THE TREATY OF BATUM was signed in Batum on June 4, 1918. It was the treaty of peace and friendship between the Imperial Ottoman government and the Republic of Armenia. The treaty was signed by Khalil Bey and Mehmed Wehib Pasha from the Ottoman Empire and A. Khatisian, H. Kajaznuni and M. Papajanov from the Republic of Armenia. The treaty was imposed act by Turkey which had military superiority. It was signed in Transcaucasia during Turkish attack (see Turkish invasions to Transcaucasia 1918).

Still on May 14, 1918, during negotiations during negotiations with Transcaucasian delegation the Turkish side demanded to give opportunities “to use Alexandrapol-Julfa railway friendly”. Without waiting for response, the Turkish forces invaded Alexandrapol. On May 15, N. Jordania and German general  Von Lossow  reached an agreement about the declaration of the independence of Georgia until the official dissolution of Transcaucasian Sejm .There was also such an agreement between Musavats and Turks about the independence of Azerbaijan. On May 26, The Sejm announced about self-dissolution. In such conditions, Armenia declared its independence (on May 28) and started individual negotiations with Turkey.

The Treaty of Batum consisted of 14 articles. The 1st article announced about “the establishment of peace and eternal friendship” between two governments. The 2nd article identified the boundary between the Ottoman Empire and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The territory of the Republic of Armenia covered 10.000 km2 in the sector of the Yerevan province and several neighboring regions. The 4th article bounded Ottomans to give armed assistance at the request of the Republic of Armenia for “the maintenance of law and order”. This article gave opportunities to Turkey to use any chance for invading Armenia. The 5th article committed the government of the Republic of Armenia to take measures to prohibit the formation of anti-Turkish armed bands on its territory. The 6-10th articles aimed at providing the protection of the rights of Muslims in Armenia, using the railways and solving the postal and telegraph issues. The 11th article required the Government of the Republic of Armenia to evacuate its all forces from Baku urgently after signing the treaty. All the provisions of Brest peace treaty that didn’t contradict the treaty of Batum remained in force (12th article). The 14th article defined the conditions of ratification of the treaty.

Additional treaties were signed about the use of highways of Armenia, the urgent demobilization of Armenian military forces etc. Turkish government reserved right to have its military commissars in Armenia, which would oversee the free transportation of Turkish forces on highways. On the same day the Turkish government signed treaty with Georgia and according to it, Kars, Ardvin, Ardahan, Batum, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe passed to Turkey.

The treaty of Batum was the first external political act of the Republic of Armenia. According to this treaty, the Republic of Armenia became dependent on Turkey. However, the treaty of Batum was soon canceled. The Republic of Armenia refused the treaty due to the defeat of Turkey in First Word War, the signing of the armistice of Mudros (1918)  and the canceling of the treaty of Brest-Listovsk. In the beginning of  December  1918,Turkish forces were removed from Transcaucasia, on April 1919 they left  the Kars province.

G. Galoyan

Source- Encyclopedia “The Armenian Question”, Yerevan, 1996. 

 

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