The opening of the Azerbaijani Parliament

In mid-November 1918, there was a crisis for the fate of Azerbaijan's independence. As is seen from Topchibashov"s letters from Istanbul, he considered a convocation of the National Council as top priority target. Dissolved in June, the National Council was re-convened on November 16. The first session made a statement addressed to all the states worldwide and asking to recognize Azerbaijan. According to the decision of the National Council, the chairman appealed to Gen.Thomson. A telegram said: "The Azerbaijani government does not object to entering the allied troops in Baku on November 17 under Your Excellency"s command. The government is confident that this entry of the troops will not violate the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan". On November 17, in pursuance of the Mondros armistice provisions, the Indians-staffed British troops entered Baku. Attending an official reception in honor of Britishers were Interior Minister Behbud bey Javanshir, acting Foreign Minister Adil khan Ziyadkhanly, a group of officials and representatives of various national organizations. Ziyadkhanli, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, greeted Thomson with a speech, saying:

"With the mandate of the Azerbaijani government, I am currently acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and have been authorized to greet you. Thus, on behalf of our government, I welcome you as commander in chief and representative of the Allies on the occasion of your arrival in our capital. It is evident that after the chaos and bloodshed of war, nations will now enter a new phase. Young Azerbaijani Turks and the people at large will now begin living in a peaceful and independent state after escaping the disasters of the world war. Our nation is confident and hopeful that their civilized European and American brothers will exercise their humanity in recognition of brotherhood and mutual prosperity." General Thomson"s response was hopeful. He announced, "I congratulate you on the occasion of the end of the world war. As a commander of the united French, British, and American powers, I notify you that we have come here in accordance with the agreement signed with Turkey, to replace the Ottoman troops that had been defending your territories up until now. We do not intend to interfere in your internal affairs either today or tomorrow. I hope that everything will change for the better in an atmosphere of cooperation."

On November 18, the Azerbaijani government made an official statement over Entente army"s entry into Baku. It noted that the allied forces were going to enter Baku on a temporary basis with a view of concentrating military power in their hands and that these forces did not intend to interfere with domestic affairs of the country and the capital. The statement pointed out that a final decision of the Azerbaijani constituent assembly about political destiny of the country remained unclear, while the current situation made it necessary to ensure order and tranquility in the country. Confidence was expressed that the allied troops would not infringe sovereign rights of the Azerbaijani people. After staying several days in Baku and familiarizing himself with the current developments, Gen.Thomson realized that assurances of Russian Constitutionalists that "Azerbaijan as a state is an invention of some hundreds of political adventurers" were far from reality. He announced that the British command highly respected the Azerbaijani government and the Prime Minister and that Khoyskii was "one of the ablest men in Baku" to rule the country until a new coalition government was formed.

In the darkest days for the Republic, the National Council took drastic steps to ease the crisis. An institution of the parliamentary form of government was needed to establish ties with the European democracy. A day before Britishers" arrival in Baku, November 16, the National Council considered this issue, and on November 19th, an election law was enacted. It should be noted that the election and education laws played an important role in Azerbaijan"s destiny. Actions of this sort testified to abilities of political figures of the country to come out of crises. A decision of the National Council provided for representation of all nationalities and political parties at the Parliament.

The Azerbaijani parliament was to get composed of 120 deputies: along national lines - 80 seats for Azerbaijanians; - 21 seats for Armenians; 10 seats for Russians, 1 seat for Jews, Germans, Georgians and Poles each; trade unions and union of oil industrialists - 3 seats each. In addition, an equal franchise was provided for both sexes and all nationalities residing on country"s territory. The Parliament of Azerbaijan started its work on December 7. Attending the first session were 96 out of 120 deputies. Chairman of the National Council Rasulzade opened the session to focus on election of the speaker as a matter of the speaker as a matter of paramount importance. He opened the first meeting of the Parliament with a short speech, giving a comprehensive analysis of the events that had transpired after February 1917 with the following words: We want Russia"s happiness. We love the Russian people, but we also cherish our independence. There can never be happiness through the imposition of force. For happiness and freedom is in independence. And for this reason, gentlemen, the National Council has raised this three-colored flag, which represents Azerbaijan, and this flag, the symbol of Turkic sovereignty, Islamic culture, and modern European power, will always fly above us. This flag, once raised, will never come down again. Rasulzade also expressed his faith in the formation of a just world order and touched upon some important aspects of international policy. Expressing hope for the democratization of international politics, he said, I believe in the conscience of mankind, the conscientious mankind that will never give up with what has been achieved at the expense of millions of people. The idea of a "League of Nations" is being supported by everybody today. This gives me hope. ... On behalf of the representatives of the powers in Baku, General Thomson has officially announced that Caucasian issues will be resolved at the Peace Conference. The Republic of Azerbaijan will endure, if we do our best to be resolute, to demonstrate strength and determination in the defense and protection of our future and our independence.

