File No. 861.00/1919
The Consul at Moscow ( Poole ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31, 9.11 p.m.]
528. According the announcement official Soviet gazette, May 16, Mirbach has communicated text of radiogram said to have been sent by the so-called union of hill tribes of the Caucasus to all warring and neutral countries, as well as to the governments of Trans-Caucasus and Russia. Essential parts of radiogram as follows:
The peoples of the Caucasus lawfully elected a national assembly which met in May and September 1917 and issued statement respecting formation of a union of Caucasian hill tribes. In considering the prevailing anarchy in Russia and taking advantage of right recognized by Petrograd government itself for all peoples of former empire of the Tsars freely to decide their political future, government of the hill tribes has decided: (1) to separate from Russia and form independent state; (2) that territory of new state shall have same boundaries of north as districts of Daghestan, Terek, Stavropol, and Kuban; on west, Black Sea; on east, Caspian; and on south boundary of which details to be determined in agreement with Transcaucasian government.
Referring to communication of this radiogram by Mirbach, Commissariat Foreign Affairs telegraphs Joffe,1 Berlin, pointing out that—
people and tribes of Black Sea coast, Kuban, Terek, and Daghestan ave long since expressed their wish at organized democratic congresses [Page 630] for an indissoluble union with the Russian federation. Attempt of a small party to set at naught will of the wide masses of the people will undoubtedly be discovered by the population itself. Russian Soviet authority will act in most decided manner against usurpation of authority by this small party.
Same paper prints request by Soviet authorities that representative of Russian government participate in negotiations at Batum between German and Ottoman governments on one hand, and Trans-caucasian government on other. See Consulate’s No. 505. Note says: “In many parts of Caucasus authority of so-called Trans-caucasian government is not recognized at all and throughout Trans-Caucasus the wide masses of the people are against it.” Numerous specific instances cited of protests against this government. Note concludes: “While insisting that Russian delegate take part in negotiations at Batum, Commissariat points out this in no way signifies recognition Transcaucasian government by Russian government.”
- A. A. Joffe, Soviet Ambassador in Germany.↩