File No. 861.00/831
The Ambassador in Russia (Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16, 3 a.m.]
2094. Papers having announced France had recognized Ukrainian independence I sent Secretary to French Embassy who reports Ambassador said absolutely untrue.
French Ambassador sends following telegram [from] Shulgin (cousin of Shulgin in my No. 2090): “Secretary of State for International Affairs of Ukraine to Ambassadors of Great Britain, Belgium, United States, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Rumania, and Serbia.” Ukraine as Little Russia has population of 30,000,000 Ukrainians and 5,000,000 non-Ukrainians, or nearly 20 per cent of entire population. Telegram follows:
Mr. Ambassador: I request you to bring to the knowledge of your Government that in the absence in Russia of a central power recognized by all peoples of the Russian federation and Secretary of State of Ukraine had constituted self [sic] into a complete and independent government and that the central provisional Rada of Ukraine which has proclaimed in Ukraine a democratic [Page 651] republic which if [the] union of [the] various people of Russia is reformed will figure as an autonomous member of [the] federative republic. Remaining in close relation with Russia our republic considers itself always [the] ally of all the powers which were fighting with Russia against the Central Empires.
Owing to the attempt of Krylenko against the Stavka, the beginning of the armistice by General Shcherbachev, chief commander of the Russian troops on the Rumanian front, and owing to the situation on the southwest front where we have not yet had time to mass the troops of the national Ukrainian army which is being constituted, the central Rada has deemed it necessary to begin the armistice. The situation is so grave that the Secretary of State saw himself [obliged] first without having had the time to get in accord with the Allies to begin the armistice negotiation the thousands of its delegates to the southwest front in order to initiate them [sic].
At present we request you to bring to the knowledge of your Government the accompanying text of the instructions which the Secretary of State has given its delegates and of the resolution voted by the Secretary. We will receive with pleasure all the suggestions and all the advice which our allies will give us for the defense of the common interests.
Kindly accept [etc.]
The Secretary of State of
[Inter]National
Affairs
Shulgin
Instructions [and] the resolutions not received.