for the reconstruction of the country, and is (already) actually giving them its support and help by all the means (at its) disposal. 8. Having set ourselves the task of re-establishing order and justice and of ensuring individual security to the persecuted population, which is tired of trials and exactions, the Government affirms the equality before the law of all classes and all citizens without any special privilege; all shall receive, without distinction of origin or of religion, the protection of the State and of the Law. The Government whose Head I am is concentrating all the forces and all the resources at its disposal in order to accomplish the task which it has set itself; at this decisive hour I speak in the name of all National Russia. I am confident that, Bolshevism once crushed, satisfactory solutions will be found for all questions which equally concern all those populations whose existence is bound up with that of Russia. Koltchak.["] Paris Peace Conference 180.03401/62 C. F. 62 Notes of a Meeting held at President Wilson's house in the Place des Etats-Unis, Paris, on Thursday, June 12th [, 1919,] at 4 p.m. [Extract] PRESENT:-United States of America: President Wilson.-British Empire: The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, M.P.-France: M. Clemenceau.-Italy: M. Orlando.-Japan: Baron Makino. Lt. Col. Sir Maurice Hankey, K.C.B. Count Aldrovandi Professor P. J. Mantoux-Interpreter. Secretaries. Russia. Further telegram to Admiral Koltchak 1. With reference to C. F. 61, Minute 4, the attached telegram prepared by Mr. Philip Kerr to Admiral Koltchak was approved and signed. Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to forward it immediately to the Secretary-General to be telegraphed, on behalf of the Conference, to Admiral Koltchak (Appendix I). It was further agreed: That the whole of the telegrams interchanged between the Allied and Associated Powers and Admiral Koltchak should be published in the newspapers the following day. BARON MAKINO while assenting with his Colleagues to the above telegram said he would like to have gone further and to have recognised Admiral Koltchak. Nevertheless it was a step in the right direction. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE said that the Allied and Associated Governments could not yet recognise Admiral Koltchak for the whole of Russia. [Enclosure] Appendix I to C. F. 62. Reply to Admiral Kolchak The Allied and Associated Powers wish to acknowledge receipt of Admiral Koltchak's reply to their note of May 26th. They welcome the tone of that reply, which seems to them to be in substantial agreement with the propositions which they had made, and to contain satisfactory assurances for the freedom, self-government, and peace of the Russian people and their neighbours. They are therefore willing to extend to Admiral Koltchak and his associates the support set forth in their original letter. D. LLOYD GEORGE G. CLEMENCEAU V. E. ORLANDO N. MAKINO June 12th 1919. 861.00/4694: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace WASHINGTON, June 16, 1919, 4 p.m. 2315. For the Secretary of State and McCormick: Have suggested to Russian Chargé d'Affaires that he ascertain from Kolchak just what supplies and support are needed and what can best be furnished by each of the Powers who have undertaken to support him. The telegram sent you today from Mr. J. F. Stevens 3 discloses a very serious situation regarding the Czech army. Cannot some measures be formulated, with the assistance of the Russian Conference at Paris or through the representatives of the Allies at Omsk, for the early repatriation of the Czechs? Whatever is done it seems to us vital that the support which is to be given to Kolchak should be formulated now and given promptly. One of the difficulties in Siberia seems to be that of morale among the Czech and Russian troops. Some kind of tangible statement of the exact support to be given and the amount of it, financial, military and economic, followed by prompt and direct action, would be very helpful. There is great difficulty in formulating any such concrete proposition in correspondence from here. As the heads *Transmitted in Department's telegram no. 2314 of June 16, p. 281. of Governments concerned are now in Paris it occurs to me they may be already taking steps in Paris in the directions I have indicated. The situation is so important that I would very much appreciate if you would let me know just what is being done to meet it. PHILLIPS Paris Peace Conference 861.00/763 The President of the Lettish Delegation at Paris (Meierovics) to President Wilson [Translation] PARIS, June 18, 1919. