CHAPTER VI THE ARMISTICE WITH THE CENTRAL POWERS-APPEALS FOR GENERAL PEACE NEGOTIATIONS File No. 861.00/644 The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, November 10, 1917, 3 p. m. [Received November 11, 10.35 p. m.] 967. I have been able to obtain information concerning recent events in Russia which I am cabling to you as I believe our Embassy's communications are being interrupted. This information comes from Bolshevik sources which is all that now leaves Russia. Two proclamations have been issued by Soviet's Revolutionary Military Committee announcing that it holds the reins of government at head of garrison and proletariat of Petrograd; that its course, namely, immediate democratic peace, annulment property owners' right to possess land, workers' control of production and formation of government from ranks of Soviet has been won; that soldiers and workmen have risen as one man and won cause without bloodshed; front is called upon to support Soviet which will immediately propose just peace, give land to peasants and call Constituent Assembly. The Congress of Soviets of all Russia in session at Petrograd adopted resolution that all belligerents commence negotiations for just democratic peace such as is wanted by majority of working classes of all belligerents and was wanted in Russia after fall of monarchy; such peace should be immediate, without annexations or forcible conquest of foreign nation and without indemnities. Russia is ready to take steps to have such a peace agreed upon by authorized representatives of all nations. Government understands by annexations either annexation by powerful state or [of] weak nation against its will or occupation of transoceanic territories, which takes place when population of any state is held by force, its right to a general referendum is refused against its will expressed in its press, national assemblies, party decisions or by revolt, and troops of occupation are not withdrawn. The government regards it a crime to continue war to partition weak nations among the powerful and pro claims its solemn decision to sign peace conditions as above. All peace negotiations shall be absolutely open and non-secret and all secret treaties of former Government shall be published and declared null and void. Government proposes immediate cessation of hostilities to be agreed upon for a period of three months and that all the nations of the world should participate in peace negotiations. MORRIS File No. 763.72/13332 The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State For the President: [Telegram-Extract] LONDON, November 18, 1917, 10 p. m. The following is short résumé of the general political conditions. Russia: Kerensky and other more responsible officials urge Allies to make an offer of peace, basis no annexations or indemnities. They believe Germany would not accept and this would help to solidify Russia. They do not believe Germany would make separate peace with Russia owing to danger of socialistic infection, but they believe Germany will take Petrograd and near provinces in spring. They claim this would suit German purposes better because demobilization of Russian Army would produce anarchy and total loss stores of supplies. EDWARD HOUSE File No. 861.00/705 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State 1 [Telegram] PETROGRAD, November 21, 1917, 11 p. m. 1 [Received November 22, 4.46 p. m.] 2004[]. Soviet passed resolution ordering Dukhonin, chief of staff and acting generalissimo, to propose three months' armistice to enemy commanders but to submit terms back for approval. Also indicated would inform chiefs of Allied missions of such action. No communication yet received from Lenin government, Ukrainian independent government reported agreed on three months' armistice. Reports multiply concerning German activities. Believe German headquarters established here and Moscow where work becoming more open daily. No news from the outside world. Quiet here, snowing. Efforts to form compromise ministry not entirely abandoned but accomplishing but little. 1 'Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 1040). FRANCIS File No. 763.72119/954 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PETROGRAD, November 22, 1917. [Received November 24, 9.10 a. m.] 2006. Following is literal translation of document received at American Embassy 11 p. m., 21st instant: THE COMMISSARY OF THE PEOPLE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PETROGRAD, November 7, old style, 1917. MR. AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES: By the present I have the honor to inform you, Mr. Ambassador, that the National Congress of the Councils of the Deputies of the Workmen and Soldiers established on the 26th of the month of October of this year (old style) a new government of the Russian Republic under the form of the Council of the Commissaries of the People. The president of this Government is Mr. Vladimir Ilich Lenin and the management of the foreign policy was entrusted to me as Commissary of the People for Foreign Affairs. In drawing your attention to the text of the proposition for an armistice and a democratic peace without annexations or contributions founded on the right of people to dispose of themselves, proposals approved by the Congress of the Councils of Workmen and Soldiers, I have the honor to beg you, Mr. Ambassador, to be good enough to regard the above-mentioned document as a formal proposal for an armistice without delay on all the fronts and for the opening without delay of negotiations for peace-a proposal which the plenipotentiary government of the Russian Republic is addressing simultaneously to all belligerent nations and to their governments. I beg you, Mr. Ambassador, to be good enough to accept the assurance