The Meeting of Azerbaijan Delegation with President Wilson

From the first days of their arrival in Paris, the Azerbaijani representatives closely monitored the political climate of the French capital. Because of the harshness of the peace conditions put before the defeated nations, the policy of the Entente was met with opposition in many European capitals. In the spring of 1919, a strong wave of strikes began in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and other states. A variety of different representatives of Russia gathered in Paris, including the White Guard government as well as other political parties. Almost all of the ambassadors who had previously represented the Russian empire in various countries came to Versailles. While they had a variety of disagreements, they were all unanimous in supporting a "united and indivisible Russia." The report sent by the Azerbaijani delegation to its government read: "Despite fundamental differences in political vision, the Russians all support the idea of a "united and indivisible Russia." This is their slogan. Hiding behind such ideas as a federation of democratic republics and a constitutional convention, they are, unfortunately, deciding the fates of the various constituent parts, and the relations between the parts, of a future Russia that will reclaim its deserved place among the great nations of the globe. Native and adopted children of Russia are gathered here to think about the reestablishment of Russia in these terms, in defiance of all of the "alien peoples" that have forgotten Russia"s past generosity. However, these alien peoples, current representatives of the states that which have proclaimed their independence, do not want to hear about a "united and indivisible Russia." That is why ten days previously [at the end of May], all of the delegations of states that seceded from the former Russia, including the delegation of Azerbaijan, one after another vehemently protested when the Paris press began discussing the possibility of recognizing the Kolchak government"s jurisdiction over the whole territory of the former Russia. The most active supporter of the idea of a "united and indivisible Russia" among the Entente powers is its former ally France. It seems that the other Allied powers do not wish for this kind of Russia, only England behaves as if she has no objections to its existence."

During May, the representatives of Azerbaijan met with the delegations of Poland, Georgia, the Mountain Republic, Armenia, and Iran. As a result of the meetings, it was decided to form a political-economic union of Caucasian republics. The Georgians and the Mountaineers agreed to unite with Azerbaijan in this formation. The Armenians were invited, too, but they argued that they could participate in the Caucasus confederation only after the creation of a united Armenia merging Turkish Armenia and Caucasian Armenia. On May 23, Azerbaijani representatives met in Paris with the British delegate Louis Mallet. During the talks, the parties exchanged opinions concerning the political, military and economic situation in the South Caucasus and discussed a range of important issues concerning the status of Allied troops stationed in Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of 1919, the Azerbaijani government struggled to close down the British gubernatorial post in Baku. The head of the Azerbaijani delegation, Topchubashov, was instructed to accomplish this goal.

On May 2, on the initiative of President Wilson there was held the first hearing of the Caucasus question with the participation of governments of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy. On May 5, a meeting of the Council of four suggested to forward troops to Armenia. Wilson had no objection. On May 14, a resolution was adopted to provide America with a mandate to rule Armenia and Istanbul. Discussions over mandates to the Straits and the Caucasus intensified US interest in talks with the Caucasian Republics, so the American delegation in Versailles inquired about the views of the newly formed Caucasian states on the issue. With that end in view, President Wilson received the Azerbaijani delegation later in May. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani delegation attached great importance to this meeting. The meeting took place on May 28th, which was the first anniversary of Azerbaijan"s independence. In the first half of this day, Topchibashov was received by the American diplomat Henry Morgenthau, former US Ambassador to Ottoman Empire and acting deputy chairman of the US aid in the Near East in 1919. The parties discussed some important aspects of the forthcoming negotiations between Wilson and the Azerbaijani delegation. In the second half of May 28, the Azerbaijani delegation was received by President Wilson. Topchibashov noted, "The most momentous event was the reception of our delegation by President Wilson, for he, like other heads of the Entente states, does not receive delegations personally".

Addressing President Wilson, head of the Azerbaijani delegation Topchibashov declared that Azerbaijanis were happy to meet and welcome the President of Great America, mover of higher principles of peace coexistence of peoples and right of nations, including smaller peoples, to self-determination. "We have arrived from distant Caucasus, several thousand miles away from here to express you our gratitude for free and independent life of our people. We kindly ask you as representative of mighty America, Mr. President, to learn truth of our country, our people, even ourselves. The point is that often European and American newspapers provide false, perverted, and distorted information about our country. Indeed, we are not known in Europe so far, but we dispose of everything to live freely. We are hopeful that the conference will hear us out, and we will be admitted to the League of Nations. We are confident that like other peoples we shall be assisted based on your great principles ... We declare that we recognize neither Kolchak/Denikin, nor other pretender to power on the territory of the Old Russian Empire. We recognize and shall recognize our Azerbaijani parliament and our own government". In his speech, Topchibashov informed Wilson about the possibility of establishment of the confederation of Caucasian peoples - Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians and mountaineers and submitted him a Memorandum of the delegation of the Caucasian Azerbaijani Republic.

