Stalin to Chicherin

Bolshevik leadership Correspondence. 1912-1927
Collection of documents 1996.
Compiled by: A.V.Kvashonkin, L.P.Kosheleva, L.A.Rogovaya, O.V.Khlevnyuk.

Stalin Correspondences

Telegram from I. V. Stalin to G. V. Chicherin

[previously May 4, 1918]

Antonov, looking for a way out of the situation for himself and for his detachments, proposes that all Soviet deputies adjacent to the front be allowed to organize border guards. Set up white flags and disarm the Antonov detachments crossing the border. At the same time, he declares that if this is done, he will officially resign his powers, transferring [them] into the hands of the Central Committee of Ukraine, which, it seems, does not exist. In other words, to eliminate the war inside Ukraine in order to deprive the Germans of a reason to invade the Russian Federation. We all here think that Antonov's request should be respected. The said order must be sent out immediately in a categorical form. First of all, to the Voronezh Soviet of Deputies and Rostov, as well as to Sevastopol by radio. We think that such an order will speed up the cause of the armistice and facilitate our preparatory work for negotiations.1 . One interesting report: the planned attack on Korenevo, south of Lgov, did not take place. Our troops retreated a little 2 . They assure that the retreat is not disorderly and will soon be liquidated 3 .

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5401. L. 1. Typewritten text.

Notes:

On May 4, 1918, Antonov-Ovseenko applied to the Council of People's Commissars with a statement about the resignation of the powers of the Supreme Commander of the Southern Republics in connection with the retreat of Soviet troops outside Ukraine and their disarmament in accordance with the requirements of the Brest-Litovsk agreement. On the same day, he issued an order to the troops of Ukraine and the Donetsk Workers' Republic on the surrender of weapons to the military authorities of the RSFSR (RTsKhIDNI. F. 17. Op. 109. D. 12. L. 1; Civil War in Ukraine. 1918 - 1920. T. 1. Book 1. S. 134-136).

2 Obviously, we are talking about an unsuccessful attempt to advance in the Kursk direction. On May 4, in Korenevo (Kursk Front), representatives of Ukraine and Germany signed a truce with the RSFSR and negotiated the establishment of a demarcation line. On May 5, the Council of People's Commissars demanded that Antonov-Ovseenko conclude a similar agreement on the Ukrainian front and notify Moscow about it (Ibid., pp. 136-137).

3 Stalin's telegram from Kursk was received by Chicherin and forwarded to Trotsky on May 4, 1918. It follows from the cover letter that the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs supported the request contained in it and asked for an appropriate order to be issued (RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5401. L. 2).