of the perfect consideration and very profound respect of the government of the councils for the people of the United States who also like all the other peoples exhausted by this incomparable butchery cannot help but ardently desire peace. The Commissary of the People for Foreign Affairs LEON TROTSKY [Managing Secretary of the Council of Commissaries of the People] BONCH-BRUEVICH [Witnessed by] Secretary, N. GORBUNQV As a receipt for the communication mentioned above was requested the dragoman of the Embassy signed a receipt for an envelope as addressed to the American Ambassador. I presume that same as above has been addressed to my colleagues and will immediately confirm. A meeting of representatives of Allied powers called by British Ambassador for 3 p. m. to-day. FRANCIS File No. 861.00/716 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] PETROGRAD, November 22, 1917, 9 p. m. [Received November 24, 6.10 p. m.] 2007. At a meeting of Allied chiefs this afternoon agreement was unanimous and emphatic that no notice should be taken of note from Foreign Office in my 2006. Note had been received by British, American, French and Italian Embassies and by Belgian and Serbian Legations only. Japanese and Brazilian Embassies and Rumanian, Portuguese, Chinese, Greek and Siamese Legations had not received the note but were represented at conference. Conclusion without dissent was that each chief when asked by the [correspondents] should reply truly whether note received and he make whatever additional statement he chose. I have told Associated [Press] and World representatives that note received and forwarded. Department for its information and shall make same reply to Russian press if asked. Agreed furthermore that each chief should request his Government not to direct him to make reply to communication, as pretended government established by force and not recognized by Russian people. 2 Learned at conference British, French and Italian Ambassadors representing governments of London agreement, with the approval of their [governments, instructed] military attachés at headquarters to protest against armistice as violating that agreement. Shall wire Major Kerth at headquarters to join in protest. Heard since conference that Dukhonin, acting generalissimo, replied refusing to obey order and stating that he commanded army to resist invader whereupon he was removed and Krylenko, commissary of Lenin government, appointed. 8 p. m. Rumanian Minister just received telegrams his military attaché at north front that famine has begun and army desperate; also telegram from his military attaché at west front that Dietrichs who is next in command to Dukhonin says Lenin working for Germany whose plan is to encourage civil strife in Russia so that German troops will be called to restore order and then separate peace negotiated on terms favorable to Germany and disastrous to Russia. This not improbable. Rada of Ukraine has ordered all Ukraine needed soldiers to return home and Cossacks told by army committee to 1 Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 1053). 'Lieut. Col. Monroe C. Kerth, representative of the U. S. Army with the staff of the Russian Commander in Chief. return to their country. Chernov, Tseretelli and Avksentiev reported at Stavka organizing another government with Chernov as president. [FRANCIS] File No. 763.72119/957 The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] PETROGRAD, November 24, 1917. 2024. Translation of Trotsky's speech previously referred to transmitted in full by mail. After outlining his interpretation of effect of Soviet peace decree upon Russia's foreign relations he emphasized power of working classes and helplessness of bourgeoisie. Referring to political attitude of other nations towards Soviet government he stated greatest hostility thereto manifested by Great Britain, referred to opposition to war on part of French working classes and the resulting ministerial crisis, the hesitation of Italy prior to war and present despair her working class and then referred to the United States as follows: The United States intervened in war after three years had elapsed under the influence of sober calculation of American stock exchange. America could not permit victory of one coalition over the other. America interested in weakening both coalitions and strengthening hegemony of American capital. Furthermore America's war industry is interested in war. During war America's exports increased more than twofold and reached figures which not one capitalistic state had attained. All the exports with hardly any exception go to Allied countries. When in January Germany announced unlim ited submarine warfare all railway stations and docks in United States were crammed with products of war industry. To remove them was impossible. Transportation was disorganized and New York experienced hunger riots such as we have not seen here. At that time financial capital presented Wilson an ultimatum: the sale of products of industry must be guaranteed which Wilson obeyed hence the preparation for war and later the war itself. America is not aiming at territorial acquisition. America can patiently receive the fact of Soviet government as she is sufficiently satisfied by exhaustion of Allied countries and of Germany, in addition America is interested in investing her capital in Russia. Trotsky further stated that Germany's internal economic situation forces her to adopt semipatient attitude regarding Soviet government and finally declared that impression produced in Europe by peace decree verifies most optimistic hopes. He then gave in full the text of communication to Allied Ambassadors which I have already telegraphed and also the following text of order to General Dukhonin: 'Not printed. |