THE BOLSHEVIKS AND ARMENIA.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Recent reports of Bolshevik raids into Armenian territory in the Caucasus focus attention on an urgent matter, namely, the attitude of the Moscow Government to the Armenian Republic of Erivan. The assurances of the Soviet Government, which has during the last two years three times proclaimed Armenia's right to independence, have been seriously com- promised by the events of the last few months. If the Moscow Government has not countenanced, it has at least made. no attempt to prevent Russian troops from running loose in Kara- bagh, murdering the Armenian inhabitants, setting fire to the houses, and throwing people alive into the flames. The menacing attitude of the Azerbaijan Republic, which, in spite of the protestations of Moscow, has been preyed to be under Soviet control, is another factor which causes alarm in Erivan.
The latest news to hand from a private source reveals in a conclusive manner the intentions of the Bolsheviks towards the Armenian Republic. Representatives of the Erivan Govern- ment recently went to Moscow to sign a treaty recognizing Armenian independence with the Soviet. The latter Govern- ment, however, exacted a condition—namely, that free access through Erivan should be allowed the troops of the Soviet, who were marching on Persia to drive off British troops there. The Armenians categorically refused that condition for obvious reasons. Compliance would end all their hopes for independ- ence; it would assist the Bolsheviks to throw a net of Soviet States round Erivan, which itself would ultimately be included in the haul, and incidentally it would give the Bolsheviks an open road to India and the East. Already over eight hundred schools and one university have been opened in the Erivan Republic, factories have set going, schemes of irrigation for developing cotton fields have been begun. Must all this endeavour be brought to nought by the aggression of the Bolsheviks? The proposed London Conference of the Allied Powers with the representatives of the Russian Soviet will provide an opportunity for the whole ques- tion, in which the interests not only of Armenia but of the British Empire are involved, to be raised and settled once and for all. Unless a firm attitude he taken, the Bolsheviks may succeed in defeating the clauses of the Turkish Treaty dealing with Armenian independence, and thus register another step towards the attainment of what is undoubtedly their object— the sabotage of the entire Peace Settlement—I am, Sir, &c., T. P. CosrvneEvaes. 3 Campden Grove, Kensington, W. 8.
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