Azərbaycan Paris Sülh Konfransında (1918-1920)

 
(1919-1920) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baku - 2008 

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Compiled, preface and translation from English by Vilayat Guliyev 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I
would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Samed Seyidov, Candidate of 
Philological Sciences Asif Rustemli, Ulfat Ibrahimov, Farah Gozalova and Mehman 
Aliyev for their assistance kindly provided in preparing publication of this book.
V.G. 
 
This book contains texts in English and French along with translation into 
Azerbaijani of one of the important political-historical documents- “Claims of the 
Delegation of the Caucasian Azerbaijan”, presented to the participants of the Paris 
Peace Conference (1919-1920) by Azerbaijani delegation under the Chairman of 
Parliament of Azerbaijan Mr. A.Topchibashev. 

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DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE PARIS 
PEACE CONFERENCE 
The existence and fate of the Republic of Azerbaijan - the first democratic 
republic established in the Muslim East after the collapse of the Russian empire had 
not depended solely on the historic choice of
 
the people. At the time it had depended 
on the plans and intentions of the leading countries and on the wishes and wills of 
politicians drafting a new world map. 
The people had made their choice and had demonstrated will and 
resoluteness for independence. Azerbaijani citizens had commenced the building of 
an independent and democratic state, yet recovery from the imperialist yoke had come 
to them at harsh price causing hardships and martyr bloodshed. However, belated 
recognition of
 
historic choice of the people by the international community had 
exposed new threats. From the early days of its existence Azerbaijani state had faced 
the threat of becoming a colonised by Soviet imperialism that had wished to restore 
“united and indivisible Russia” within its former borders. 
The founders of the Republic of Azerbaijan had clearly sensed this threat. 
Therefore they had tried by all means to deliver the problems facing the fledgling 
republic to the attention of the international community and to get necessary political 
and security guarantees by gaining recognition as an independent state, the subject of 
an international law. 
This was especially important in the year 1918, against the backdrop of 
collapse of Russian, Ottoman and Austria-Hungary empires and the emerging of a 
totally new global political picture. At this historical moment there was a serious need 
to establish intensive political and diplomatic relations with Europe based on mutual 
interest and to gain Europe-wide recognition for the country and its people. 
Diplomatic delegations from Azerbaijan had traveled to Europe in the 
medieval ages. However, primarily they had conveyed the wills of their shahs and 
rulers to the European monarchs and royal courts by embarking upon lengthy and 
tiresome years long journeys. Whereas for the first time, according to the decree of 
the Parliament - supreme legislative body of the independent Azerbaijan that had 
commenced its activity on December 7, 1918, delegation to Paris, to Versailles Peace 
Conference had taken upon itself a mission to convey the will of the people, their 
resoluteness for independence, as well as to gain global recognition and acceptance of 
this independence. 
Only several years had passed from the time when the prominent Azerbaijani 
poet of the XX century Mahammad Hadi wrote with deep sorrow and regret: “Many 
nations had left their signatures on the pages of history, but there is no name of my 
people among them”. It was during these years that by rapidly transforming and 
progressing, the people of Azerbaijan had benefited from the political realities and 
had established its state, and willing to take its rightful place on the pages of history 

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and life, the country had sent out. a delegation to Paris, to Peace Conference - 
destination meant to decide the fate of the new world. 
Even before the occupation of the young Republic by the XI Red Army (and 
actually well after) the delegation had accomplished a lot in terms of gaining 
recognition for Azerbaijan, its ancient history and culture and the right of its people to 
live freely and independently on their historical lands. Members of the delegation had 
written and had published books and brochures in English, French, Russian and other 
languages, had established ties with political and diplomatic elite of the countries 
represented at the Conference and had benefited from Western media. 
In the meantime the delegation had regularly informed their government on 
the developments at the Paris Peace Conference, meetings and discussions held within 
its framework and had given a significant number of valuable recommendations to the 
government, proceeding from the contemporary European realities. 
Unfortunately, just like the true history of the first Republic all the 
documents reflecting chronicles of the glorious political and diplomatic struggle had 
been kept classified for decades, inaccessible for anyone, even scientists and 
specialists in the field of history. However, as one of the most ancient books of the 
mankind - The Bible reads: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed”. 
Only after regaining of Azerbaijan's independence several sources had been 
disclosed to public regarding the activity of the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan in 
Istanbul and Paris in 1918-1920 under A.M.Topchubashov, the prominent statesman 
and diplomat, one of the founders of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The book entitled 
“Diplomatic conversations in Istanbul” (Baku, 1995, in Russian) by Hasan Hasanov 
and the books “Letters from Paris” and “Pisma iz Parija” (in Azerbaijani and Russian, 
Baku, 1998) by Vilayat Guliyev with broad introductory remarks in Azerbaijani and 
Russian were the first steps. 
These books reflect the documents and other official information the 
diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan had sent to the central government concerning their 
activity aimed at gaining recognition of country's independence. Scientific research 
and political propaganda had been another aspect of the activity of Azerbaijani 
delegation. Being little known in Europe in early XX century, Azerbaijan had 
seriously needed such an introduction activity. The book entitled “Claims of the 
Peace Delegation of the Republic of Caucasian Azerbaijan presented to the Paris 
Peace Conference” was initially published both in English and French by the 
members of the delegation in Paris in 1919, and with original texts and Azerbaijani 
translations it still retains its significance. 
However before proceeding to reports sent to its government by the 
Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace Conference and information bulletins 
published by them in European countries, it would be appropriate to unveil certain 
facts about the members of the delegation, those whose hearts were filled with love 
for their homeland and who among the first had lived the pride of national statehood. 

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