File No. 861.00/1847
The Ambassador in Russia ( Francis) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 23, 6 p.m.]
175. Mirbach on the 14th made the following disingenuous statement to Commissariat for Foreign Affairs:
The Imperial German Government is basing itself on the legally made Brest Litovsk peace; it has no intentions to exceed its provisions. As regards the special cases when the peace treaty was supposedly infringed, the Imperial Government has the honor to reply as follows:
- 1.
- The reason for crossing the Ukrainian frontier towards the north by German troops fighting against the insurgent bands in the Ukraine, this was explained by the wireless message of April 13 to the Russian Government. Confirming this wireless message, the Imperial Government states that the third general proclamation of the Rada is the authoritative one for defining the Ukrainian frontier. This proclamation states that parts of the neighboring governments, inasmuch as they are populated by Ukrainians, must belong to the Ukraine if so desired by the population. The Imperial Government again states that the movement of the German troops does not mean an advance solution of the question of the Ukrainian frontiers; it will be settled by the Ukrainian-Russian peace treaty.
- 2.
- Regarding the actions of the German troops in the Crimea, the Imperial Government again points out that its troops in the Ukraine were repeatedly attacked from Crimea, therefore it was necessary to put down the armed bands and the ships which, contrary to the orders of the Russian Government and the provisions of the Brest treaty, continued at their own risk the war against the German troops. The Imperial Government repeats that it does not intend to influence the Crimea in favor of any definite arrangement of its state relations.
- 3.
- Regarding Finland, the Imperial Government has several times stated that it is only concerned with the clearing of the country of the rebel bands and the arrangement of order and tranquillity. It has repeatedly pointed out that the problem of the German troops has been made more difficult by the continuous support by Russia of these bands contrary to the peace treaty. The capture of the entire staff of the Forty-second Russian Army, the sending of Russian troops and warships to Fort Ino, have shown that Russia, not Germany, is to blame for the continuation of the military activities. Whether the seizure of Russian property plays [Page 534] any part in these questions will be determined from the point of view of international law and the Russian Government will receive replies to all of its complaints regarding concrete cases.
- 4.
- As soon as we ascertained that the wireless messages of the Russian Government do not reach the Ukrainian government directly, they were transmitted by us to their destination. Thence [due] to this roundabout way the short term given by the Russian Government for the commencement of the negotiations could not be adhered to. Now the Russian Government has probably received the statement by the Ukraine that it is willing to commence peace negotiations. The Imperial Government expresses the hope that the negotiations will commence shortly and will come to successful end. Finally the Imperial Government announces that it is its firm intention to strictly adhere to the terms of the ratified peace made at Brest so as to create normal friendly relations with Russia. In case the Russian Government considers that there are questions which are not absolutely clear as settled in the peace treaty that they have to be discussed then the Imperial Government will willingly enter into an exchange of opinion with the Russian Government. In such case it requests that these questions be specified after which both governments can appoint special representatives for the discussion and conclusion of additional treaties.
Observe Murman situation unmentioned; impossible ascertain what is present status of communications that subject; think Soviet government playing for time and Mirbach hesitates to force issue.