Generally, the Musavat party leadership preferred the continuance of the principles of Caucasian federalism in order to provide better external security. Mammad Emin Rasulzade hoped to establish full relations with the League of Nations, to be set up in accordance with the last of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson"s fourteen points. But the existing situation called for the establishment of close regional relationships with other South Caucasian republics and Dagestan. In his closing, Rasulzade said, Today, all the party"s desires, personal inclinations and all those kinds of things seems insignificant in comparison to the Motherland and nation. All that should be given up and only the feelings of concern for the Motherland and nation should be held in the highest regard.

Following heated debates, Ali Mardan bey, an extraordinary and plenipotentiary representative of Azerbaijan and Foreign Minister since October 6, 1918, was elected a speaker of the Parliament. Hasan bey Aghayev was his first deputy and Rahim bey Vekilov - a secretary of the Parliament. Favoring Topchibashov"s election was the fact that he was a member of no party, prominent political figure, experienced diplomat, intellectual, and democrat by nature. American historian Firuz Kazimzadeh wrote: "Ali Mardan bey Topchibashov, who was elect President of the Parliament, was a well educated lawyer, tolerant in his views, and not a narrow nationalist."

One of the main tasks of the Parliament was the formation of a new government. Therefore, Hasan bey Aghayev, who chaired the activity of the Parliament, called for the head of the government, Fatali khan Khoyski, to take the floor for his intended speech to the Parliament. Khoyski first reported on the internal and external policy of the government, and then presented an in-depth analysis of the most critical moments the government had experienced, evaluating every event objectively. Although the Ottoman Empire had been defeated in the war

and an Allied representative was participating in the Parliament, in Khoyski"s impartial assessment of the British-Turkish conflict as well as the Ottoman army"s activities in Azerbaijan, he considered that those activities did not threaten to the independence of Azerbaijan. He mentioned that there is a chapter in an agreement we had signed with Turkey, wherein Turkey is obligated to dispatch soldiers in the event Azerbaijan needs it for its defense. Our government exercised this option and Turkey was merely fulfilling its commitments. With the assistance of our neighbor, things that were impossible to achieve can be accomplished. It was impossible to turn to some other entity and even if we asked for it, it would be to no avail. It was natural for us to ask Turkey as they were our brothers and they are also one with our faith. Khoyski further said, The Turkish Command entered our territories upon our invitation to protect our borders, put an end to internal strife and prevent brute external interventions. On one hand, we wished to protect our sovereignty and, on the other hand, we had to resort to the Turkish army for help. It was for that reason that we had to protect ourselves from external intervention and not offend those who protected our physical existence at the expense of many casualties. As regards the foreign policy of the government of Azerbaijan, Khoyski noted that the state of Azerbaijan"s foreign affairs reminded him of a thin wooden boat floating among rocks in the darkness that could be bashed against the rocks by the waves and be pummeled into pieces any minute. He said that their duty was to navigate this boat through those rocks. With regard to the Allies" entrance into Baku, as well as British policy, Khoyski said, England is a nation with the oldest civil and legal autonomy. There are more Muslims under British rule than under any other state. They fight shoulder-toshoulder with the British. It shows that the British do not violate their rights and do not offend them. Certainly there cannot be any enmity between us. Therefore, the National Council concurred when the three powers wanted to send their soldiers to Azerbaijan in order to maintain and defend the peace. So far, we have not witnessed any case of abuse or any violation of the rights and independence of the nation and to the existence of Azerbaijan. With our consent, the Allies came and it is evident that there is no harm and no violation of rights. They also do not interfere in the internal affairs of our nation.

After Khoyski"s speech, the Parliament moved to form the new government. Once again, Fatali khan Khoyski was elected to be in charge of this task. The composition of the government was announced on December 26. Upon the insistence of the British, the composition of the coalition government included three ministerial seats for the Russians and two for the Armenians, although the Armenians refused to accept the seats. The following people held positions in the new government: Fatali khan Khoyski, head of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Samad bey Mehmandarov, Minister of Military Affairs; Mirza Asadullayev, Minister of Trade and Industry; Protasyev, Minister of Finance; Lizgar, Minister of Food; Khudadat bey Malik-Aslanov, Minister of Transportation; Aslan bey Safikurdski, Minister of Post, Telegraph and Labor; Mahammad Hasan Hajinski, Minister of State Control, Makinski, Minister of Justice; Khosrovpasha bey Sultanov, Minister of Agriculture; Rustam khan Khoyski, Minister of Patronage; and Yevsei Gindes, Minister of People"s Health. Fatali khan Khoyski thus became the third Minister of Foreign Affairs after Mahammad Hasan Hajinski.

On December 28, 2 days after the formation of the new government, the representative of the Allies in Baku, General Thomson, notified them of the British desire to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan. Thomson"s declaration stated that the coalition government formed under Khoyski"s leadership was the only legal entity for all Azerbaijani territories and that the Allied Command will provide total support to this government.