File No. 763.72119/964
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received November 28, 9.54 p.m.]
2032. Trotsky issued address to “Committees of Regiments, Divisions, Army Corps and Armies and to Councils of Workmen’s, Soldiers’ and Peasants’ Deputies” stating former Generalissimo Dukhonin is distributing among army note of chiefs of Allied military missions (except the American) protesting against violation of [Page 249] treaty between “Tsar’s Government” and Allies of August 23 [/September 5], 1914. He says protest is against separate armistice of Russia with Germany but “gives no reply to the proposition for an armistice on all fronts made to them by Council of Commissaries of People.” In conclusion the Allied representatives threaten that any violation of treaty by Russia would carry most grave consequences.
Addressing by Allied representatives of diplomatic note to General removed for disobedience would mean in its form an inadmissible interference in the internal life of the country aiming at producing civil war. But in substance this diplomatic note if it has not been invented but really exists would signify attempt of Allied representatives through threats to cause Russian Army and Russian people to further prolong the war in execution of treaties made by the Tsar and confirmed by the governments of Milyukov, Kerensky, Tereshchenko.
The Council of Commissaries of People from first day of existence has openly declared that it does not consider the Russian people bound by old treaties made unknown to the nation in the interest of the bourgeois classes of Russia and of the Allied countries. An attempt to influence the revolutionary will of the Soviet government through the dead letter of the secret treaties in advance doomed to failure. With regard to the threats contained in the note which cannot swerve us from the path of a struggle for an honorable democratic peace we declare that the republican government in the person of the Council of Commissaries of People is proposing not a separate but a universal armistice and in making this proposal it feels itself to be the exponent of the general interest and efforts of the popular masses not only of Russia but in general of all belligerent countries.
Soldiers, workmen, peasants, your Soviet government will not permit you to be driven into the carnage as though by stick of foreign bourgeoisie. Do not fear menaces. The suffering peoples of Europe are with us. They all want an immediate peace. Our proposition of an armistice for them sounds like the glad tidings of salvation. The nations of Europe will not permit the imperialistic governments to lay their hands on the Russian people guilty of wanting peace and the brotherhood of nations. And let it be known to all that the soldiers, workmen and peasants of Russia have not overthrown the Tsar and the government of Kerensky in order to remain food for cannon for the Allied imperialists.
Soldiers, continue your struggle for an immediate armistice. Elect delegates for the negotiations. Your commander in chief Krylenko is leaving to-day for the front in order to take charge of the struggle for an armistice.
Down with the old secret treaty and diplomatic intrigues! Hurrah for an honorable open struggle for a universal peace!
- Sent via the Legation in Sweden (No. 1083).↩