Communism -- Soviet Union; Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921
“The All-Russian Congresses of Soldiers’, Workers’, and Peasants’
Deputies have passed a resolution to transfer all landowners’ land into
the possession of the toiling people. Is not that fair, Cossacks? The
Kornilovs, Kaledins, Dutovs, Karaulovs, Bardizhes, all defend with
their whole souls the interests of the rich men, and they are ready to
drown Russia in blood if only the lands remain in the hands of the
landowners. But you, the toiling Cossacks, do not you suffer yourselves
from poverty, oppression and lack of land? How many Cossacks are there
who have more than 4-5 _dessiatins_ per head? But the landowners, who
have thousands of _dessiatins_ of their own land, wish besides to get
into their hands the lands of the Cossack Army. According to the new
Soviet laws, the lands of Cossack landowners must pass without
compensation into the hands of the Cossack workers, the poorer
Cossacks. You are being told that the Soviets wish to take away your
lands from you. Who is frightening you? The rich Cossacks, who know
that the Soviet AUTHORITY WISHES TO transfer the landowners’ lands to
you. Choose then, Cossacks, for whom will you stand: for the Kornilovs
and Kaledins, for the Generals and rich men, or for the Soviets of
Peasants’, Soldiers’, Workers’ and Cossacks’ Deputies.
“THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’s COMMISSARS elected by the All-Russian Congress
HAS PROPOSED TO ALL NATIONS AN IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE AND AN HONOURABLE
DEMOCRATIC PEACE WITHOUT LOSS OR DETRIMENT TO ANY NATION. All the
capitalists, landowners, Generals-Kornilovists have risen against the
peaceful policy of the Soviets. The war was bringing them profits,
power, distinctions. And to you, Cossack privates? You were perishing
without reason, without purpose, like your brothers-soldiers and
sailors. It will soon be three years and a half that this accursed war
has gone on, a war devised by the capitalists and landowners of all
countries for their own profit, their world robberies. To the toiling
Cossacks the war has only brought ruin and death. The war has drained
all the resources from Cossack farm life. The only salvation for the
whole of our country and for the Cossacks in particular is a prompt and
honest peace. The Council of People’s Commissars has declared to all
Governments and peoples: We do not want other people’s property, and we
do not wish to give away our own. Peace without annexations and without
indemnities. Every nation must decide its own fate. There must be no
oppressing of one nation by another. Such is the honest, democratic,
People’s peace which the Council of People’s Commissars is proposing to
all Governments, to all peoples, allies and enemies. And the results
are visible: ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT AN ARMISTICE HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account