The Tsar promised autonomy for Russian Armenia.[3] The Tsar promised autonomy to six Turkish Armenian vilayets as well as the two Russian-Armenian provinces.[4] Earlier a Tsarist Minister of Foreign Affairs reportedly had confided Russia's aim: "We need Armenia, but without the Armenians." Primarily because of trust in France and Great Britain as associates of Russia, the Armenian National Council of the Russian Empire accepted the Tsar's offer.[4] A representative meeting of Russian Armenians assembled in Tiflis, Caucasus, during August 1914. Tsar asked Armenian's loyalty and support for Russia in the conflict.[3] The proposal was agreed upon and nearly 20,000 Armenians responded to the call, of which only 7,000 were given arms.[5]