861.00/7321
The Special Agent (McCully) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 8.]
Subject: Policy of South Russian Government and Probabilities of its Success.
1. On assuming charge in April 1920, General Wrangel made no declaration other than the statement that the Policy of his Government must be judged from its performance.
Considering the means at its disposition, and the difficulties to be overcome, the accomplishments of the Government have been remarkable. In its territory there is Peace and Order, in appearances the conditions seem almost normal, and even something like content is becoming manifest.
2. Since assuming charge, there have been at various times statements bearing on Policy. In communications to the British Government, General Wrangel has stated that it was his purpose to organize, in the South of Russia, a healthy nucleus about which all elements favoring Law and Order might group themselves for the redemption of Russia from the anarchy and chaos of Bolshevik rule. He expects to accomplish this more by force of the development of a sane and patriotic Public opinion, than by Armed Movements—anything like a Military “On to Moscow” movement he expressly deprecates as inadvisable and impracticable. He has stated that he concerns himself only with territory actually occupied by his forces, and that he does not wish to take up the question of settlement of Political Frontiers at this time. He has made special efforts to establish friendly relations with all other sections of the former Russian Empire, and has officially declared against anything like the Denikine Policy of making war against any section which would not admit his authority.
The old Denikine fetich of “Great, United, and Indivisible Russia”, in name of which war was made on Ukrainia, and many [Page 607] socalled “traitors” were executed, is not included in any principle advocated by Wrangel. His attitude toward other sections which cooperate with him is indicated by the present relations with Don, Kuban and Terek territories, whose military forces form part of his Armies, but which are entirely independent in their internal affairs. This arrangement forecasts Wrangel’s scheme for reconstituted Russia, which would probably be in the form of Federated State, with liberal powers of self government to the various sections.
The Policy of the Wrangel Government is best set forth in a communication to the French Government “A”.18
3. Amongst Wrangel’s supporters are naturally numbers of men whose sympathies are undoubtedly with Monarchism, and others who go further and can only be regarded as “reactionaries”. Wrangel’s reforms have been limited by these elements, which though strong in opposition have not yet become, a controlling influence. The creed of the “reactionaries” is first of all “Absolute Power to Special Classes”, and they are Monarchists as offering the most available means for attaining their end, and “old regime” on account of intellectual incapacity to imagine any other form to which such attainment might aspire.
There are also Monarchists, who honestly believe that a Constitutional Monarchy is the only form of Government which has any hope of success in Russia. There is but little doubt that General Wrangel personally is in favor of a Monarchical Government in Russia, though officially he states that his personal preferences shall have no influence, and that “he will subordinate himself absolutely to the Will of the Russian People”.
Whatever may be the varying views about what should be the future Government of Russia, it seemed essential that at this time there should be no official influence operating to the prejudice of any particular form, before there had been some expression of the Russian National Will in regard to it.
4. However there had been several incidents which seemed to have a trend in this direction. The first occurred in a Proclamation “B” of General Wrangel, promulgated on May 25, explaining the purposes for which they were fighting, one of which was stated to be “That the Russian Nation may choose its own Xozain Emphasis was laid on “Xozain” by printing this word in heavy black letters.
According to the dictionary, “Xozain” means “Master of the House, Proprietor, Owner”. It is also used in the sense of Manager or Administrator, and “Xozaistvo” means in official sense “Administration”. For instance the Soviet Government has the “B.C.H.X.”, or literally “Highest Soviet National (Economic) [Page 608] Administration”, freely translated “Supreme Economic Control However the political signification of “Xozain” is not clear, and the special emphasis given the word in the Proclamation, led many to believe that it referred to a Monarchical Euler. No explanation was ever given to its signification, and it was regarded as a rather delicate subject. The Proclamation made a strong impression, but created no marked enthusiasm, and was generally regarded as a political blunder.
Another incident occurred when, on occasion of their Regimental fete, June 3, 1920, the Mounted Grenadier Guards had a mass celebrated for those who had died “For the Faith, the Czar, and the Fatherland”. One newspaper asked “What Czar?” This was answered by the statement “The Mounted Grenadier Guards always died, and will die for that Russian Czar, who was, and who again will be”. Signed by officers and soldiers of the Mounted Grenadier Regiment. “C”.
A third incident occurred on July 12, when a new newspaper was published in Sevastopol, the “Russkaya Pravda”. In big headlines over its title was,—“Our Motto—For the Faith, the Czar, and the Fatherland”. In view of the very strict censorship, such incidents had more political importance, and might almost be regarded as expressions of official opinion.
5. Accordingly in order to have some official expression of opinion about these incidents, I asked for a personal interview with General Wrangel, whom I saw alone on July 14. I showed him the three newspaper clippings, and informed him that they indicated a sentiment about which I felt it necessary to inform the Department, and asked him if he wished to make any statement in regard to them, or in regard to his own position. I said that it had never been the Policy of the United States to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, but that such incidents as the three mentioned, under the circumstances, would give the impression that his Government was countenancing a movement calculated to prejudice the character of the Future Russian Government in favor of one particular form, before the Nation had been given any opportunity to express its will.
