Совместное заявление делегатов Республик Азербайджана, Северного Кавказа, Эстонии, Кубани, Латвии, Литвы и Украины председателю Верховного Совета Парижской мирной конференции Ж. Клемансо

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Совместное заявление делегатов Республик Азербайджана, Северного Кавказа, Эстонии, Кубани, Латвии, Литвы и Украины председателю Верховного Совета Парижской мирной конференции Ж. Клемансо

8 октября 1919 г.

Париж 

To M. Georges Clemenceau,

 President of the interallied supreme council of the peace conference

M. le President, 

With reference to our declaration of June 7, 1919, we the authorized representatives of the Independent Republics of Azerbaïdjan, of North Caucasia, of Estonia, of Kouban, of Lithuania, and of Ukrainia believe it tobe our duty to bring to the notice of your Excellency the following facts:

1) The Supreme Council of the Allied Powers found itself placed as soon as it was constituted, in front of the existence of new states resulting from the breaking up of the ancient Russian Empire which collapsed in the month of October, 1917. These new states have been constituted on the principle of the right of the peoples to dispose of themselves and, in fact, they have been organized on large democratic lines. Theyhave therefore realized the principles proclaimed by the Entente Powers. As soon as they were constituted these states found themselves obliged to defend themselves against the destructive forces ofthe bolshevists or reactionaries coming from Russia who sought by armed force, to penetrate into these countries. The bloody civil war which these two parties are waging between themselves in the heart of Russia does not prevent them first one and then the other from attacking these new democratic states. These latter having need of moral and material aid, it is necessary that their independence should be formally recognized and that and international aid be given them against all these aggressions.

Whereas, in spite of all the declarations and demands madeby these states neither that formal recognition nor that international aid has been accorded them. On the contrary following upon a decision taken by the Entente to combat the Russian bolshevists, Kolchak’s forces and those of Denikin and others have obtained enormous material help which they have frequently employed against the national states which were organized on the Russian frontier. In this way all the strength and energy which these people have displayed to establish a social order of a truly democratic character is found to be menaced with destruction by these forces which are aided by the Allied and Associated powers. The complete disorganization caused by these forces in those parts of North Caucasia and Ukrainia occupied by them is a striking consequence of their penetration in these states.

An experience of two years has sufficiently proved that all efforts made in view of reconstituting Russia within its former frontiers, all the attempts to mechanically reunite the portions of ancient Russia which have detached themselves by the will of their populations are incapable of reestablishing peace, order and liberty. As regards the internal struggle of Russia proper, it assumes the character of a long civil war. Without pretending to interfere in this civil and political struggle which must be solved by the efforts of the Russian people itself, according to its will, the under mentioned Republics intend to direct their forces to the consolidation of the democratic organizations which already exist on their territories. Whereas, the efforts made by thesestates in the direction run up against great difficulties, not only owing to the struggle that they have to sustain against the bolshevist aggression or that of the Russian reactionaries, but also through their independence not having been formally recognized by the Entente Powers all their efforts have been baulked. The question of the independence of these new states ought to be immediately solved, and that, without awaiting the solution of the Russian internal crisis, because it is evident to all who understand the situation in Russia, that this crisis will be long in resolving and cannot be settled by the armed success of either the one or the other side. These states have moreover offered and given sufficient guarantees for the free economic development of the future Russia and for the interests that the Allied and Associated Powers may have.

In order to ensure themselves in the best possible way against any foreign aggression, the governments of these states are exhibiting great activity in creating defensive alliances between themselves. As a result of these efforts one can cite the convocation of the Conference of the Baltic States at Revel and atTartu and that of the Conference of the Caucasian states at Tiflis.

The interests of peace, of humanity and of civilizationrequire an immediate international settlement of the situation of these states. The results of the delay of which our peoples complain with good reason have already made themselves felt:The result is a state of war in certain of these countries and an unceasing menace of aggression in the others. The hindrance caused to the economic, financial and commercial life, is very great and is even more so in so far as concerns the invaded regions, through the decadence of culture and demoralization, the lack of personal security and the practice of unbelievable cruelties. Moreover, owing to thissituation the diplomatic and consular relations, the defense of the rights of our nationals abroad, all the questions of civil and international rights affecting transports, postal and telegraphic communication, commercial and financial intercourse, etc. are made very difficult for these countries. In the same way, it is necessary to reach a definitive solution regarding the situation of foreigners in these states and to regularize their rights by an international accord. These states, not being able to operate regularly on the international market cannot find the foreign credit necessary for the reconstitution of their economic and financial life. The commercial exchanges as regards exportation as well as importation in these countries, so rich in raw materials and which have such a pressing need for manufactured articles from the Western countries find themselves paralyzed.

It therefore follows that any new delay taking place in the regulating of the international statute of these countries will only help to aggravate the present situation. It therefore appears that it is the interests of the Great Powers themselves to support these new states which have given so many proofs of their capacity to organize themselves and who most sincerely propose to find a satisfactory solution to settle their respective parts of the obligations of ancient Russia towards the other states.

In view of these considerations and the ardent desire of our peoples to join, through their admission into the league of Nations, the family of the other free and civilized races, we again raise our voice and we beg of you, M. le President, to be good enough to place the demand which we address you, before the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers.

1st. To recognize each of the under mentioned Republics as an independent State.

2nd. To immediately begin the examination of the territorial, financial, economic and other questions resulting from the fact of this recognition.

A.M. Toptchibacheff, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the Azerbaïdjan Republic;

A.M. Tchermoeff, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the North Caucasian Republic;

C.R. Pusta, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the Estonian Republic;

N. Tcheidze, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the Georgia Republic;

L. Bytch, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the Kouban Republic;

J. Seskis, m.p. The President of the Delegation of the Leetonia Republic;

Count Tyszkiewicz, the President of the Ukrainian Delegation.

<<Eastern Europe. For the defence of the new Eastern Republics. 1919. № 4. October 16. P. 118–120.˃˃