

• Adiyaman

•Bayburt

•

• ErzurumErzrum

R

e M u ~

• Silvan

Diarbekir (Amit)

Russian Empire

• Agri

M

Notes on the geographical maps

First of all, the maps give the present-daynames of towns followed by their historical names.Then comes the Armenian name (should it be different from the others

as a rule, the Armenian name is a transcript ion based on the EasternArmenian language.Below are the few names which have two versions in the transc riptionrespectively Eastern and Western Armenian. The text often usestranscriptions from the Western Armenian

Baberd-Papert I Karin-Garin I Makou-Magou

The present borders, International and federal (with the USSR in the la

case) are shown on all maps with a fine dotted line. As for the presentnames of states and regions, unlike the names of towns and thedelimitation of borders, the modern versions are used.



Territories under Russian rule after the Treaties of Turkmentcha'iand Adrianople (with Persia and the Ottoman Empire respectively,in 1828 and 1829); the administrative divisions ("governments"and "districts") of the Tsarlst Empire appear as well.

• ErzincanYerznka

OttomanEmpire

• Adiyaman

• BayburtBaberd

• ErzurumErzrumArz·at·ai-Rum

Adr1anapol1Karin

A A

e M u ~

• Silvan

• DyarbakirAmil

Am1da

e Urfa

N.B. The titl es of the works mentionedin these brief bibliographies are in theoriginal languages, with the exceptionof Armenian ones, which have beentranslated into English and marked withan asterisk.

1 I Anderson, M.S., "THE EASTERNQUESTION, 1774·1923", London, 1966.

2 I Mariott, J.A.R., "THE EASTERNQUESTION (A STUDY IN EUROPEANDIPLOMACY)", Oxford, 1969,

31 Sidari, Francesco, "LA QUESTIONEARMENA NELLA POUTICA DELLEGRANDI POTENZE", Padua, 1962.

4 I Pastermadjian, Hrant, "HISTOIREDE L'ARMENIE", Paris, 1964.

the intel lectuals educated in Western Europe, with their progressexpressed through the Armenian press of Constantinople and tof the National Assembly; The works of Khachadour ApovianNalbandian, Hayrig (Mgrdich Khrimian), Ghevond Alishan, and la(Hagop Melik-Hagopian), with their widespread influence; the prthe press and the school system; the reports by the Armenian Patr

commissions of inquiry on the intolerable state of the provinces; thof a large number of associations and organizations; the acKhrimian in Vasbouragan (Van), Daron, and Constantinople- alfall within the context of the first four decades of the Armenian movement, which in this period of initial and gradual expansionfollowing characteristics:

a /I t was essentially a yearning for human rights and democratic fintending to restore human dignity to the Armenians, to recapture t

basic rights, to achieve equality before the law along with the Mujects of the empire, and to at least gain the prospect of someautonomy in religious, scholastic, and cultural matters. There is noof aspirations for national independence or demands for separathe Ottoman Empire.

b /I t was a reform movement, aiming at receiving, from the upper of the Turkish state, human rights and liberties in peaceful conditZeytoun uprising of 1862, although considered the heroic prelud



Six eastern vilayets (founded in Ottoman Armenia around 1866):Sivas (Sepasdia), Harput (Kharpert/Mamuret-ui-Aziz),Diarbekir, Bitlis (Paghesh), Van and Erzurum (Garin, Karin).

RUS$111111 Empirenovels of Ratti helped not only to gradually popularize the Armeniment but also to radicalize it. The character of the liberation struevolved. Along with its humanist inspiration, a national ideologyjectives were formulated among the Armenians, who lived undeferent tyrannies but under similar conditions; and the idea of natty was fortified.

Thus the eighties of the 19th century formed the period of prepa

the phase of armed struggle in the Armenian liberation movementsides of the border revolutionary ferment gained momentuunderground cells and clandestine armed organizations were fo

Even before 1878, in the regions of Daron-Sasoun and Vasbouraghad been underground cells, secret groups, and bands of "briganfought against government forces. During the eighties, KhrimMgrdich Portugalian were active in Van, the former as father-su



Territories under Russianrule after the Treaty of San Stefano (1878) .