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to inform you that I have been instructed by the Delegations of the Republics of Azerbaidjan, Esthonia, Georgia, Latvia, North Caucasus, White Russia, and the Ukraine to present to your Excellency the appended Declaration. Accept [etc.] Z. A. MEIEROVICS [Enclosure Translation] Declaration by the Delegations at Paris of the Republics of Azerbaid jan, Esthonia, Georgia, Latvia, North Caucasus, White Russia, and the Ukraine The undersigned plenipotentiary delegates of the states created within the limits of the former Russian Empire, that is: The Republic of Azerbaidjan, The Republic of Esthonia, The Republic of Georgia, The Republic of Latvia, The Republic of North Caucasus, The Republic of the Ukraine, having noted the contents of the correspondence between the Council of the Great Allied and Associated Powers and Admiral Koltchak, concerning the conditions for the assistance to be given by the said powers to the Omsk Government, have the honor to declare, in the name of their respective governments, the following: 1. The Republics: [of] Azerbaidjan, Esthonia, Georgia, Latvia, North Caucasia, White Russia and Ukraine were created and exist by the free will of the populations of these states. The Constitutions of these Republics are being elaborated and their reciprocal relations with the neighboring states are being fixed and will be determined by their respective constituent assemblies, which have already been clected or will be elected on the basis of universal suffrage. The decisions of the organs of the Governmental Power of Russia, what ever they may be, can, therefore, in no way concern the sovereign states of: Azerbaidjan, Esthonia, Georgia, Latvia, North Caucasia, White Russia and Ukraine, and the reciprocal relations between these states and Russia can only be regulated as between states, equal in all their rights, independent and sovereign, whereas the above mentioned correspondence can be interpreted as the negation of such a right. 2. The Republics mentioned in the preamble, reiterate, before the Peace Conference and the Great Powers, their request to have their political independence recognized without delay. PARIS, June 17, 1919. A. M. TOPTCHIBACHEFF President of the Delegation of the Republic of Azerbaidjan J. POSKA President of the Esthonian Delegation President of the Delegation of the Georgian Z. A. MEIEROVICS President of the Delegation of Latvia President of the Delegation of the North ANTOINE DE LOUTCKEVITCH President of the Delegation of the Democratic G. SYDORENKO President of the Delegation of the Ukrainian Republic Efforts by the United States to Carry out the Decision to Support Kolchak 861.01/69a: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace WASHINGTON, June 19, 1919, 5 p.m. 6 2343. For the Secretary of State. Is Department to understand that acceptance of Kolchak's reply merely means continuation of present relations with Kolchak Government or does it convey de facto recognition and further and open extension of support along all lines available? Appendix I to C. F. 62, enclosure to Notes of Meeting on June 12, 4 p.m., p. 379. Press reports from Paris leave public in doubt on this question. Secretary of War anxious to know whether he should change instructions to General Graves." POLK 861.24/138: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace WASHINGTON, June 19, 1919, 6 p.m. 2346. For the Secretary of State. Referring to Department's 2315, June 16, 4 p.m. Mr. Znamensky, who states he is Assistant Minister of Food and Supplies for the Russian Government at Omsk, desires to purchase uniforms and overcoats or cloth for manufacture thereof; underwear, stockings, shoes, caps, et cetera; machinery, tools, rations, motor vehicles and other supplies, excepting munitions of war. Russian Embassy here inform me his credentials authentic. He proposes payment upon credit basis or by a loan or such other method of payment and security as may prove acceptable. What attitude is Department to assume? . . . POLK $61.00/4722: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace WASHINGTON, June 20, 1919, 4 p.m. 9 2355. For the Secretary of State and McCormick: " Referring my 2343 and 2346 yesterday's date, Consul General Harris reports Omsk Government is very anxious to learn what the nature of Allied assistance is to be and, in view of another possible winter campaign against Bolsheviki, if such help may be expected soon. In this connection he reports June 18 officially announced Ufa abandoned and now occupied by Bolsheviki. Fighting still in progress around city. I shall be relieved to know measures are under way for prompt and tangible support. POLK 'For reply see telegram from the Commission to Negotiate Peace, no. 2794, June 25, 12 p.m., p. 386. Ante, p. 379. Vance C. McCormick, chairman of the War Trade Board and technical adviser to the Commission to Negotiate Peace. |