Describing the Caucasian developments, specifically the situation in Azerbaijan, the Memorandum put forward demands of the Azerbaijani delegation to Wilson as one of the leaders of the Versailles Peace Conference. The Memorandum noted that after the Bolshevist revolution in the Central Russia the Azerbaijani National Council, in pursuance of the will of the Azerbaijani people, established on May 28, 1918 an independent Republic. From now on, the supreme power in Azerbaijan was owned by the Parliament composed, together with Azerbaijanis, of Armenians, Russians, Poles, and Jews.

Touching upon a material aid rendered by Azerbaijan to its allies in the world war, the Memorandum pointed out that Azerbaijanis of tsarist Russia being exempt from military service notwithstanding fought, nevertheless, on the side of the Russian Empire led by Gen. Khan Nakhichivanskii, i.е. on the side of the allies. Generals Mehmandarov, Shikhlinskii, Usubov, and other 200 officers became famous for their heroism in the battlefield of the world war. At the same time, Azerbaijan was actively involved in satisfying medical needs of the allies by providing the Entente armies with hospitals and medical institutions. The Memorandum noted that the Azerbaijani people would never welcome the invasion of Bolshevik troops and had already suffered numerous losses in fighting them. The document explained the lack of geographical and ethnographic ties between Azerbaijan and Russia: "In considering the geographical location of our country, one can easily notice that it is separated from Russia by a range of the Caucasian mountains; in much the same way our people has ethnographically nothing in common with Moscow and Slav people of Russia". A post-amble of the Memorandum pointed out that the Azerbaijani people was firmly confident that its national need would be met due to activities and collaboration of its delegates at the conference, as well as contribution of US President Wilson as a guarantor of peace and security worldwide. Demands and requests of the Azerbaijani delegation found their reflection in six items, 1. Recognition of Azerbaijan"s independence; 2. Extension of "Wilson"s principles" on Azerbaijan; 3. Admission of Azerbaijani delegates to the participation in the Peace Conference; 4. Azerbaijan"s admittance to the League of Nations; 5. Rendering of military aid to Azerbaijan by the US military department; 6. Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Azerbaijani Republic and the United States. In the event that demands above were satisfied, Topchibashov even promised to pay off an Azerbaijan"s share of tsarist Russia"s external debt.

In turn, Wilson expressed his satisfaction with meeting the Azerbaijani delegates, as well as with the fact that he obtained much information about the country. However, a question of the recognition of Azerbaijan"s independence remained open, since 1. Americans did not want the world to be split into small pieces; 2. It"d be appropriate for Azerbaijan to join a concept of the Caucasian Confederation; 3. The Confederation might, at League of Nations" disposal, be patronized by a great power; 4. The Azerbaijani question could not be resolved prior to the Russian question. The talks an agreed on dispatched a special American mission to the Caucasus to scrutinize the situation in loco. The mission reached Baku in October 1919 only.

Wilson"s cautious attitude to Azerbaijan was accounted for by some factors. First, all authors are unanimous that Wilson supported Armenian delegation"s position and provided with great quantity of false information from Armenian missionaries. Second, a date of the meeting fell on holiday, however, as a whole, this period was not lucky enough: leaders of the allies were baffled by intensification in spring 1919 of the activities of White Guard generals - Kolchak, Denikin, and Nikolai Yudenich, including Wilson. Third, two days before the meeting with the Azerbaijani delegation, on May 26, a sitting of the Board of Four discussed and approved a question of recognition of Kolchak"s government. An appropriate note was signed by Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Orlando, and Saionji Kimmochi and then sent to Kolchak.

Despite niceties above, talks between Wilson and the Azerbaijani delegates were of great political importance. Leaders of other allied powers were expected to follow him. Topchibashov reported to the Azerbaijani government: "We have made some steps, and we are hopeful that our delegation will be received by the chairman of the Peace Conference (Clemenceau), as well as by Premiers of England, Italy, and Japan. Thus, now I have got a notice that Arthur Balfour (British Foreign Minister) and Vittorio Orlando (Italian Prime Minister)". The reception of Azerbaijani delegates by Wilson was reported by radio on May 31, and the French media at Batum also confirmed the news. At that time, the first anniversary of independence was being solemnly celebrated in Azerbaijan.