Beirut: Farewell to the Arabs
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our full cooperation. There is strength in numbers, and to the
extent that the number of our people is great in our fatherland,
to that extent will increase our political weight. . . .
There exists an Armenian American community, but we
don't know how many years it will be able to withstand the current that is devouring it [the forces of assimilation]. Whoever
from the Armenian American community goes to Armenia, is
saved far Armenia and its future. For that reason too, as yesterday, today and tomorrow also, we must wholeheartedly rejoice
when the Armenian masses are transported to Armenia. . . .
Every Armenian who participates in the repatriation must
know, that he is sending a soldier for the defense of Armenia,
or he is sending there a cultivator of the mind, or skilled hands
that have mastered the arts. And enthused with this knowledge he should give at least as much as he has given in the
past in order to save the fatherland.
As an Allied victory became evident, and the war drew to a
close, the American Dashnags suddenly began the promotion
of a vigorous campaign to compel Turkey to return to the
Soviet Union the strategic provinces of Kars and Ardahan
bordering on the U.S.S.R. They sent a delegation to the San
Francisco Conference, formed committees, and published
memoranda to plead this "Armenian Cause." Before the war
ended they had initiated overtures for unity with leftist and
liberal Armenian elements they had formerly denounced as
"Communist." Hairenik "Weekly printed articles from Sovetakan Hayastan, official organ of Soviet Armenia, and from
Information Bulletin, published by the Soviet Embassy in
Washington, as well as from Bolshevik, printed in Moscow.
Reprinting, in translation, articles which had appeared in
the parent organ, Hairenik Weekly in its issue of April 26,
1944 asserted: "All that we ask of them ['United States and
Great Britain'] is not to side with Turkey but to support the
Armenians when the government of Soviet Armenia, with the