Genesis (1912) . During the
First Balkan War, which commenced in October 1912, the
Russian Empire's diplomatic efforts led to a renewed focus on the
Armenian question. Subsequently,
Catholicos Georges V Soureniants was empowered to petition Emperor
Nicholas II to protect Ottoman Armenians. The Catholicos enjoyed the support of the
Viceroy of the Caucasus,
Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov, and the National Bureau, which represented the Armenians of Russia and was established in 1912. Among its members were other prominent figures of the Parisian Armenian community, such as the writer
Archag Chobanian and the former Ottoman minister
Gabriel Noradounghian, who became a member after his exile to France in November 1918.
Aram Andonian served as its secretary between 1919 and 1923. This delegation, established during the First Balkan War to represent the interests of Ottoman Armenians, was dispatched to Paris to advocate for the Armenian cause before the six powers that had signed the
Treaty of Berlin in 1878. Upon his arrival in Paris, Boghos Nubar promptly sought an audience with the Ottoman ambassador to propose a consensus among the Russians, English, Germans, and French on the reforms to be implemented in
Ottoman Armenia.
London Conference (September 1912 – May 1913) on May 30, 1913. Subsequently, Boghos Nubar made regular journeys from Paris to
Berlin,
Geneva, and
London.), which sought to have reforms in Ottoman Armenia discussed at the
London Conference convened to negotiate peace between the Balkan states and the Ottoman Empire following the Ottoman defeat,). However, he did not advocate for Armenian autonomy or independence from the Empire. He maintained contact with the ARF, notably with
Vahan Papazian, an influential figure in the Armenian institutions of Constantinople, who visited him in Paris in February 1913 to clarify the key points of the reforms to be implemented. They agreed on a common
project for the representatives of the great powers, which included the appointment of European inspectors and guarantees from European states. At that time, the National Delegation distributed a memorandum that outlined the potential benefits of implementing reforms in Western Armenia. The memorandum, produced by the institutions of the Armenian National Assembly, suggested that such reforms could contribute to regional stability and peace. • Unification of the
six vilayets; • Appointment of a governor (Christian, Ottoman, or European), as well as an Administrative Council and a mixed Islamic-Christian provincial assembly; • Formation of a mixed
gendarmerie led by European officers to protect the Armenians; • Dissolution of the
Hamidiye regiments; • Legalization of the use of
Armenian and
Kurdish in local administration; • Authorization for minorities to establish and administer schools with special taxes previously reserved for Turkish schools; • Formation of a commission to examine land confiscations; • The expulsion of Muslim immigrants settled on Armenian lands; • Implementation of these measures in
Cilicia; • Oversight by European powers, who were to ensure the application of these measures. France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and
Germany from January 1913 were engaged in diplomatic negotiations. The parties involved had disparate interests in the region, further complicating matters. France and the United Kingdom pursued a status quo diplomacy to preserve their interests, opposing a Russian annexation of eastern Anatolia. However, Germany opposed any reform, as it would jeopardize its economic dominance over the Ottoman Empire. Additionally, its
Young Turk allies urged it to thwart this "Russian project." The Russians denounced this condition, which they believed would not allow for the concrete implementation of any reforms. At that time, only Russia demonstrated a genuine interest in the Armenian question. In late June or early July, Boghos Nubar met with
Mehmet Cavit Bey. In a subsequent statement published in the Armenian newspaper
Azadamard, the Ottoman government indicated its willingness to implement reforms and asserted that it had reached an agreement with Boghos Nubar Pasha on the majority of points, except for the issue of guarantees, following a meeting in Paris. An international conference on Armenian reforms was convened in Paris on November 30 and October 1, 1913, by the Armenian National Delegation to finalize the project's remaining points. In April 1914, the
Dutchman Louis Constant Westenenk and the
Norwegian Nicolai Hoff Nubar, who served as a crucial link between the French government and the Armenian recruitment committee for legionnaires, saw the Legion of the Orient as a foundation for the future Armenian army. Following the declaration of independence of the
Democratic Republic of Armenia (May 1918) and the conclusion of hostilities, the Armenian National Delegation proclaimed the independence of Integral Armenia and formally notified the Allied powers in a note dated November 30, 1918. In this document, the delegation declared that "the independence of Integral Armenia shall be under the aegis of the Allied Powers and the United States, or the
League of Nations as soon as it is formed."