...... _________ ,:

e Erzi nca n

Yerznka

Ottoman Empire

H a rpute Kha rberd

•e taziO

e Adiyaman

e BayburtBaber d

R

eSi lvan

• DyarbakirAmit

Am•da

• Urfa

Russlim Empire

o 60 150 km~

and others, established an organization called "Yeridasart Hayasta

Armenia). Its military cel ls, cal led "D roshak" (Flag), a lso spread b

bo rders of the Transcaucasus in to certain regions of Iranian A

(Armenian Adrbadagan) and Otto man A rmenia . Th ese were all

th at natural ly merged in the summ er of 1890 to create the Fed

Armenian Revolutionaries.

Expelled from Van in 1885, M grdich Portugal ian lef t the Ot toma

and settled in Marseilles, where he publ ished the periodica l Armstudents and fr iends in Van considered A rmenia the ir voice, an

est abl ished the "Arm enagan" Party, the purpose of which was t

the sovereignty of th e Armenian people through re volut

Armenagans, however, restricted to Vasbouragan and Adrbadaga

become a national organization. Their main activities were propag

m il i tary training, a l though they engaged in some arm ed action, w

its martyrs, such as Vartan Koloshian and Hovhannes Akribasian,

kil led by Turkish police in May 1889, during a c landest ine arms

from Salmasd to Van.

But the most bri l l iant -and las t - mil i tary act ion was thei r partalongside the Dashnak and Hnch ak forces , as leaders in th e batt l

def ense of Van in June of 1896. After 10 days of f ighting, as a res

intervention and deceitful guarantees of the British consul in Van

n ian combatants left the ci ty in groups, headed for Adrbadagan.

the way they were surrounded by Turkish forces and armed Kurdi

Fighting heroically , the Armenagan leader Avedisian (his real name

Terlemezian), the Dashnak representative Bedo , and the Hnchak le



Territories under Russianrule after the Treaty of Berlin (1878).

San Stefano treaty

Berlin treaty

Ottoman Empire

eErzincan

Yerznka

Harput

• Kharberd• E i a z i ~

• Adiyaman

• BayburtBaberd

• ErzurumErz:rum

A r z · a t ~ a i - R u mKarfn

R

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RIJ$s/8n Empire

#R G \ " ' ~ ~s f > . ~ "

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dig, along with about one thousand fellow combatants, were killed,they were about to reach the Persian border. Subsequently, the Armceased to exist as an organized party.

Chronologically, the Hnchakian party was the first truly revoorganization of the Armenian liberation movement. It is impossto present all the activities of the Hnchak party, which was foundautumn of 1887 by a group of idealistic students in Geneva

Nazarbegian, Maro Markarian, Kapriel Gafian, Roupen KhanazaGharajian, and Kristapor Ohanian). They had assimilated Marxistunder the influence of Russian and German revolutionary thougleast in their init ial program they proposed the creation, through reof an integral Armenia by the unifica tion of the Armenian territorOttoman Empire, Russia, and Persia and the establ ishment of andent republic endowed with all the democratic freedoms and aregime. In Geneva they published Hnchak, a theoretical-ideolopolitical periodical, from which their party took its name.

From 1889-90 onward, the Hnchakian Party expanded fairly rapidly fstantinople to Armenia Minor and Cilicia, also to Trebizond anSasoun, but less so for other regions of Ottoman ArmeTranscaucasia. The Hnchaks occasionally organized violent detions in the capital of the Ottoman Empire (at Kum Kapu in 1890 Ali in 1895). They also mounted an anti-government armed movemepadocia and Armenia Minor during which truly popular heroes wereShmavon (Kapriel Gafian), Zhirayr Boyajian, Levon (Parsegh ZakariaOghlou (Hovhannes Minasian), Medz Chello (Toros Dzaroukian



Rshdouni and others. But the Hnchakians played an especially importantrole in the Sasoun rebellion of 1894 (Mourad, or Hampartsoum Boyajian)and the battles of Zeytoun in 1895-96 (Aghasi, Mleh, Hrachia Maral, others);these heroic battles of self- defense may rightly be considered the first insurrections of the Armenian revolutionary movement.

After the battles of Zeytoun, the Hnchakians splintered as a consequence

of the disagreements between their field commanders, who were actuallyconducting bat tles inside the Ottoman Empire, and their Center in Europe,which had adopted an essentially centralized system of leadership. Underlying the disagreements, beyond the practical issues, was the existence of

a conflict between socialist-internationalist ideology and nationalist mentality. For years the Hnchakians were to accuse and harass each other.Despite a certain reinvigoration during the days of the Ottoman Constitution, they were never able to reorganize as before or regain their revolutionarydrive.