6. General Wrangel answered that he was firmly resolved to give support to no such movement. As to the definition of “Xozain”, he said he referred only to its Administrative signification, and although it would include a Monarchical Authority, it would equally well be applicable to a Republican Government, or to a Chief Administrative Authority of any character. In regard to the action of the Mounted Grenadier Guards, he apparently learned of that incident for the first time, and said that undoubtedly such sentiments did [Page 609] exist amongst some of his officers, but that their influence in Political matters would not be permitted at this time. In reference to the “Russkaya Pravda” he said it would be the first and last issue of that paper, and that he would hold the Censor responsible for permitting this stupidity. In entire interview General Wrangel seemed entirely honest and straightforward, as indeed has been his character in all our relations.
In the course of the interview General Wrangel stated that he was ready to accept any Government freely decided on by the Russian Nation. I asked him if he would accept a Soviet Government if that form were preferred by the Russian Nation. He said he thought it impossible that the Russian Nation, if given a free choice, would elect such a Government, but that if it did he would submit to it, but not if it were headed by the persons now in control. He said that he could accept a Soviet Government of which General Brussilov might be the head.
7. In a Proclamation of July 15, the publication of “Russkaya Pravda” was suspended, the Chief Censor reprimanded, and the Censor responsible for permitting the issue of the newspaper was dismissed.
On July 18, in Velikaya Rossia, was published an interview with Commander-in-Chief “D” taking up the questions which I had discussed with him, and also stating his position on the Jewish question, about which however I had said nothing to him. This interview was subject of long editorials in each of the three principal Sevastopol newspapers, which pronounced it most opportune, and approved it enthusiastically. It was also translated into other languages, and forwarded to Wrangel Missions abroad.
Later another order was published forbidding Army and Navy officers or soldiers from joining Political organizations, or attempting to influence future Political Policy.
In regard to these incidents General Wrangel seems to have done all he could to remove any impression that he was personally countenancing a Monarchist Movement.
8. General Wrangel’s position is now very strong. His forces have grown enormously since June 1 and are in excellent spirits. They are well equipped, well disciplined and are led by capable, experienced, and resolute leaders. In every serious operation Wrangel is with his men at the front. He has succeeded in completely breaking up the Red organizations as they existed in the South of Russia on June 1, and has captured in prisoners a force equal to the force with which he began operations. He has won the good will of the civil populations, and has taken steps to let remainder of Russia know about this, and about his Land Law, and his Liberal [Page 610] Programme. Wrangel believes himself invincible, and his officers and men also believe it. As a matter of fact in his military history he has never been beaten in any operation undertaken by him, and the title of “Always Victorious” has much justification, and as a force has much weight with his men, as well as with his enemies. He is not in the slightest daunted by Bolshevik prestige, and seems to have the most serene confidence in his ability to beat the Bolsheviks wherever he can find them. He occupies a strategic position in the Northern Tauride which gives him many advantages, and can expect real assistance from independent bands operating in that vicinity.
On the other hand, what has been accomplished has had to depend too much on Wrangel himself. He is fearless to the point of recklessness, and if anything should happen to him, it is doubtful if there is another leader who would be sufficiently strong to hold the movement together. And in the movement itself there cannot be discerned that spiritual influence which might carry it to success, even if deprived of a trusted and formidable leader. The movement is only united in a hatred of Bolshevism and Communism.
9. The Soviet Government disposes of forces perhaps ten times more numerous than those of Wrangel. Of them only a small portion, perhaps 20% at the maximum, are convinced Soviet adherents. During Wrangel’s preliminary operations, the Soviet forces have been too much occupied with Poland, to use their full strength against him. To bring them to bear against him will require some time even after the question of Poland is settled, for transportation and supply in Soviet Russia are undoubtedly at the point of entirely breaking down. However the determination of the Soviets to crush Wrangel is undoubtedly unshaken. They probably will not arrange an Armistice with him, for his practical propaganda has now more strength than their printed appeals, and promises which are now discredited. The Soviets certainly will, as soon as it may be possible, endeavor to make an end of the only remaining resistance to their power, and only a miracle can save Wrangel. He has accomplished what he has by the performance of miracles, but must continue to perform miracles if he is to win. If there is sufficient discontent and distress in interior of Russia to prevent Soviets using their full strength, Wrangel will have a chance, but unless there is, the best he can hope for after making such fight as he may be able, is to retire to Crimea and hold it as long as possible, which may be for another year.
10. At this time the only solution of these conditions, other than a struggle to the death between the two forces, is an Armistice arranged under guarantee of the Great Powers, by which Wrangel would be entitled to retain under his control the territory he now [Page 611] possesses to organize and consolidate it, and to demonstrate practically whether his methods or Soviet methods are most trusted and favored by the Russian Nation.
- The lettered enclosures accompanying report are not printed.↩