Paris Peace Conference (January - August 1919) In the aftermath of the war, the Armenian National Delegation participated in the
Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Among the delegation's agents was the author
Zabel Yesayan, who was appointed inspector by the delegation for the duration of the conference. As a refugee in the
Caucasus between 1916 and 1918, she engaged in the significant task of collecting testimonies from refugees of the Armenian Genocide. She proceeded from
Tehran to Paris in late 1918, where she delivered to the Armenian delegates a substantial body of documentation on the crimes committed by the Ottoman Empire. The Delegation was present at the conference in conjunction with the sent by the Democratic Republic of Armenia. According to him, the Republic of Armenia was only an "Araratian Armenia" (i.e.,
Eastern Armenia, at the foot of
Mount Ararat) destined to be integrated into a much larger territory extending from the
Caucasus in the east to
Cilicia in the west. Consequently, the two delegations convened on February 12, 1919, to establish a
Delegation of Integral Armenia. However, they maintained their autonomy within the newly formed entity. The Council of Ten agreed to listen to the Delegation, which presented the Memorandum on February 26, 1919. However, despite this, the Armenians could not secure a seat at the negotiating table. This conception of Armenia was a source of great enthusiasm for the Armenians themselves, except for a few members of the Armenian government, such as
Rouben Ter Minassian or
Hovhannes Katchaznouni, who feared that it would serve to further fuel Turkish nationalism. The
Armenian National Congress convened in Paris between February 24 and April 22, 1919. On April 2, 1919, a new Armenian National Delegation was elected, with Boghos Nubar Pasha continuing to chair the body. The "neutral" tendency was represented by Abraham Ter Hagopian, while the Congress also included two
Ramgavars, namely Archag Tchobanian and
Vahan Tekeyan, as well as two
Dashnaks (FRA), namely
Armen Garo and Hagop Nevrouz. The Congress charged the Delegation to establish a unified Armenia. As a symbol of the union between the two delegations, their two leaders co-signed an article titled "The Armenian Cause" in the journal
La Paix des peuples on March 10, 1919. In the article, they explained that it would be a denial of justice if "The former territories of Turkish Armenia must be kept intact, along with those of Russian Armenia, regardless of any pretext or form of separation that may arise. Such a move would be tantamount to dismembering a living body and would inevitably lead to a perpetuation of persecution, oppression, and bloodshed." . On May 28, 1919, the Armenian state adopted an
Act of Unified Armenia, which notably promised the participation of Ottoman Armenians in the government of Armenia. The Act was promulgated on the anniversary date of the founding of the Armenian Republic, and both are celebrated by Armenians in Armenia and the
diaspora. As Anahide Ter Minassian observes, A. Aharonian lauded Armenian unity in lyrical terms, whereas Boghos Nubar Pasha, in more measured terms, evoked the birth of the "new and indivisible Armenian nation." Moreover, the two delegations collaborated in organizing a Franco-Armenian banquet on July 17, 1919, intending to commemorate the Allied victory in the war. In attendance were Deputies
Denys Cochin and
Charles Guernier, as well as ,
Gustave Schlumberger, ,
Alfred Vallette,
Camille Mauclair,
Gabriel Mourey, ,
Ludovic de Contenson,
Gaston Deschamps, Abbot Delarue,
Frédéric Macler, Paul Desfeuilles, Émile Pignot, and others. At this assembly, each of the following individuals delivered a speech: Archag Tchobanian, Boghos Nubar Pasha, and Avetis Aharonian. Despite their differences of opinion, the Armenian National Delegation and the Delegation of the Armenian Republic ultimately pursue the same goals: international recognition of the Armenian Republic, the acquisition of a mandate over Armenia, and the repatriation of refugees. However, after the peace conference in August 1919, a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire was not signed, and the various issues concerning the Armenians remained unresolved.
Treaty of Sèvres (August 10, 1920) The
Treaty of Sèvres was concluded on August 10, 1920. Armenia, represented by the delegation led by Avetis Aharonian, was present at the negotiating table and among the signatories. The treaty partially satisfies the Armenian delegation, as it obligates the Ottoman Empire to recognize Armenia as a free and independent state (Article 88) and to submit the question of the border between the Ottoman Empire and Armenia in the vilayets of
Erzurum,
Trebizond,
Van, and
Bitlis to the
President of the United States for resolution (Article 89). However, the Treaty of Sèvres does not mention
Cilicia. Additionally, Boghos Nubar Pasha and the Armenian National Delegation are present, and the former jointly signed a protocol with Avetis Aharonian, which guarantees the freedoms, notably cultural and religious, of minorities in Armenia.
London Conferences (February - March 1921) The London Conference is convened in part to address the Turkish issue. Turkey is represented by two delegations, one Ottoman and one
Kemalist, in a position of strength as a result of its successes against the Armenians and its favorable relations with the Soviets. Despite the concessions made by the Allies,
British Prime Minister Lloyd George demanded that the Turks recognize the "rights of Ottoman Armenian subjects to possess a National Home on the eastern borders of Anatolia." The former eventually acquiesces, In June 1921, Boghos Nubar Pasha, "demoralized and ill", resigns from his position at the head of the Armenian National Delegation; he is succeeded by
Gabriel Noradoungian. File:Boghos Nubar Pacha and Avetis Aharonian (Paris, 1921).jpg|Boghos Nubar Pacha and Avetis Aharonian on the
Place de l'Étoile, May 29, 1921. File:Boghos Nubar Pacha and Avetis Aharonian (Paris, 1921)-2.jpg|Members of both delegations pay their respects at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. File:Hommage de la Délégation nationale arménienne au soldat inconnu (1921).jpg|Tribute to the Unknown Soldier by the Armenian National Delegation.
Lausanne Conference (November 1922 - July 1923) and Treaty of Lausanne (July 24, 1923) The
Lausanne Conference of 1922-1923 did not extend an invitation to the Armenians.
Conclusion (1922–1925) In August 1923, the Armenian National Delegation pledged to support the Armenian refugees by advocating for their resettlement in
Soviet Armenia. In consequence, the delegation put forth a proposal to the High Commissioner for Refugees of the
League of Nations, which entailed the resettlement of 50,000 refugees in the Sardarabad plain, situated close to
Yerevan. To foster closer ties with the Armenian diaspora, the Armenian Soviet authorities maintained close relations with organizations such as the Armenian National Delegation and the
Armenian General Benevolent Union. This desire was realized with the establishment of the in 1921. Discussions with the Delegation had commenced as early as 1922. The organization that succeeded was established as early as 1924 by Gabriel Noradounghian. It was initially known as the Bureau of Armenian Refugees or the Office of Armenian Refugees and was led by Archag Tchobanian, with Lévon Pachalian serving as secretary-general. As notes, this enables these two delegations to maintain their presence within the national administrative landscape. According to her analysis, the dissolution of the Armenian National Delegation occurred in the wake of the general instruction of December 29, 1924, which removed Armenian nationality from the official list of nationalities. This was indicative of France's acknowledgment of the dissolution of the Armenian Republic. == Publications ==