1 I Formation, Purpose, Expansion 1890·1895

1 I The Brief Interval of the "Federation of Armenian Revolutio

Toward the close of the eighties, both Eastern and Western Armencaught up in the excitement of revolution. The Hnchakians hadexpand throughout Constantinople, Asia Minor and TrebVasbouragan the Armenagans were at work. In Tifl is the Yeridasartorganization had been established; its members periodically visiteArmenia to become more familiar with the situation and dispositionians there; on both sides of the border they had established milicalled the "Droshak" groups. In various regions of Western Armeof "brigands" or groups of partisans were already operating or

being formed, independent of each other; these included the groupand Mkho (Sasoun), and later, Markar Varzhabed (Daron), ShamArmenia), Houno (Aiashgerd), Chato and Shero (Shadakh, VasbKalousd Arkhanian (Yerznga), and Keri (Dersim). In Russia, theMoscow, St. Petersburg, and Tiflis were centers of students movspirit of revolution. In 1890, Sarkis Gougounian, a student in St. Pformed an armed group of 125 young patriots to cross from Kars inArmenia. Despite differences of opinion regarding tactics, YHayastan, and later, the newly-formed Federation of Armeniationaries provided him with assistance.



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Ousanogh, the European ARF Students' Union paper, no. 7, 1912, dedicatedto the 400th anniversary of Armenian printing. Published in Constantinople.

l l r m p m ~ t l l i i U J l l "ill llt).Ul11tfi. ~ ~ m m uliUlljmh.

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Front page of Asbarez, ARF's paper in the Western USA, Fresnono. 116 (it is still published today).



Territories yielded to Turkey by the Transcaucasian governmentunder the Treaty of Batum (June 1918)after the withdrawal of Its forces and despite the Armenianvictory in Sardarabad, Bash·Abaran and Gharaklliseh.



eErzlncan

HarputKharberd

•EtaziO

Ottomsn Empire

e Adlyaman

•BayburtBaberd

• DyarbakirAmjl

Amjda

eUrfa

• ErzurumErztum

e M u ~

39 I According to Simon Vratslan, "i nsix months, about 180,000 people diedof illness and starvation In Armenia":op. cit., p. 192 (*). It was only at thebeginning of 1919 that the first helpfrom the "Near-East Relief" plan arrived in Armenia.

40 I See Vratslan, Simon, and Khadlsian, Aleksandr, op. cit. (*).

41 I For the fighting in Baku (nextChapter), see also Vratsian, Simon, op.cit., pp. 157-174 (*);see also Hovannis·ian, Richard, op. cit., pp. 220·222 and225-227.

42 I Regarding the Armenians, the ar

mistice treaty of Mudros was defectivein more than one point. See Hovannisian, Richard, ibid., pp. 238·241.

The territorial expanse of the Republic was l imited- barkilometers around the capital Yerevan, Echmiadzin, aMoreover, Armenia was filled with more than 300,000 Wrefugees who were being cut down by famine and typhuof Armenian volunteers arrived from the communities abthe reconstruction and to provide social services. The took decisive actions, and through exceptional efforts, wyears it established a state administrative apparatus, re

my, founded orphanages and hospitals, schools and a routes of transportation and lines of communication, sefor economic development, and established diplomatvarious states worldwide. (40)

After the declaration of Armenian independence, ARF forfight in Baku (until September 15), as did Antranig's regimtains of Zankezour (until the Treaty of Mudros), alongsiobstructing the Turkish-German advance and therebyachievement of final Allied victory. (41>On October 30, 191ing of the Treaty of Mudros between the All ies and TurkeRepublic jus tly regained pre-war Russian-Armenian landviable state covering nearly 56,000 square kilometers. (4

Seal of the ARF Cearound 1907.

The Republ ic of Armenia towards the end of 1919 . 9 I The ARF and the Republic of Armenia

1918·1921



• Baybur t

• Erzuru m

e M u ~

• Silvan

• Oya rbakir

eUrfa

,9\ t'- "-..:._«) Telavi

R G •sP..'i- e Tbi l is i

eAkha llzikM

1 1 For basi c reference works on the

Republic of Arm enia. see Vratsian,

Sim on , " THE REPUBLIC OF ARME

NIA ", 2nd Edition. Bei rut , 1958 and

Khad lsian, Aleksandr, "THE BIRTH

AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARME

NIAN REPUBLIC " , 2nd Ed ition, Beiru t,

1968. See al so the monumental work byProfessor Richard Hovannislan entitled

"THE REP UBLIC OF ARMENIA" , (the

third volum e of which has not yet appeared), Vol . 1, "THE FIR ST YEAR,

1918-1919", Universlly of California

Press. L.A ., 1971 ; Vol. 2. "F ROM VERSAILLES TO LON DON , 1919-1920",

same publisher, 1982).

