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INVITATION TO JOIN ARMISTICE

III

for an armistice on all fronts. The first meeting of the negotiators is fixed for November 19 [December 2, N. S.].

Any person concealing or opposing the promulgation of this order will, contrary to all existing usage, be brought before a revolutionary court-martial.

I order firing to cease immediately and fraternization to begin on all fronts. Great vigilance is necessary regarding the enemy. No military operations should be undertaken except in reply to those by the enemy. . . .

The Army is starving. It is without clothes and boots. The horses are dying for want of fodder. We have no means of assuring the transport of supplies. In a short time we shall obtain a general peace. Meanwhile all attention and care should be devoted to the Army remaining in the trenches.

3. NOTE SENT BY LEON TROTSKY, RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO ALL ALLIED EMBASSIES AND LEGATIONS, REQUESTING PARTICIPATION IN ARMISTICE, DECEMBER 6, 1917.1 The negotiations opened by the delegates of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria on the one side, and the delegates of Russia on the other side, have been interrupted, on the initiative of our delegation, for a week, with the purpose of providing the opportunity, during this period, of informing the peoples and Governments of the Allied countries on the existence of such negotiations and on their tendency.

On Russia's part it has been arranged to declare that the proposed armistice has for its object the preparation of a peace on a democratic basis as expressed in the manifesto by the All-Russian Soviet Congress.

The armistice can be signed only under the conditions that the troops will not be sent from one front to another, and that the Islands of the Moon Sounds must be cleared by Germans.

Concerning the aims of the war the enemy delegates evaded a definite reply.

Indicating that they had been authorized to negotiate exclusively on the military side of the (proposed?) armistice, and not concerning the question of a general armistice, the delegates of the opposite side declined on the ground that they did not possess powers for deciding a general armistice with the countries whose delegates are not taking part in the conference.

The delegates of the opposite side proposed, in their turn, an armistice on the front from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, the duration of this armistice to be 28 days.

At the same time the delegates of the opposite side promised to transmit to their respective Governments the proposal made by the Russian delegation to invite all belligerent countries (that is, all Allied countries, except Russia) to take part in the negotiations.

London Times, December 8, 1917, page 9.

Our delegation refused to sign at this stage of the negotiations a formal armistice, and it was decided again to suspend all hostile activities for a week and to interrupt for the same period the negotiations on an armistice.

As a result a period of over one month will exist between the first decree of November 8 [November 21, N. S.] by the Council's authority concerning peace, and the moment of the continuation of the peace negotiations on December 12 [December 25, N. S.]. This period is, even for the present disturbed state of international communications, amply sufficient to afford the Allied Governments the opportunity to define their attitude toward the peace negotiations, that is, their willingness or their refusal to take part in the negotiations for an armistice and peace.

In the case of a refusal they must declare clearly and definitely before all mankind the aims for which the peoples of Europe may have to lose their blood during a fourth year of war.

(Signed) L. TROTSKY,

People's Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.

4. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS PUT FORWARD BY RUSSIAN PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONERS IN THE SESSION OF THE PEACE CONFERENCE, BREST-LITOVSK, DECEMBER 22, 1917.1

I.

No forcible appropriation of any territories taken in the course of the war. The occupying armies to be withdrawn from those territories at the earliest moment.

II. Complete political independence to be given to those nationalities which were deprived of it before the beginning of the war.

III. Nationalities not hitherto in the enjoyment of political independence to be allowed the right to decide by means of a referendum whether they London Times, December 26, 1917, page 6.

The German version of the principles differs, and, as translated in Washington, reads:

"In the sitting of the 22d of this month the Russian delegation declares it proceeds from the expressed will of the Russian people to reach as soon as possible a conclusion of a general, just and acceptable peace for all.

"Making reference to resolutions of the All-Russian Congress of Workingmen and Soldiers' Deputies and of the All-Russian Farmers' Congress, the Russian delegation declares that it is considered a crime to continue war simply for the purpose of making annexations and that, therefore, it makes known solemnly its determination to put their signatures to conditions for peace which will end this war upon the foundation of principles of just conditions for all peoples in like manner without exception.

"Proceeding from these principles the Russian delegation has proposed to place as foundation for peace negotiations the following six points:

"One-No forcible union of districts which have come into possession during war is allowed. Troops which are occupying these districts will be withdrawn in shortest time.

"Two-Political independence of peoples which have lost their independence in this war will be in fullest extent restored.

"Three-Possibility shall be granted to national groups which before the war were not politically independent to decide the question of submitting themselves to one or other State or to determine their political independence by referendum. This referendum must be carried out in such a way

REPLY OF CENTRAL POWERS

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elect to be united to other nations or to acquire independence. The referendum should be so arranged as to insure complete freedom in the voting. IV. In the case of territories inhabited by several nationalities, the rights of minorities to be safeguarded by special provisions.

V. None of the belligerent powers to pay any war indemnity. War requisitions should be returned and sufferers by war should be compensated from a special fund levied on all belligerent countries in proportion to their

resources.

VI. Colonial questions to be settled in accordance with preceding conditions in the colonies.

In conclusion the Russian delegates proposed that no indirect pressure should be exerted on weaker nations by such economic boycotting as made their subjection oppressive by commercial dependence or blockades.

II.

