File No. 861.00/2180a
The President of the Czecho-Slovak National Council (Masaryk) to the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs (Chicherin)1
In the interview with the Associated Press you explain your hostile attitude towards our Czecho-Slovak troops in Russia by saying that they have been counter-revolutionary since the days of the Kiev [Page 225] Rada, and that they even conspired against the Soviet government, as you can prove by documentary evidence in your possession. I was in Russia since May 1917 till March 1918; I organized the troops, I know every detail of their life during this period: with the full knowledge of all circumstances I must state that your assertion is incorrect, and that you are mistaken. You evidently allude to the fact that when the Kiev Bolsheviks rose against the Rada one of our regiments was brought to Kiev. But it seems you do not know that this was done by Russian military authorities under false pretext. This misuse of my name was soon ascertained, and the regiment was sent back at once; two or three of our people yielding to the false pretext were duly rebuked and punished. When the Bolshevik movement began I gave at once the strictest order to all regiments to abstain from all interference in Russian internal matters, and this order has under all conditions strictly been observed; the best proof is the fact that your Bolshevik Commander in Chief Muraviev, to whom the Kiev incident was explained, recognized the armed neutrality of our whole army. Our relations to the Rada were absolutely correct. I could prove to Muraviev that I did not accept the fourth Ukrainian Universal as I officially announced to Minister Shulgin the 26th of January, 1918. We agreed in this fundamental question of the relation of Ukrainia to Russia with the position taken by your Petrograd Soviet.
I can prove by incontrovertible documents that I rejected every plan directed against your government submitted to me by your political adversaries: even of such adversaries who justly could not be called counter-revolutionist. I can prove that until lately I recommended to the Allies’ statesmen to be on good terms with your government. We Czecho-Slovaks love Russia, and we wish her to be a strong and free democracy: it has been proved that our peoples did not accept the Slav plans of the old régime under Sturmer, though they were threatened with exile to Siberia.
We have been absolutely loyal to Russia and correct in our attitude toward your government: in recognition of this loyalty Commander Muraviev granted our army free passage to France (February 16), and the same has been granted by the Soviet of Moscow.
Being away from Russia three months, and having no detailed reports, I dare not express an opinion on what is happening now. It seems that some local soviet yielded to the Austrian and German intrigue and attacked our troops, who under given circumstances have been forced to defend themselves. I would not oppose your demand of disarmament if you can guarantee us free and unmolested passage to France. I assure you our soldiers’ only wish is to fight the common enemy and help, by that, Russia. I ask you in the name of [Page 226] democracy to keep the promise given by your own commander. Please investigate carefully the matter, for it would be a disgraceful absurdity that a democratic and socialistic government should by mistake promote the interest of its greatest enemies.
President of Czecho-Slovak National Council
- Sent by the Department of State, at Dr. Masaryk’s expense, as an ordinary telegram, not through American diplomatic channels.↩