Azerbaidjanskoy Respubliki na Versalskoy Konfernsii” (Musavat government of the
Republic of Azerbaijan at the Versal Conference) (March-December 1919).
The author had presented the texts in the original, not without to analyzing
them based on Bolshevik principles of historiography of his time. In other words,
according to Rayevski's imagination the most significant documents regarding the
history of our statehood had been nothing but intrigues of handful of Musavat party
men intending to sell Azerbaijan to British imperialism. However, today one has to be
grateful to Rayevski regardless of his staunch Bolshevik view. No matter how odd it
would seem, generally, those publications of 1920-30's that had been written with the
sole aim of distorting history of the Republic of Azerbaijan and sullying the names of
the leaders, their objectives and ideas, nowadays contribute to objective evaluation of
historical reality. Putting aside the ideological fashion, it is worthy to stress the
significance of facts and sources of those publications that otherwise would have been
inaccessible for the contemporary researcher.
Considering that the majority of the reports regarding the delegation's
activity had been sent from Paris, as it has already been aforementioned they had been
accumulated and published by us in one book entitled “Paris mektublari” (Letters
from Paris). Recalling the previous publication of another book by H.Hasanov and
H.Pashayev
entitled
“Diplomaticheskiye
besedi
v
Stambule”
(Diplomatic
conversations in Istanbul) one may refer to a quite peculiar dialog reflecting some of
the important and interesting pages of the diplomatic history of the Republic of
Azerbaijan.
All the reports sent to Azerbaijani government had been written upon the
paper form bearing official stamp “President de la delegation de paix de
l'Azerbaidjan” (Head of peace delegation of Azerbaijan). Double digit figures on the
front page (for example March 17-19) had indicated the dates of commencement and
completion of report writing. Certain parts of the texts had been written in different
handwriting, the rest had been type-machine written. Regardless of differences in
handwriting, it had undoubtedly been a product of ideas of one person.
Generally, Topchubashev had either written the reports personally, or the
secretaries had put them down from his dictation. It can be asserted judging by the
style of those reports and its aspects related to the activity of the head of delegation.
The authorship of the documents had raised no doubts with Rayevski either. Finally,
head of the delegation had signed every report and had sealed them with his personal
stamp.
The underlining of texts with red and blue pencils and various signs and
notes on the page margins certify that those materials had been carefully evaluated by
the country's leadership, especially by Prime Minister N.Yusifbeyli and Minister of
Foreign Affairs M.Jafarov and had been used in foreign and domestic policy making.
In 1919, expressing ideas of his own and those of the other members of the
delegation Topchubashev wrote:
“Indeed, they do not recognize us as a state. Nevertheless, wherever we go
we declare that we have existed as a state for over a year and a half and we are
demonstrating Azerbaijan's capability to exist independently with its own President,
Government, army, administrative system, courts and schools. This Azerbaijan had
endured relentless struggle with the Bolsheviks. Therefore, Azerbaijanis are capable
of political existence and of building their independent state. It is imperative that we
preserve this self-affirmation to the fullest extent of our strength and beyond. We
would like everyone, the entire nation to understand clearly that we are passing a test
of proving our capability of independent social and political existence.
We are convinced that we can manage it, because our people are truly
competent and our country is endowed with natural resources. However, due to the
absence of political institution based on moral principles, it is vital that institutions of
young state would serve as an example for the masses that must realize the full
seriousness of the test period we are experiencing. Figures in the leadership - these
are the people that must demonstrate to the masses the examples of wholehearted
service. The ultimate goal is to mobilize the people and consolidate them around the
idea of independent existence. Because we are convinced that there isn't and there
won't be a place for retreat in the minds of the people. Only one way lays ahead of us
and that is the road leading to Azerbaijan's independence.”
Topchubashev and his brothers-in-arms had been the first voyagers of that
road. Indeed due to objective political reasons they had not attained success in their
struggle. They had been unable to lead the people to independence that they had
wished and had fought for.
State independence of Azerbaijan had demised in April 1920 as a result of
Bolshevik aggression. One of the founders of the Republic of Azerbaijan
M.A.Rasulzade said, “A tricolor banner, an ideal symbol created from zero, has been
replaced with red rag” (referring to flag Soviet Azerbaijan). However, as Rasulzade
wrote, “A 100-year-lesson of dependence and 2-year-battle for liberty” had in the first
place introduced the nation to itself, rather than to others.
Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace Conference had been the first
landing party of the newly independent state dispatched to Europe.
THE BIGGEST MERIT - RECOGNITION OF AZERBAIJAN!
The delegation had achieved the ultimate goal - to convey the will of the
Azerbaijani people and the fact of country's very existence to the attention of the
world. The Bolsheviks who had occupied the country and had annexed it to Russia,
had had to concede this reality. Oil thirsty Bolsheviks had refused the mere idea of
existence of Azerbaijani state as owner of its natural recourses and lands. Two years
before the de-facto recognition of Azerbaijan at the Peace Conference, Stepan
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