REPLIES TO THE RUSSIAN OFFER

1. STATEMENT OF COUNT OTTOKAR CZERNIN VON CHUDENITZ, AUSTROHUNGARIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL QUADRUPLE ALLIANCE IN REPLY TO THE RUSSIAN

PEACE PRINCIPLES, AND CONSTITUTING THE BASIS OF THEIR GENERAL PEACE PROPOSAL, BREST-LITOVSK, DECEMBER 25, 1917.1 The delegations of the allied [Teutonic] powers, acting upon the clearly expressed will of their Governments and peoples, will conclude as soon as possible a general peace. The delegations, in complete accord with the repeatedly expressed viewpoint of their Governments, think that the basic principles of the Russian delegation can be made the basis of such a peace. The delegations of the Quadruple Alliance are agreed immediately to conclude a general peace without forcible annexations and indemnities. They share the view of the Russian delegation, which condemns the continuation of the war purely for aims of conquest.

that complete independence is assured in voting for the whole population of the district concerned, including emigrants and refugees.

"Four-In reference to districts of mixed nationality the right of the minority shall be protected by special law which gives to it independence for its national culture and, when this can be carried through, practically an autonomous administration.

"Five-As to what concerns replacement of losses of private persons in consequence of war, they shall be met from an especial fund to which belligerents shall contribute proportionately.

"Six-Colonial questions shall be decided by the observation of fundamental principles expressed under number one to number four.

"In addition to these points, the Russian delegation proposed to the contracting parties to declare every kind of indirect attack on the freedom of weaker nations by stronger as inadmissible; for instance, by economic boycott, by economic predominance of one land over another based on compulsory commercial treaties, by special tariffs which limit freedom of trade of their countries, by sea blockades which have in view not immediate war aims, etc."-(Official Bulletin, January 2, 1918; see also London Times, December 28, 1917, page 7.)

'Associated Press dispatch, December 27, 1917; Reuter translation, London Times, December 28, 1917, page 7.

The statesmen of the allied [Teutonic] Governments in programs and statements have emphasized time and again that for the sake of conquest they will not prolong the war a single day. The Governments of the allies unswervingly have followed this view all the time. They solemnly declare their resolve immediately to sign terms of peace which will stop this war on the above terms, equally just to all belligerents without exception.

It is necessary, however, to indicate most clearly that the proposals of the Russian delegation could be realized only in case all the powers participating in the war obligate themselves scrupulously to adhere to the terms, in common with all peoples.

The powers of the Quadruple Alliance now negotiating with Russia cannot, of course, one-sidedly bind themselves to such terms, not having the guarantee that Russia's allies will recognize and carry out these terms honestly without reservation with regard to the Quadruple Alliance. Starting upon these principles, and regarding the six clauses proposed by the Russian delegation as a basis of negotiations, the following must be stated:

Clause 1. Forcible annexation of territories seized during the war does not enter into the intention of the allied powers. About troops now occupying seized territories, it must be stipulated in the peace treaty, if there is no agreement before, regarding the evacuation of these places.

Clause 2. It is not the intention of the allies to deprive of political independence those nations which lost it during the war.'

Clause 3. The question of subjection to that or the other country of those nationalities who have not political independence cannot, in the opinion of the powers of the Quadruple Alliance, be solved internationally. In this case it must be solved by each Government, together with its peoples, in a manner established by the Constitution.

·Clause 4. Likewise, in accordance with the declaration of statesmen of the Quadruple Alliance, the protection of the rights of minorities constitutes an essential component part of the constitutional rights of peoples to self-determination. The Allied Governments also grant validity to this principle everywhere, in so far as it is practically realizable.

Clause 5. The allied powers have frequently emphasized the possibility that both sides might renounce not only indemnification for war costs, but also indemnification for war damages. In these circumstances, every belligerent power would have only to make indemnification for expenditures for its nationals who have become prisoners of war, as well as for

Compare the Russian proposal, which relates to nationalities deprived of independence before the war not to those losing it during the war. The statement of Count Czernin follows the German

version.

PROPOSAL FOR RECESS

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damage done in its own territory by illegal acts of force committed against civilian nationals belonging to the enemy. The Russian Government's proposal for the creation of a special fund for this purpose could be taken into consideration only if the other belligerent powers were to join in the peace negotiations within a suitable period.

Clause 6. Of the four allied powers, Germany alone possesses colonies. On the part of the German delegation, in full accord with the Russian proposals regarding that, the following is declared:

The return of colonial territories forcibly seized during the war constitutes an essential part of German demands, which Germany cannot renounce under any circumstances. Likewise, the Russian demand for immediate evacuation of territories occupied by an adversary conforms to German intentions. Having in view the nature of the colonial territories of Germany, the realization of the right of self-determination, besides the above outlined considerations, in the form proposed by the Russian delegation is at present practically impossible.

The circumstance that in the German colonies the natives, notwithstanding the greatest difficulties and the improbability of victory in a struggle against an adversary many times stronger and who had the advantage of unlimited import by sea, remained in the gravest circumstances faithful to their German friends, may serve as proof of their attachment and their resolve by all means to preserve allegiance to Germany, proof which by its significance and weight is far superior to any expression of popular will.

The principles of economic relations proposed by the Russian delegation in connection with the above six clauses are approved wholly by the delegations of the allied powers, who always have denied any economic restrictions and who see in the re-establishment of regulated economic relations, which are in accord with the interests of all people concerned, one of the most important conditions for bringing about friendly relations between the powers now engaged in war.

2. EXTRACT FROM PROCEEDINGS OF BREST-LITOVSK CONFERENCE PROPOSING IO-DAY RECESS TO ENABLE OTHER NATIONS TO JOIN THE NEGOTIATIONS, DECEMBER 25, 1917.1

The leader of the Russian delegation, replying said:

"The delegation notes with satisfaction that the reply of the delegations of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey accepted the principle

London Times, December 28, 1917, page 8.

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