D 60 150 km~

As stated in the Foreword, the his tory of th e Armenian

chronological depict ion of a s ta te 's development, polit i

accompl ishments , is outside the scope of this work. We s

the development of th e Repu bl ic 's h is tory insofar as it

t iv itie s of the Dashnaktsut iun_ 1>

Nev ertheless, that re lationship is not incidental. It is pre

ly, in various realms and on different levels. So much so,

rect to sta te that the histo ry of the Armenian Independent

t ical to the his tory of the ARF from 1918 to 1921 -becausty and a sta te are two d i f fe ren t entit les- then we can ass

the two w ere in a sta te of m utual and imme diate dependen

activ ities in that period were mandated by the absolute

a tru ly Armenian independent s tate. De spite the losses

th e Genocide, the ARF remained - during the l i fe-and-d

1917-1918 and the two-to-three years of the Republic 's exly real force capable of in spir ing the remnants of the Arme

the newly liberated homeland with a socia l ideology, a

and the wil l to survive_ Within the environment of an indep

Das hnaktsutlun not only operated as a truly political and pa

- one, moreover, tha t held governmental power- but a l

mi l i tary and revolutionary traditions, deploying party re

sol idate the state and secure its Armenian character.



The Soviet Republic of Armenia,created for a short period in 1922(it was to be re-constitutedafter the disappearanceof the Federal S.S.R. of Transcaucasia in 1936).



eErzincan

I. Harput

Elazill

• Adlyaman

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.suvan

• Dyarbakir

(\'

151 They proposed a) the re-establish·ment of the former regime in Armenia,with the agreement that it would remaina faithful ally of Soviet Russia, b) toforestall the Kemalist danger and takeback from the Turks certain portions of

occupied territory and c) to achieve,thanks to Russian mediation, an agreement allowing the construction of arailroad through Turkey and Georgia tothe Black Sea. See Kurkjian, H., op. cit.,p. 667.

161 See Kurkjian, H., Ibid. For certaindetails, the author uses the reportpresented by Goms to the DiasporanResponsible Body.

o 60 150 km~I ' '

' •• ' i •

/

After the ARF spokesmen submitted clear proposals, (15) anformulated on July 14, in the Soviet Embassy of Riga. Within regard to the "physical existence of the Armenian peoand independent political development", the representatimunist Party agreed to the following:

a I The existence of a free and independent Armenia;

b I The unification of the previously Armenian-populated terr

Armenia to Russian Armenia;

c I Assistance and cooperation by the Russian Commun

In turn, the Dashnaktsutiun was to rally the Armenians of thas the Diaspora, around the government of Armenia; ceain Lernahayastan and all other similar activi ties elsewhereinternal and external policies, remain faithful to the principwith Soviet Russia.

Notes appended to the agreement contained various detmore, the Communist Party of Russia was to intervene witof Armenia, so that the latter would enter into negotiationin Armenia.

While the ARF delegation awaited ratification of the agreemthe Delegation of the Armenian Republic received a telegfrom Tehran announcing the fall of Lernahayastan. Yet, awas not the main reason for the failure of the Riga draft, wh



Kristapor Mikayelian

Chronologies

History of the Armenians



with the young activ istRoubina Areshian.

1860 The writings of Apobandian, Beshiktash"pioneers" have alrcultural movement, astantinople.

1862 The first Zeytoun Uprthere is further radiArmenian intelligen

1863 The National Constiin Turkey is proclaim

1868 Protest petitions fromry are submitted to

1869 Mgrdich Khrimian isConstantinople.

1872 A new report on opprsent to the SublimeKhrimian resigns. Thtion in Union Organ

Garin.

1874 The Kevorkian Semined in Echmiadzin.

1875 A second uprising in

1876 Sultan Abdul-Hamithrone and proclaimstitution (never impThe Ketronagan Coople is founded.

1877 The Russo-Turkish -78 Russian victory and

Stefano, which ratifieKars-Ardahan-Batumcontains a clause co

reforms in the Arme

1878 After a diplomat ic ofConference, the otheneutralize the RusAmong other things,

121315487 History of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation

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