File No. 763.72119/957
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27, 9.15 a.m.]
2024. Translation of Trotsky’s speech previously referred to transmitted in full by mail.1 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 unlimited 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: [Page 247]
Citizen Supreme Commander in Chief: The Council of Commissaries of the People by commission of the All-Russian Congress of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Deputies has assumed the government together with the obligations to propose to all belligerent nations and to their governments an immediate armistice on all fronts and immediate opening of negotiations with a view to concluding peace on democratic principles. Now when the government of Soviets has been confirmed in all the most important points of the country the Council of Commissaries of the People considers it necessary to make without delay a formal proposal for armistice to all belligerent countries, both to Allies and to those engaged in hostile operations against us. An announcement to this effect has been sent by Commissary of the People for Foreign Affairs to all the plenipotentiary representatives of Allied countries in Petrograd.
You, Citizen Supreme Commander in Chief, the Council of Commissaries of the People, in fulfilment of the decision of All-Russian Congress of the Councils of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Deputies, commissions, immediately upon receiving the present announcement, to address to the military authorities of the hostile armies a proposal to immediately cease military operations with a view to opening peace negotiations. Whilst charging you with the conduct of these preliminary negotiations the Council of the Commissaries of the People orders you first to report without interruption to the council by direct wire regarding the progress of your negotiations with the representatives of the hostile armies; second, to sign the act of armistice only by a preliminary agreement with the Council of Commissaries of the People.
The President of the Council of Commissaries
of the People
V. Lenin
The Commissary for Foreign Affairs
L. Trotsky
The Commissary for Military Affairs
Krylenko
As Dukhonin refused to obey instructions, the following was officially promulgated on the 23d instant:
Soldiers: The matter of peace is in your hands. You will not suffer counterrevolutionary generals to destroy the great cause of peace. You will surround them with a guard in order to avoid lynching unworthy of the revolutionary army and to prevent these generals from avoiding the court that awaits them. You will preserve the strictest revolutionary and military order.
Let the regiments on the front immediately elect plenipotentiaries to formally initiate negotiations for an armistice with the enemy. The Council of the Commissaries of the People gives you the right to do this.
Inform us of every step of negotiations through all channels. Only the Council of Commissaries of the People has the right to sign the final convention for the armistice.
Soldiers, the matter of peace is in your hands. Let there be vigilance, self-control and energy and the cause of peace will conquer. In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic.
The President of the Council of Commissaries
of the People
Lenin
The Commissary of the People for Military
Affairs and Supreme Commander in Chief
N. Krylenko
- Not printed.↩