Paris Peace Conference 861.00/242
The Russian Embassy in France to the Secretariat-General of the Paris Peace Conference54
The unified governments of Siberia, Archangel and Southern Russia believe it their duty to make the following statement to the Peace Conference:
Appreciating highly the motives which have inspired the Allies to make their proposition of Jan. 22,55 the said governments note with satisfaction that the conference considers the reestablishment of order in Russia an essential condition to endurable peace in Europe, and they accept willingly the offer of the Allies to collaborate in the internal pacification of Russia. After three years of struggle in which she has loyally kept her pledges and borne a considerable part of the common burden, Russia, rendered helpless to continue the war, cannot bind up her wounds except by peace. Now this work of reconstruction is made impossible by the civil war which is preached and carried on by usurpers, criminals without [Page 54] faith or law, whose despotism is weighing heavily upon a large portion of Russian soil.
Desiring above all to put an end to the bloody Bolshevist tyranny, the Russian political groups who have undertaken the task of relieving the country and restoring the State upon a truly democratic basis, will be very grateful to the Peace Conference for the help which it desires to afford them in this necessary labor of national reconstruction. They hold as certain that everything done to give Russia back her place among the family of nations and her internal order will serve at the same time with great effectiveness the aims of human justice and international peace which the conference has set before it.
The unified governments of Russia are therefore ready to place themselves at the disposal of the Allied Powers to acquaint them with the present situation in Russia and with them seek the means of remedying this situation.
However, under no circumstances whatever, would there be any question of an exchange of ideas on this matter with the participation of the Bolshevists, in whom the conscience of the Russian people sees only traitors. For in making a pact with the common enemy, they have betrayed the causes of both Russia and the Allies. They have fomented anarchy and trodden underfoot the democratic principles which guide civilized states, and they maintain themselves in power only by terrorism.
Between them and the national Russian groups no conciliation is possible. Any meeting would not only be without effect but would risk causing both the Russian patriots and the Allied nations an irreparable moral harm.
- Sazonov
- Tchaykovsky